Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-29

The Next Step in Democracy, by R.
W. Sellars, Phi. D. (MacMillan Com
pany, n. Y, $1.5O.)
A discussion of the represent
theory of government that we call So
cialism is scarcely profitable without
working knowledge of what consti-
tutes socialism and what it's aims and
hopes are. This very necessary infor-
nation, essential to a fair minded crit
icism, is here given in a broad, COM
prehensive way by the assistant profess
sor of philosophy at the University OF
Michigan. Many will absolutely dis
agree with the opinions advanced and
the deductions reached, but the treat
ment given is extremely interesting in
his development of the subject.
The author describes socialism as "a
democratic movement whose purpose
is the securing of an economic organi-
zation of society which will give the
maximum possible at any one time
of justice and liberty" He is here de-
scribing the ideal condition, but un-
fortunately he minimizes the powerful
force of human nature pulling the
other way. He develops the idea of
socialism from the Utopists, who be-
lieved in the natural goodness of all
humans and in an artificial environ
ment; through the MARKHAM school,
which was more practical and brought
the socialists belief into direct COM
munication with an adaptation to the
working classes connected with large
industries-the realistic stage in other
words; finally to the present stage,
when agitators and educators are both
necessary to the spread of the social
istic propaganda.
The Red Debt, Echoes from Ken
lucky, by Everett Macdonald. &C. w.
Dillingham; Co., S1.25.)
This is an absorbing story of the
McGills VS.. the Lutts, one of the fam
Gus old Kentucky feuds. Moonshiners
and revenue men, law-haters and
ruthless slayers keep the action at a
high pitch of excitement. These
rough giants of the hills, with their
own honest but misled conviction of
right and wrong, are an interesting
lot.
The plot deals with the history of
the young Lutts who are determined
to avenge their fathers death at the
hands of the revenue man. Little
Belle-Ann Benson, the adopted daugh-
ter of Paw" Lutts, registers a VOW
that the man who shall kiss her lips
must first kill the "revenuer." She
loves Lem Lutts and he reciprocates.
However, she goes away to school and
receives d new NlSlOH VI Quly
which after a powerful struggle is also
revealed to Lem. The ending is a
happy one, but the suspense entirely
satisfactory. The power of visualiZa-
ton in the authors work is exception
ally good.
The Gate of Asia, by William War
field. &C. P. Putnam's Sons, S2.50)
The author takes his readers on a geo.
graphical journey from the Persian
Gulf to the Black Sea, recounting in
an interesting fashion his own trip
through the region including Mesopo-
tamia, Kurdistan, Armenia, and the
Persian province of Azerbaijan, that
connecting link between the character
istically European nationalities and
the equally characteristic Asiatic races.
All invading armies, all trade routes
from the west that have gone east or
vice versa, have passed through this
country and the authors route cross
ed that of the great Cyrus, of Persia,
Nadir Shah, Xenophon, Alexander the
Great, the Emperor Julian, and other
conquerors.
It is a valuable work for those who
are concerned with study of that
particular region. an adequate and
ample view of the commercial relig-
ious, civil and martial life and Gus
toms of these peoples who live in the
pathway that connects two great con-
tinents.
The tragic death of Lord Kitchener
has revived interest in the many stor-