The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-04
FICTION AND SERIOUS
WORKS NAMED BY
NOTABLE CITIZENS

Unusual DOCK. unconventional scenes
thoughts and incidents are graphically
related. No higher praise can be be-
slowed on any book than to say ~ wish
there were more OF It." Very truly yours,
HENRY CLEws
Aanie Nathan Meyer.
II 10 impossible for me at this moment
to take the time to recall the books Of
the entire year. But of the books pub
lished in America the past few months
] should at once unquestionabiy select
FIRST Mrs. Wharton's novel The Custom
OF the Country. because I consider Il the
greatest novel by an American writer and
one OF the greatest OF any land or time.
Here we have that wonderful thing. detail
upon detail. fact upon fact, marshailed by
an artist into a balanced, living. coherent
whole.
1t Is given only TO genius to fuse the
life OF the moment--life as II comes bub-
bling and seething in action--into con-
vincing work OF art. And while The Gus
tom Of the Country towers above its
contemporaries as a piece Of literature a
portrayal of life and a revelation OF char
aoter. II Is also unique in its delightful
impersonality and aloofness from the heat
OF the fray there Is In 1t the Icy laughter
Of gods.
Art is too often an escape from life !:
IL IL rare indeed TO find II mastered for
the purpose OF ilumiring life. When
this happens those TO whom art Is the
most precious thing in the world sing
"Hallelujah 2"
Next put Our Irish Theatre, by Lady
gregory. FOR Its precious message Of cour-
age and conviction and it's n, te, which
William Yeats glories in. OF mo compro-
mise" 1t Is to the world Of art what
Booker Washington's Up From Slavery /,
to the world OF morals--a record Of
dogged persistence and faith In the tnings
that count.
Third. Percy Maekaye's =. Thousand
Years AQo-volume two Of the Drama
Leagues series OF plays. l include this
not alone for Its poetry and imaginati on,
which even with the Pickering flame Of
fantasy throws Its light upon our life OF
today. but also because In reading IL and
con1uring the kind OF acting and stage
setting II deserved does one become aware
OF the tragedies Of our own overommer-
cialized theatre. its tragedies and also
twere It otherwise) aware Of its posi-.
oilities. Yours very truly.
ANNIE NATHAN MEYER
Prof. Brander Matthews.
The book that most interested ME in
1913 was Col. Roosevelt's Autobfooraphu
And ! was also delighted by Senator
Lodges Early Memories and BY Mr.. II. c.
az tCT 0OMOCT.
Yours very truly
BRANpER MATTHEWS
ChaPles Lewis sIattery,
You ask me to name two or three books
which In my opinion are the best issued
within the last year
should cay without hesitation that the
pest biography Is Trevelyan's John Bright
MOI only does II reveal Bright's personal
attractiveness and great power AS a
statesman but II gives us a clear pic
tuFe OF man who, so far as one can see
never yielded to compi omise, did always
what he believed right without thought Of
consequences, and felt direct respon-
sbility TO God The book IL more than In
teresting. II Is vital and inspiring.
Among technical books l should place
first Prof Josiah Koyce's Problem Of
Christianity. Interpreting Christianity, as
II were. fiom without with the freedom OF
philosophical scholar. Or. Royce gives
US the last utterance of rapidly
growing tendency among trained think
ers not formerly counted on the
side of organized Christianity to vim
dictate the necessary value OF doctrines
like the Atonement and of institutions like
the church The orthodox Christian will
miss the note OF personal loyalty to the
Master OF Christianity and will feel that
the book deals with His teaching rather
than with His life; but it has profound
message for AL thoughtful men
An impressive book. quite as searching
as Prof Royces. with this added note OF
personal loyalty to Christ, Is . volume Of
sermons by the Rev. DR.. Elwood Wor-
cester entitled Religion and Life. This
volume IL filled with revelations OF per-
sonal experience Of the power Of the or
ganixed church and It's Master. It 10 .
human document Of real Importance.
. 4 L-l n
like TO speak Of Mrs. Burnett's T. Tenn
baron. II 10 an Interesting story, In which
the author uses her high art for the
sake of illuminating character and enter
tanning her readers Beset as We are
with stories written to champion some
phase of a problem or some benevolent or
intellectual cause. We must be grateful
for a book which Is content TO tell a story
for Its own sake Yours very truly,
CHARLES LEWIS SLArrERY.
Daniel Frohman.
The two books among the new ones
that have interested me most during the
past year are somewhat wide apart in
their range OF interest. One OF them II
Cecil Rhodes--the Nan and His Work, by
Gordon lie Sueur. and the other Peg OF
Ny Heart, by j. Hartley Manners.
The Rhodes life had the fascination of
a complete human drama OF achievement.
dominated by one of the most extra
ordinary personalities OF modern times.
II has the realism and b!gness OF tragedy
with an occasional lightness OF humor.
Such books are both stimulating and in
forming In addition to it's educational
value 1t possesses what Colley Cibber said
the drama ought to be--'fntelligent rec
| reation."
In a different way Mr.. Manners's charm
Ing story presents the Same sort OF
contrast, because here you have the
universal interest of the Cinderella
theme--always an attractive subject either
for drama or tction-with very refresh
| ing background. In the book. as in the
| play Of the same name. there Is the
| triumph Of exquisite innocence. quality
| whether in book or on the stage-that
never falls to win. l am. very truly
yours. DANIEL FRoHMAN'
| John Quinn.
You ask what In my opinion are the two
| or three best books Of the past year. In
! GLIDING fiction and serious books. and you
| add-"besl from whatever viewpoint
| Meredith's Letters and James Ste
, phens's Crock Of Gold were the first
books to come into my mind. jut these
do not consider because they were pub
| lished In 1912.
| Eirat I uhonlt ,,la IN Hanrv To p,aa's do