Evening star., 1915-02-21

II ttHplS an vi
nO the present war through an
examination OF the history,
the genius and tn. persist
ent general policy of the Prussian empire
And to the author. at least. the out
come of this investigation proves con-
clusively that the monstrous conflict
now going on is a lineal descendant OF
Frederick the Great, that il is the
legitimate offspring of the ambitions
and aims wrought into the l4ber of the
Prussian state by him and his success
sors. Frederick the Second becomes
therefore. the subject of much the
larger part of this inquiry Mr.. Ches-
terton's analysis defines him as the
ruthless lord of hosts, the implacable
god of battles, and Identifies has char
acter with that which inspires and
directs the present war. The book
gives a wholly one-sideu view, natu-
rally 1t would be a strange sort OF
Englishman, or German, or Belgian, or
Frenchman. or Russian who could at
this Juncture muster Il broadly dlSpaS-
sionate view OF the European war. So,
by reason of its partisan cast, the ul-
innate destination of this book Is the
huge melting pot OF premature publ
caIIons, whence, in the course OF time,
something ike the clear ruth OF this
portenIous matter Will emerge. In the
meantime. however, the book Will be
read with interest, if not with 1ull in
dorSement. MIR. Cnesterton is a clear,
unreverenIial thinker. line his famous
brother. Like nIm. too, he CSIignts in
strong bIack-and- -wnIte statements,
calculated TO SHoCk and Irlgnten tlmld
conventional folks. He let's his feel
inEs so, and tnen writes up TO them
with the literary viSor of which ne is
SO much the master. Therefore, one
reading mere Will put llItle pinch of
salt lnJo the exercise, just to be on the
rignt side OF tact anu lair dealing.
having done this, ne will ~e able to
read with aepre citation TINS fervld Eng
lsnman view OF the German empire
in its relation to the European war.
SLEEPING WATERS: \ Novel. By
Jonn Trevena, author oil Granite.
etc. New ork: MlIchell Aennerley.
The usual order of novel making, one
takes it. is to choose Il theme, to in
vent Il plot to objectify the theme, and
then 10 create people 10 set the plot
out i'll suitable action. The setting OF
d story is. at best but an adJunct, able
TO command no more than secondary
care III TINS be tne RUE, as one as
suInes 1t to oe, there is at least one
notaole exception to 1t. For tnis or
der turns compIeteiy about wnen one
comes INTO literary grip with Dart
moor Dartmoor, invariably refusing
the subordinate role OF Dac.- -grouno,
plot ana people, while mere morIals
wait about 10 make such entrances aIid
exits as they may Many a time mas
Eden PnlIlpoJts proved tne absorbing,
Usurping disposition OF TINS corner OI
the eaIUn- Ana more than once has
Jonu Irevena reaSSerted II WITH equal
power and cnarm wnoiIy ms own.
The book in hand, .'Sleeping Waters"
mat,er-of-IacJ way. a young priest,
outdone by the London Sums, goes
down TO Devon in quest health e.
visible agents OF MS recovery are
woman who feeds him broth and
man VINO gives hlm pills and friendly
countryside tnat mis- his mind with
the countless legends of moor and
Dart But the real doctor ana the real
nurse is the country itself in magic
seizure on the heart nd soul "a
ther Jack somewhere among the moors
are the fabled waters "Nympna
weh be good for sykenesse" a
draught from these waters prInSs one
the healing of forgetfulness. 1t opens
his eyes to the auStere lovelnesS of
tie land 1t yields to him some of the
immemorial secrets of this ancient
fragment of Wales. 1t admits him,
too. to the companionship of those in
to whose blood is distilled the essence
of this age-old spirit of land and sea.
Having found and drunk of the wa
ters of Nympha, Father Jack becomes
thereafter the center % romance
that. half fanciful and half real, sums
TO an allOSetntr OF
human experience that is sufused and
colored by the pers onality of the place
in which il unfolds.
FOUR on 4 TOUR OF ENGLAND. BY
Robert and Elizabeth Shackleton
authors of "Cnvisited Places of OId
Europe, etc Illustrated. New
York: Hearst's International Lii
brary Company.
This is the rare case of a unique ex-
full freshness of its first enjoyment
1t is, moreover. a body of practical ad-
vice and --egestion, by whose literal
acceptance one may prove for him
self the pleasures chat lie in motor
tour through England, Wales and
Scotland From catching the motor,
to housing and feeding it; from a gem
eral survey of the route. to particu-
lars about prices and details of man
agement, no point of uncertainty is
left to perplex and possibly to thwart
one who may be minded to follow this
trail.
Enthusiasm. good humor and pure
humor itself. all abundant and un-
quenchable. are the common contribu-
fion thrown INTO this project by II !,
st of the adventure is highly commun-
icable. BY the time one has read
dozen pages he simply joins the group
and goes along. map Of the road
and amazing number of charming
pictures snatched along the way, re-
inforce the text 10 the measure of a
passable substitute for the realities
of the experience One finds himself
whirled into ancient historic byways
that the railways have not, as yet,
consented TO gather in. And besides
This. there is the frequent free-will
stopping, as one listeth. for many a
local bit. not OF necessity historic save
as the soil itself is d very real part of any
English chronicle. One loves lne holi-
day cheerfuiness of this book There is
veneration and a fine artistry of appre-
citation all along the way. but dead
and gone greatness is permitted TO
dominate it. These tourists balance
recognition of an august past by long
cheerful looks around into the pres
ent Their respect for the ages is sea
eoned with the spice of JOY in the pres
ent and with the sense that should
'all be as happy kings, since the
world is so full of number Of things"
- thoroughly enjoyable book, whose
beauty is not marred by the fact that
IL is also useful and practical book.
PEACE INSURANCE. By Richard
Stockton. jr. Chicago: 4. T.. Nc
Clurg x Co.
This is text book OF straight bust
ness cut, on the subject of insuring
against war. Out of the pure logic of
the discussion il closes in a demand.
Andsrh il that the reron-