The Washington herald., 1913-02-16

remote. primitive, and beautiful country
| of eastern Tennessee. In the earlier
| work the characters move and live with
such reality, such fidelity to truth, tha
the reader. separated by time and spac'
from any actual knowledge of thest
! mountaineers, yet is convinced thai
! everything that did happen must have
happened in the way IL il related.
| There is no such conviction in The
| Oredal.' for this latest story by Grad
| dock is still more artificial than The
Fair Mississippian.'' The whole effect
Is unreal. Nature Is an incident; hill and
valley. sunset and morning glow seem
| arranged only as accessories to an over
! melodramatic plot.
In THE Great Smoky Mountain what
the reader was privileged to look upon
was free and unbounded. "Ye ain't
scrimped for view. Mis- Cayce," said the
sheriff, and he spoke the truth. No
scrimping in The Prophet In land
scape or character or homely wisdom
all is bestowed by the ample hand OF
truth. Hence the painful contrast of the
artifiicality of THE Ordeal" Moreover.
the style is bad. Alterations such as
'.the final significant impression of dou-
leur and gloom" and but even the bas-
est OF the yokels and groundlings could
not make merry over the cozening of 50
noble a gentleman" mar any impression
Of sincerely that the lusterless plot by
some chance has left.
SOCIAL RELIGION: By scott Nearing. The Mac
milan Company. New York. Price. 81.
There is no more popular writer on
present day social problems than Scott
Nearing. The doctor has a way of ex-
pressing his statements that makes an
irresistible appeal to the reader. and the
interest Is held by the importance and
authoritativeness Of the facts and the
sincerity OF the writer.
In his new book he takes up the more
deplorable elements in the modern social
world, anaiyzing them in the light or
practical Christianity The church-going
public. the nonchurchgoers, and those
who are opposed to the methods Of the
church will find this book q fitting con-
tribution TO the great social movements
Of the day.
Dr. Nearing's final presentation of a
religion that is really social; a religion.
tho function of which Is ito abolish
ignorance and to provide a normal man.
hood and adjusted life towards which
society may strive" Is particularly well
put.
DEMOCRATIC ENGLAND: By PrcJ Alden,
Mp. with an introduction BY Chariss +. g.
MerTman. New York-The Macmillan Company.
Price. S.1.
In Democratic England" Percy Alden
states in succinct form the present po-
sition of the more important social prob
lens confronting the British electorate
at the present time. The last six years
have witnessed in England a great
change Of feeling with regard to the
whole question Of State interference. The
laisseZ policy has well-nigh disappeared.
In each chapter Of the book Mr.. Alden
deals with some one question. such as
the child and the state, the problem of
swelling, the problem Of unemployment.
OF old age. housing, &C.. and he en-
deavors to show that the present favor
able democratic outlook Il not due to
50 much carefully thought out collective
ist principles as It Is to the enthusiasm
for humanity which has bridged to some
extent, at least, the gulf between parties
and has swept the Liberal party far In
advance of the individualism once so
maintained by the Manchester
School.
Charles F. S. Merriman, the British
politician. has written an introduction to
Democratic England" in which he
shows Mr.. Alden's fitness to write of
the theme. emphasizing also the impor-
tance of the questions raised. "The House
Of Commons may claim to have spe-
cialists and experts in almost every de-
partment Of legislative work. but 1t can
never have too many enthusiasts in the |
cause Of social reform" he says. my |
friend, Percy Alden, is an enthusiast
with intimate knowledge of the tangible /
realities OF working-class life. His !
Twelve years experience in East London. |
gained in the conduct of the university |
settlement Of Canning Town and in the |
work Of administration on the council |
,f West Ham, entities him to speak with |
authority as to the requirements OF pres |
snt-day legislation His six years in