Evening star., 1914-08-08

used to meet this purpose. The
book is designed to introduce children to
Anc forms created by the artists of those
rsr-away days in their efforts to repre-
sent the world around them. their feel
E,Es toward il and their understanding
o. it, II is designed. also, to present art
TO them as a natural outgroWth. a flower
ing. so to speak, of successive periods of
civilization. To meet this aim the au-
thor pays much attention to backgrounds
and environment as the source Of this
ultimate expression in art and as the
moldcr of it. Stories. charmingly easy
and natural ones, are used for this pur-
pose. For instance, in the case of Greek
art ehere are stories of the Greek coun-
try and tales to show the passion for
freedom that the very face of the land
cngendered. And more stories. heroic
ones. follow to show how this ideal work
ed itself out in the bright and beautiful
pattern of Greek life. eliminating at last
in tho deathless glory of Greek art. out
OF this rich Hellenic life its art is gath
cred up concretely. both thing OF
enjoyment and as a demonstration of its
close relation to the life of the people
who created il. Each significant period
of the art of ancient and medieval times
receives this treatment. The book is
carefully planned and graded to meet the
level of the pupils. II is besides. pat
tern Of scholarly handling. One trusts
Its facts as much as he likes the method.
1t is addressed to teachers and to parents
acting in the capacity of teachers But
readers outside of these classes will lind
u a very illuminating book for a general
first study of this subject.
THE PLANTER. Ry Herman Whitaker
author OF The Settler. etc. New
York: Harper g. Brothers
Mr. Whitaker's story begins something
like the act Of throwing small boy or a
puppy into the water and there leaving
him to learn the art of swimming through
the native impulse toward self-preserva-
ton The first chapter introduces the hero
in the role Of pampered son to a fond:
over-lnothering widow. The second one
presents him in Mexico managing rub
heT plantation which. unknown to the boy
is a shady concern reeking with fraud
and trickerN From this point on. the
story is the poignant one of human slav-
cry. Mr.. Whitaker makes 4 most dramatic
portrayal Of the character and effects of
the contract labor system as it works
out in this region. \ bclievahle atmos-
phere envelops this story. 4 fine romance
enlivens it. But its chief purpose, and
VI has q conspicuous purpose, is that OF the
exposure OF this crime against human be-
ings under the GrgingS of selfish and
brutal individualism. Already in its sec
ond printing. the book under Mr.. Whit i
akers mastery trea atment of this situa
tion. coupled with the fact that he has at
the same time told rema rkably fine
story. bids fair to repeat itself many
times
THE STORY OF THE PANAMA
CANAL. BY Logan Marshall au-
thor of The story of Polar Con-
quest" etc. Illustrated. Philadel
phia: The John c. Winston Com
pany.
comprehensive survey of the Panama
canal. both project and an achieve
ment. The story goes back to the
isthmus. under Spanish discover! and
control. recountins the various plans
for an inter-oceanic communication
that were entertained and then re-
jected even at that early day. The
account moves swiftly over the enter
prise of different countries looking
toward the construction of canal
between the two oceans al this narrow
point until il reaches the time where
il becomes the business of the United
States to build the Panama canal
From here on the record is system
attic and detailed one of the con-
struction of the canal and of the vari-
Gus problems surrounding it upon
every side. very clear plan OF the
canal and of its operations. with pic
lures and charts to illustrate its ever%
point makes chapter of great inter |
est and usefulness. Another sums the
military and political aspects of the
existence of the canal \ forward
looking view of the stupendous ef-
iects of this waterway upon our many
sided national and international life
is followed by a moving picture OF the
great canals of the world. This inclu- |
sive and pa ms akingly authoritative
study offers TO readers a compact and /
available history of the greatest OF
modern industrial enterprises in the
fUll sum OF its operations anu rea-
scnably argued forecast OF its effects
EDt CATI>G THE CHILD At HOME:
Personal Training and the Work
Habit. ~ Ella Frances Lynch, !
founder of the School of individual i
Instruction. New York: Harper < |
Brothers.
The best teat hing | ever saw in my
life was done by the busy mother of
nine children. who taught her little ones
as she worked about the house" Miss
Lynch has too much sense to assume
that all mothers have either the gifts
or the endurance to emulate this
mother of whom she speaks in Such
high praise. too much good judgment
10 suggest the doing away with schools
and other agencies of eduCatIn. chIl-
dreu outside the home What size does
believe anG auvocate. however, is that
the home should be "A mlch larger lac !
TOR in definitely training and educating
children than il at present is. And in
this belief this writer gives. with every
sort Of clear direction and specific help. !
a systematic and practical program for
home teaching. This is the plainrSt sort |
of plain instruction to mothers in the
at of teaching. as it is also the clear
est of statements that it is the duty of
the home 10 do rn&ch of the work that
is rele@ated to the schools.
HISTORY OF The SOLDIERS HOWE,
Washington. ID. a.. Edited h.' f.oa
Anderson i.awton. author Of Mai.
Rober; Anderson and Fort sumter.
etc. New York. 6. +. Futusms
Sons.
This volume stands H. support of its
authors claim that Mai. Robert An
dersoE. the defender Of Fort sumter
was the originator and founder of the
Soldiers Home. The evidence gathered
here consists OF bills introduced into
Congress. petitions. official reports and
correspondence. extracts nom histo-
ries and certain parts Of personal let
tiers. The author, who is a daughter
0f Mai. Robert Anderson. cites lntl-
mate facts OF he fatil.i's iiSture. and
traces til. sources from which spr.tus
the impuls" toward the patriotic and
hencfcsit idea of the Soldiers Home.
The whole is full and rounded body
sources of information. This evidence
looks logically and rightly. toward
some sort OF appropriate public -ecoS-
milton of the founder OF this dutifully
worthy Institution.