Evening star., 1914-12-12
2 IN eRealmg q Literature aoaArt@ GMfH4y

q 49,
pictured in an inviolate loveliness. For
| this reason, in part, and for its own
| essential beauty in larger part. this
wa nderbook takes on distinction and an
lunquestioned permanency OF value.
| Arnold Bennett. author of "The
1 Price of Love-" etc. Pictures by E
A Richards. Frontispiece by the
| author New York: The Century
| Company.
| Mr.. Bennett here takes vacation
and goes a-sailing on the Velsa This
is running comment on that adven-
ture. a day-by day account of what
befeil. with elaborate descriptions of
the manner of its Detailing Through
the canals of Holland and out again
went the Neisa then across to Copen-
| hagen and back to the French and
Flemish coasts, rounding up with a
cruise of the east English coast, in and
| out Of its wide estuares. In holiday
writer gathers into this volume the
| lnnumerable snapshot impressions of
the fascinating voyage. Mr.. Bennett is
| the best of all good travellers.
United States" have already demon
strated. Everything Is all right. or II
| it is not, why that is all right, too
| Such criticisms as he may have upon
the CHARACTERISTICS of people, upon the
! measure of their progress, the quality
| of their culture or the substance of
the daily life, is given in laughing
| inconsequence that absolutely disarms
any possible resentment. And such he
is here. A light. bright. entertaining
holiday record The book is turned out
| in an exceptional beauty of appearance
Mr.. Richards pictures. catching the
the level of the text itself in illumi-
mating quality and power.
THE LURE AND LORE OF TRAVEL.
BY Carl Vrooman and Julia Scott
Nrooman. Boston: Sherman, French
& Co.
The eighteen essays of this volume
cover wide range. Here are records
of travel in France, Switzerland, Italy.
And out Of what one feels to.be a solid
foundation of experience, here is, too,
advice to the would-be traveller. with
fruitful suggestions springing from the
earlier forth-farings of the authors
themselves. Here, also, are studies of
one significant figure and another.
Among them is a critical review of the
work OF Jean Jaures, prophet of So
cial redemption; of Charles Wagner.
"a social mystic; of "The Strange Case
of Robert Louis Stevenson and Jules
and Mrs Vrooman here make record
have passed distinctly out of the Cook
and Baedeker classes, with their fren-
zied zeal to cover all Europe in the
shortest possible space of time These
travels are clearly of mandarin rank,
taking place as "rambles." "tourings,"
"saunterings" and the like. 1t is this
quality of experience. of having done
it all many times before, that gives
the instructions contained In this VOL
ume their Importance and value. An
easy, companionable, storytelling in
formality is the key to the literary
charm of this travel book.
JOSEPH CONRAD: A Study. BY Rich
ard Curle. author of Life is Dream"
etc. New York: Doubleday, Page &
Co.
Mr.. Curle here gives book of more
than two hundred pages to the critical
study of Joseph Conrad Believing that
the works of this author mark the
dawn of new epoch in literature. he
Conrad's books, but for those also who
know nothing about them, but who
may, out of this discussion. be led to
make their acquaintance. 1t is a finely
mastery work in itself Mr. Curle
first clears the ground in front of Con-
rad. as it were. by an analysis of
Conrad's cotemporaries and critics.
the former and making reasonable ac-
counting of the latter. A brief biog-
raphy of the man follows with mem
ton of such of his books as are clearly
of autobiographic character. For the
benefit of those who do not know his
books these are gathered up each in
its general outline and intent. The
most important part of this study has
the peculiar elements that enter into
this artistry. The coherent, construc-
tive. purposeful character of this
writer's realism sets him. so Mr.. Curle
says. immeasurably above his cotem-
poraries. His mastery of suitable and
effective atmospheres for the dramatic
support of situations is exclusive. His
men and women are made of the stuff
of life itself. and not filled out here
and there with the sawdust of careless
invention They lead also, according to
their natures and environment, instead
of being coerced by their author. Con-
effect in his own psychology and in
that of his characters is thoughtfully
estimated. The study closes with a
discussion of his position in literature.
The whole is admirable study, one
that is calculated to meet fully the
purpose for which it was made.
THE NIGHTINGALE: a Lark. BY
Ellenor Stoothoff. Boston: Houghton
Miffiin Company.
This is not problem of orthodoxy
Nor is it a masquerade of the birds
Neither a case of mistaken feathered
identity. For the lark is not bird
at all. 1t is. instead. merry recreative
spree. pure joy-ride. a delightful rum
away, a season of gay vagabondage. To
all intents and purposes this is fairy
tale. 1t has the same comforting in
difference to the natural demands of
cause and effect, the same happy free
dom from the rule of oughts and ought
nots- 1t floats along in glorious airs
that are worlds more energiZing and
less insipid, reckonable combination of
gases that constitute this terrestrial
atmosphere. Il
When d woman is half sick, or thinks
hp .,h oil eIr IN hnT