Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-14
BOOTH HARRINGTON
WRITES CAPHALLY
IN HIS SEVENTEEN"
Genuine Humanity and Humor in
a New Book Far Superior
to "The Turmoil"
OTHER NEW BOOKS

Presumably nothing his friends can do
will persuade Mr.. Booth Harrington that
he is a great man. In spite Of their advice
and announcement, he will 60 on writing
''Iurinoils,' when he might be creating such
masterpieces as ''Penrod" and Seventeen"
This latter (Harper s. Brothers, New York;,
IS brief and exhilarating young master
piece, It Is young in spirit and It deals
with young people, almost exclusively Not
poetically as Compton Mackenzie might,
but with quick humor, delicate percep-
tion OF childhood and adolescence, n high
spirited pleasure in all young peoples
doings.
"Seventeen" is story Of a frightful case
Of calf love, in which, perhaps the adjective
Is superfiuous. Penrod, suddenly heightened
In trousers, suddenly grown green and sal
ady; Penrod, in love with creature who
never speaks more than one word OF real
talk In the whole summer Of her content,
might be the hero of tho book William
Sylvanus Baxter is the lad
His manifold embarra ssments, his eN-
altations, his stutterings, his torn trousers,
his disgraces, his speeches are the matter
of highly amusing story, which Is nearly
q monument to its authors genuine human
ity The young woman is utterly incredible
In spots. But to make up there Is one char
acter in the book who is perfect. Jane,
Williams sister, was certainly not cast for
the juvenile lead. but there she stands, q
real child. a wonder
In sum this book contains far more UNDER
standing Of life, far more character than
'"rhe Turmoil" 1t is much more interest
ing abd entertaining And here, since this
book Is 90 per cent conversation, Mr.. TarlS-
ington has sought for the style and the
rhythm of reality and has captured them.
His endeavors are therefore crowned with
more success than those of his former book.
In these merry old days Of war and in.
ternational spies and other fascinating mat.
ters we might have expected "Spies and
Secret Service" by Hamil Grant Q'rederiCl
A. Stokes, New York; That is, we might
have expected the book but hardly the au-
thor. Well informed, and dealing with a
subject which Is full of unimaglnable
thrills, Mr. Hamil Grant chooses to spoil
his work by fatuous style, which in Eng
land may be considered chatty and breezy,
II they care for such things or use those
words, but which we find a little sickeniug.
But nothing in the manner can detract
from the charm of the matter. That deals
with espionage from Biblical times to the
time (three years, we understand, in jaiD OF
Ignatius 4. T. Lincoln Major Andre and
Nathan Hale are not only given chapters;
their psychology is examined and that
much the author does, and does well, for
most OF his famous heroes or villains. The
spies of Napoleon and of Frederick the
Great, of the Molly NGagures of diplomacy,
secret societies and the church, all have
their place. 1t is a fascinating study.
A book on the Fundamentals of Military
Service" (Lppincott, Philadelphia). pre-
pared by Captain Lincoln c. Andrews,
United States Cavalry, under the super
vision of Major General Leonard Wood, and
with special chapters on separate branches
of the service by experts, must be of tre-
mendous interest and value at the present
time. Those who have gone to the front,
even those who go no farther front than
Plattsburg, can get tremendous inspiration
from the clear method of the book and the
sanity Of its discussions. Training, drill Or
ganizaton cavalry, artillery (coast and
held), engineer and signal corps, arms and
regulations are the important technical chap
tiers of the book, and they should be much
read by laymen so that some understanding
JpfCtfe complicated life of n soldier may be
had, The layman. too, will take particular
pleasure in the introduction, sarcastic but |
true, on the military policy of the United |
States and in the chapter on the psychology |
of the service. The book, incidentally, is eX- |
.ceedingly well made.
The reform of the ballot is the first cs- |
sential TO the restoration of democracy in |
the United States, according to Ward Ma |
cauley. In his little volume, "Rcclaimlng |
the Ballot (Duiiield Co, New York;, |
which is really handbook Of the evils of |
our present system of casting and counting |
ballots. he makes strong plea for the es- |
tablishing of civic centres, in which II will |
be possible TO have the office seek the candi- |
date, and not the candidate the office. The |
author lays no emphasis whatever upon the /
need to distinguish issues as well as the |
personalities OF the candidates seeking cleo |
tion. But the book has the power to |
awaken in the minds Of the conscientious |
voters" the necessity of doing something to |
clean up politics. And in this, presidential |
year. it is quite an item.
II is not complimentary 10 Americans for |
a publisher 10 assume that we do not know
any more about the principles Of constitu-
tlonal government than is known by the |
Chinese, yet such an assumption has been
made. Harper & Brothers, New York, have
published in their Citizens Series book |
based on the lectures which Frank j.
Goodnow, now president of John Hopkins |
University. delivered In 1894 before the
students of the Pelkin University while he
was legal adviser TO the Chinese Govern
ment
The volume, which Is entitled ''Princlples
of Constitutional Government" is an excel
lent handbook for the average citizen As
Professor GoOdnow was talking to men who
knew little or nothing about the subject,
he had 10 make his discussion simple and
clear, qualities which are too often lack
ing in books of this kind.
Besides chapters dealing with the consti-
tutlonal systems of Europe there is a full |
discussion OF the American system, with
chapters on the development OF the power
of the Executive and the advantages and |
disadvantages Of the two chambered legis-
latures. No ambitious young man who
wishes TO inform himself can do better than
read this volume.
In "The Meaning Of Personal Life" DR..
Newman Smyth (Harpsr & Bros, New
York;. has some thoughtful chapters
thoughtful from the standpoint of the
authors thinking and in the stimulation
of the reader-on metaphysics, ethics and
religion. Those who like a serious book Of
high character that win be informative and |
inspiring az the same time can profit BY
Doctor Smyth's work. The author is a we'll
known clergyman and has lectured at sew
sral OF our great universities.
Andre Warnods Prisoner Of War" q. B.
Iippineott Company PhiladeIphia) Is the
diary Of q French army surgeon who passed
many months iHs "A German concentration
camp before he was exchanged. 1t may have
been interesting IN the original and doubt
less h vas. but Is so badlV translated hv |