Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-05

certain areas that though
conspicuously rich in re-
sources are as conspicuously
poor in the qualities and conditions
that underlie progress. That is to say.
these territories are far behind the
rest of the world in industrial devel-
opment. and as far behind it also IN a
competent political organization To-
day Mexico stands clear as one Of the
backward states. SO does Asia MINOR,
so do the Balkan states and China
Yesterday it was northern Africa To-
morrow it may be any region wherH
the conditions of backwardncss, coupled
with the temptations of good natural
resources, prevail These are the dan
ger spots of the world. These are the
stakes of diplomacy. For each lies
open waiting for the development OF
its latent industries. waiting for the
security and promise of stable gov
eminent. Up to the present time the
question has been which of the powers
could reach these weak areas nrst,
which by its superior prestige and
force would be able to seize the lions
share of commercial and political ad-
vantage Wars innumerable have
sprung from this policy. This, at bot
torn. is tie cause of the present war as
u =
Having reviewed the subject up to TINS
point. Mr.. Lippmann pauses to wonder
if it is not time for the appearance OF
an intelligent world diplomacE. one
that COMFORTS with the aims and claims
of modern life, and looks toward some
rational and effective treatment OF
these danger spots of the world
plan that seems feasible to this writer
is roughly speaking, to make the pro-
lection of these feeble states lnterna-
tional in its character. rather than
matter of national exploitation. That
is to say. he would have such of the
powers as, either by situation OF other
circumstance. possess interests In
one of these feeble states combine.
through representatives, to cooperate
with that state in the development OF
industry and trade, in the formation OF
a stable government. 1t is here at the
source of trouble. according to the
writer's argument. that the opportunity
for a constructive world policy lies.
1t is in connection with this world
policy that he discusses the relation OF
business and finance to diplomacy. 10
patriotism even. and to larger ana
more democratic consideration OF this
matter In this outline that covers
both a survey of past failures and
tentative plan for the future Mr. Llpp-
mann. setting aside the current com OF
abstract phrase. has reached down 10
the man and women and children and
the other real things of which TINS
subject consists, From this fresh view
point he discusses with convincing
yigor and directneSS the WORLD posi-
bilities that underlie the sirnpe process
of facing straight upon the sources OF
world disturbance i'll an !oE'est intent
and in concert of efficient service
OF the hundreds of books written SINCE
the outbreak of the war. this is one OF n
possible half dozen out of the whoie
body that contain really construct
i've point of departure for future action
OBIOMOV. BY Ivan GonchaTov- Trans
lated from the Russian b. {. J. no.
garth New York: The afacnliian
Company.
This novel proves to De much more
than an impressive example of Russian
realism. much more than finely ar
tistic dramatic story. 1t is all Of TINS,
and it is, moreover. a startling STUDY
OF the universal fact of inertia appiieo
to the human being. That tendency,
on the one hand. for a body to stay put
and. on the other hano. the equal ten
dencv for ii. once set a-gotug, to con-
tinue along the line of least resistance
is here made concrete in flya liEltch
Oblonlov Oblomoy is man of sub
stance landed proprietor. person OF
fine instincts and cultivated tastes. NV
ing. besides, in the midst Of tee intel
lectual and artistic life of Tetrograd
These are the circumstances CT the per
sonal and social existence of liSa
Ilyitch Oblouov. In that mastery. not
of mere detail. but of such significant
and revealing detail as the Russian
writer alone appears. SO FAR, TO nave
achieved Ivan Goncharov develops
upon this foundation the gradual
atrophy and slow death of Oblomov. In
ruthless devotion to the mental and
physical facts of Oblomov's nature he
depicts a man dying day by day
through sheer lack of viii to rouse
himself. to initiate. to do, to use his
; mind and body in systematic and per-
sistent service. The story opens in
Enthusiastically Russian simplicity.
Here in the late hours of the forenoon,
ObIomov. still in bed, is idly toying with
the notion of getting up. II is long
past room before this is accomplished.
This sin@le daily act sums the attitude
of Oblorlov throughout. Here the null
titude of pTetenses, the false starts. the
self-Gccciyings. The large determine
tioDs. the elaborate f:ettin. ready. and
the ultimate settling bacl. into ihe lazy
land OF dreaming. these are tire things
OF which the man dies daily Terrible
Is this story is, and IL is terrible il
misses the pervasive gloom in which
the Russian novel is commonly STEPPED.
In its running appea! il is lighter. less
sodden than these. 1t IS only when
ofe stands away from the story, the
cumulative effect Of Oblomov's weak
ness in his hands the Inevitable steps
OF this descent sci aCsterely before his
eyes. that hc feels the vital force of
meaning Of its message. New to Eng
lish readers. ivan Goncharoy. by this
novel alone. earns q place in their
esteem that is quite equal 10 that oc-
cupied b. tine other great Russian
writers
THE WAYS or WOMAN. rs Ida NJ
T@r1ell, author OF The business OF
Ge.ng Woman" etc. New York:
The Macmillan Company.
when things generally are in an
alarming state Of SKIES and s.avens. i,
ts like lifeline thrown to the foun-
dering 10 come across some one any
where. vino Is keeping his head, some
posure to look ths chaos straight in
the face. 10 demand of Il us meanings
and intent. and TO shame it out of the
contortions Of make believe with which.
like an unwise nurse, il is frightening
the children into fits Of apprehension
and fear, Just uOW the tu!luit of ex-
element. the prod gious confusion of
Issues, the bulk Of one-sided view aud
volume OF balf-baked plan. is about
the women. what part shall the women
have, either by right or privilege. in
business, In politics, in municipal man
agement. IN peace propa ga nda and in
about every other conceive bile thing IN
public life? In this little book OF seven
essays :here stands revealed a sane
and uneScited woman vino, granting,
many If not all the claims set up b,.
the women. maintains, nevertheless
that the bulk OF concern and initfatiyr
should center around the fundarnentat