Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

that one. at the end of Frank
Harris study, will be permit
ted a free choice between
England and Germany as the
future rightful leader in European al
fairs Nothing could be farther from
the fact For. from the first word OF
this study to the last one, the writer Is
completely absorbed in an EFFORT 10
point the superior powers OF German!
and to emnhasize accordingly its moral
right to leadership as between THESE
two E.uropean nations. When he has
finished with the two. they are no more
comparable than Borneo and the
United States. Mr.. Harris begins with
a survey of England, in the constitu-
ton of it's society, in its laws and Its
ideals of justice. The sum of this re-
view is that England is an ostrich
headed oligarchy. framing laws for its
own continuance in fat living. Justice
connotes 10 it nothing more than means
to this end. The opposite side of TINS
shield is picture of the teeming poor
of She British nation. swarmins
loathsomely below the level of olisar-
chical notice. Then Mr.. Harris passes
over to Germany, where, in eulosistic
mood. he fingers over the social democ-
racy of that country, its SURPRISING or
ganization and administration of AFFAIRS
the contentment of its people IN gen.
eral well being, the patriarchal spirit of
its direction and control. AS for the pres
emit crisis and the events leading up
TO it, England has yet to utter her
first truth either in diplomacy or in
her domestic dealings. or in her public
and general utterances. Germany is
much more honest and admirable ana
France is noble and brave nation. MIR.
Harris is always able to make inter
is eNceDtlOnally
fine writer He is master of his facts, too
No one questions that No one questions,
either, the accuracy of such facts as come
ont in this study. 1t is rather the matter
of emphasis, of the relations into which
the various groups of fact are thrown,
that raise a question here. 1t is the
spirit the mental attitude. the personal
equation. that scale the value of this
study to slighter proportions that IT
would possess under other and more
generous consideration. The present
tempeStuous surge, sweeping every one
far beyond the levels of dispassion. Is
proving that there is nothing more
flexible more accommodating to per-
sonal viewpoint than the very truth
that has hitherto been counted as the
most unyielding of conditions. In re-
spect to Frank Harris, one is inclined
to think that a paragraph from this
book accounts, in part at least, for the
state of mind under which the study
is made: 1T is more than thirty years
her (England) and her monarch. and
was admitted to the American bar in
Lawrence. Kan. | owe Germany and
France more of my intellectual life
than I owe England: but because 1
have lived good deal in England
without falling over head and ears in
love with her, Lord Northcliffe and his
henchmen in the press talk of me as
traitor"
SHADOWS OF FLAMES: a Novel. By
Amelie Rives, author of The Quick
or the Dead" etc. Frontispiece in
color by Alfred James Dewey. New
York: Frederick A. Stokes Company.
For treatment that is both open and
opulent, Shadows of Flames" rivals
THE Quick or the Dead the early ro-
nance that first brought out conspicu-
ously the name of Amelie Rives as a
writer of perfervid fiction. The years
lying in between the two novels, how
ever. have given readers good deal of
experience with intimate amatory lit
erature- Therefore. this latest of the
achievements of the Princess Troubetz-
koy will in its immediate effect fall
far short of the nine days literary Cos
sip and the uneasy general reception
that met The Quick or the Dead This
is the story of Sophy Taliaferro. By
virtue of her surprising beauty this
young Virginian becomes, first, the
wife of an English gentleman and, sec
ono the "lle OF a rlCh American youth.
And, SO far as one is able to judge. the
only hindrance to her third marriage
is the writer's sure instinct that an
other venture of the kind would turn
what is obviously intended for serious
story into fantastic and ridiculous
farce. To be sure, one knows past
contradiction that soon as his back
is turned. Sophy Taliaferro-CheSney-
Loring will add the Italian. Amaldi, to
her list of husbands. But it somewhat
appeases the reader that he himself is
not, so TO speak party to the connu-
bal Rregariousness of this young wom-
an There are pleasing backgrounds to
these various adventures English.
Italian. American backgrounds-au Of
which are handled with feeling and
skill. The people, too, are believable
human beings of appeal and some dis
tinction. The plot. quite within the
bounds of plausibility, moves the theme
efficiently along its course. And Sophy
Taliaferro is an engaging creature who
does her best TO make the most of two
very bad bargains. What quarrel the
reader has here is chiefly with himself
for his clumsy and repeated standings
upon the particularly private and in
innate moments of Sophy and one or
another of her lovers and husbands.
THE RAINBOW TRAIL: A Romance.
BY Zane Grey, author of Riders of
the Purple Sage" etc. New York
Harper & Brothers.
+fIVSHcI Ldit Grey romance OIL the
lar west And here, too, as in the ma
iority of this writer's novels il is the
magic land itself in it's surprising an
peal OF color and form. in its austere
and dominating personality, that takes
the chief part and constitutes the great
attraction OF this novel. Beneath
this matter of prime interest however
beneath this poetic romance of the
place Itself. there runs vigorous and
SURFING story Of western life of men
and women whom the tremendous
FORCES and aspects of nature around
them have fashioned and directed Into
this environment, as the hero of the
adventure, the writer brings an east
.Tn-bred man to whom the solitudes
and rugged experiences of the west
are giving many things that the east
denied him. The trail of Mormon
mystery lends purpose to his course
and places him in touch with certain
traders and Indians who contribute
with hne effect to mis- own undertake
lnSs. out OF the trail an engaging
love story energies, winding about per
plexInSly as love stories are wont to
do. But Zane Grey's forte is not the
record OF romantic love. He is at his
best when he pits man against the
enormous demands that the vast wild
ness OF the west makes upon him
And this IS his strength here There
are splendid moments in this adyen-