Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-28

y" science prove as efficient In
constructing this future as II
has already shown itself to be IN recon-
structing an almost inconceivably remote
pasta past that covers not only the ap-
pearance and development OF man, out
that embraces also the well nigh I'M
measurable period antedating his appear
ance and preparing for 1t? These quer-
les embody in substance. the thesis ex-
panded by Mr.. Wells in this essay. A fu-
ture so projected will not as a matter
OF course, be q personal future, In the
sense that ones memory constitutes his
wildly personal past. Nor will 1t be
comparable. even. to that larger and
wagner zone Of impressions inclcsing. by
way Of history and tradition, the records
and memories of the race. But, rising
out Of new and keener spirit OF critical
inquiry. a sounder method of fnvestiga-
ton, an ampler array Of thoroughly sift-
ed fact and deduction, this future will
conform, in its upward movement, in its
orderly progression. in its certainty OF
aspect. to the illimitable past already
rescued to human comprehension through
the organized forces of science. In a
word. why may We not see a dependable
inferential future, as we are already IN
possession of dependable inferenttal
supports this thesis. The ideals animal
ing that new future are here figured as,
in part, 4 glorihed essence OF our arnaz-
ing present day, and. in further part, as
a world of supermen who shall stand
upon this earth as one stands upon
footstool, and shall laugh and reach out
their hands amid the stars"
To the seif-Ininded man, him to whom
any scheme Of existence weighs accord
ing to the measure of his own place in
IT. Mr.. Wells discussion will make no,
considerable appeal. Nor to the retro
spective man, him to whom life Is a mere
will 1t say any reckonable thing. But,
on the other hand, 1t will appear as an
amazing vision to those who take the
ground that We are here as guaranty
that things-finer and larger things-have
yet to be. To such this is more than
vision. 1t is the beginning Of realization.
For already momentous things are in the
doing-forecasts of the splendid quality
of this new future. And these. if We will
have 1t SO, promise US participation in
the nearer reaches of this we'll defined
domain of the future.
HARVEST HOME. By E. V. Lucas.
New York: The Macmillan Company.
Some books. like familiar friends. drop
in upon one freely at any time for the
easy word Of greeting the hit of init
mate talk. the contagion of laughter.
the stirring of thoughts, the warming of
the heart-for a general Frightening up
of many an otherwise uncheerful hour.
This is one of these books-intimate and
friendly. These are little studies in life.
records of desultory rankings, personal
experiences of a common and sharable
nature, genial anecdotes. humorous cpl
sodes-the whole whatnot of a writing
mans odd moments. And each. whether
il be a picture or little story, an OBJ
Servation, a reflection or a mere whim-
sey, is a very perfect thing of its kind.
y gentle tricksy elf of satire animates
iivens it. The book is one to pick up and
put down at any free moment. for just
nod. word. a wave of the hand,
ripple of laughter. The volume is a
companion to Mr.. Lucas "A Little of
E,veryth thing and. like that it is made
m of selections from his other books
Harvest Home is, too. a little of every
thing, and all Of it quite charming.
THE IDOL-BREAKER, a Play of the
Present Day In Five Acts. By
Charles Ram Kennedy, author of
The Servant in the House" New
York: Harper & Bros.
With a group of village folk set within
the village smithy, Mr.. Kennedy in this
play objectifies the struggle going on in
the present all over the world for
larger personal and social freedom. The
great forces now everywhere pressing
forward toward this goal are embodied
in the rugged smith himself The agen-
cies obstructive to this progression-the
conservatisms Of tradition, fear. selfish
ness-are made concrete In the small
lawyer and editor and employer OF the
narrow countryside The smiths wife,
too is here, blowing hot and cold as her
personal view veers with the wind. The
only one who understands, save the
smith himself. is a strange woman.the
scarlet woman" these call her. This
is the spirit Of freedom caught up in the
body of strollinS gypsy.
The narrative set out here is inconsld-
cradle, the action negligible. The drama
is a brawny bit of symbolism, condenslng
"A worldwide concern to the measure of a
hands breadth. The accessories of this
play, too, are as enblematic as the play
itself-the hour of dawn. as of the break
ing of new day. The swift advance has
the momentum Of crestinS mountain
wave The ripe summer time - felds
ready for the harvest The gear OF the
shop-the hammers. anvil, bricks and
barrow-are states Of mind and not alone
the tools of industry. The garb Of the
brotherhood. The problem arises with
this play staged and the audience assem-
bled. VIII its message carry? This is
the common problem for all the social
service plays.
HORACE BLAKE. BY Mrs. Wilfrid
Ward, author of Great Posses
sions," etc. New York: g. p. Put
MANS Sons.
Mrs. wiIfrid Wards new novel is a
serious and impressive study. the study
of a man Of genius in revolt against life.
Horace Blake is brilliant dramatist who
embodies in one and another play some
aspect Of his own revolt against himself,
against society and against God AS lit
tie more than youth he broke away
from the Roman Catholic Church, to
which he was born and in which he was
schooled. He pursued a meteoric mid
career I'm a Haunting rebellion that was
expressed in the highest terms of dra-
matte art As an older man, sick and
with the imminence of death upon him,
he sought refuge in the church from
which he had fled in open scorn and out
Ipoken revilings. Mrs. Ward makes a
terry discriminating study and master
~ exposition of the distorted nature OF
Horace Blake, setting this out In realistic
fashion by way of a sequence OF ORA
hatic and revealing situations. Eclipsed
10 a degree by the dominance of Blake
himself. the wife, Kate Blake. is. never
theless. a quite remarkable character, as
the daughter also Is q by no means in
lgnificant personality.
This Is q fine and impressive achieve
hent, significant in theme and admirable
In execution. One Of the few eninently
worthwhile novels.
CARMEN AND MR.. DRYAsDUsT. By
Humfrey Jordan. author of THE