Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-16

chapter of Genesis ought TO be
opened up to make place for
Luther Burbank, Thomas Ed
ison and their kind. Certain
" their work belongs nowhere else so
clearly as it does in the class of pure
creation. To read of the achievements
of either of these two men is to enter
a wonder-world of mere mans own
making. The story in hand. that of the
life and work of Luther Burbank. the
wizard of Santa Rosa is more fasci-
mating than a novel, more stirring than
what is commonly looked upon as ad-
Venture. The book is devoted, in the
nain to what Mr.. Burbank has accom-
plished in the plant world-creatinG
new fruits and vegetables to order. as
81 were. perfecting others, changing
others from uselessnsss to a high de-
gree of economic value. And Mr.. Will
liams does not confine his narrative
here to a description of what Mr.. Bur
bank has achieved in the plant world.
He gives. besides. minute directions in
order that the reader may. if he be so
minded. take a hand himself in plant
experimentation. From review OF the
theory of plant development the writer
DEVELOPMENT, indicating certain feaS-
ible and practical methods that might
at present he applied to the subject of
eugsnics. Mr.. Williams has been init
mately associated with Luther Bur-
banks experimental work at Santa
Rosa. He is. therefore. qualified to
speak on this subject with authority
out of this opportunity he has pro-
duced a hook of definite purpose and
common appeal for the use of such as
wish to take advantage of the tested
and proved experience of Mr.. Burbank
in the plant world. To the general
reader. besides. the book is one of
amaZement and fascination.
THE STRANGERS WEDDING. BY
". L. George. author of THE Sec
ond Blooming" etc. Boston: Little,
Brown & Co.
This is a big theme, one. too. which
the author handles with a good deal of
insight and an uncommon degree of
artistry. 1t is a serious novel. While
this title may apply, and does. to every
wedding. it is peculiarly applicable to
those unions wherein the man and
woman belong to separate classes as
class is regarded in aristocratic coun-
tries. This is the basis of Mr.. Georges
novel. 1t is an English story whose
hero is young man with sufficient
means to permit him to indulge the
ingraned philanthropy of his nature.
This fellow feeling expresses itself in
work among the poor, in taking up his
abode in settlement center. Then
follows his marriage with a girl of an
other grade than his own. In most
realistic manner Mr.. George draws out
from the life of each of these two the
1nnumerable daily evidences that they
are hopeIessly alien to each other. The
,naTriaGe period is little more than
SLOW and painful reversion of each TO
hi l.nin lnye I,1-t ha.s eli rio
of this romance. or rather as its back
ground, is very serious consideration
of TIE quality of the work that is being
done among the poor. of it's usefulness.
book is well worth the attention of the
uplifter. The aim of the story, how
ever, and its prime Importance lie in
the realistic and dramatic disclosure of
the fact that love is not all that is
necessary to a happy married life.
WAR LETTERS FROM. THE LIVING
DEAD MAN. Written down by Elsa
Barker. author of Letters From a
Living Dead Man. New York
Mitchell kennerley.
Out of these communications two
questions rise that are of prime inter
est to the reader. One concerns the
good faith of Elsa Barker and the other
has to do with the source of these let
tiers which purport to be from the late
Judge David P. Hatch of Los Angeles,
Cal SO far one has not been able to
find any one who doubts the sincerity
of the writer's statement that she is
the automatic agent of these communi-
cations. That settled. the remaining
question opens up the region of psychic
phenomena, region of far spaces and
indeterminate conclusions. The book
of itself. apart from the matter of it's
source is not in any great sense re-
narka BILE II manifests very close
touch with the things of the material
world. concerning itself in this issue
largely with the war now going on. 1t
is certainly a very human CominuniCa-
ton. placing blame and tracing causes
much as We this side do. The
brotherhood of man, the growing
brotherhood OF man. and the mystery
Of love and hate are the two themes
that dominate these letters. aside from
the narrative itself. The book is inter-
sStlng. arrestIug even. not only in IT'S
content. bat $ a contribution to a sub
jet that is of acute moment to large
body of serious and certainly highly
intelligent Investigators.
nILDEw MANSE. Wy Belle h Mani
ates. author of "AmariIly of Clothes
line Alley, etc. illustrated by VIII
lam van Dresser. Boston: Little,
Brown x Co
THIS q a cheer-up story, despite the
S-s'1-l loNHlu SiOoUl Aildl the GtuuplIS
inclined may see in its title TIE
'mansc" may be widowed. and IL IN
doubtedly -. but its struggling roomi-
1css. its low and widespread ease of
approach. its general invitingness of
face and attitude. ake 1T. nevertheless.
q JOY to the reader. And the big fam
1ly OF HaphaZards. the
reighbors cal then-are. one and all.
% the right sort for this easy going
old house one. reading, recalls the
Bronson Alcott household in its make
snift gayety ard happiness a young
gin, come 10 board with the Mildew-
Manse folks, rather takes matters in
hand for the Hazards, besides attending
10 some very Interesting things of her
own in the way of earning her living
and coming into a personal romance of
uncommon charm. But the chief at
traction Of this bright story lies in the
general spirit of the old house and in
its effect upon the big and lovable
family with whose joys and griefs il is
so completely one. To create A con-
s!stent and believa bic group of people
who are instinct with cheerfulness and
courage in circumstances that might
well call out gloom and fear. is Ger
tainly 2 worth while thing to do. And
the writer has done this in Mildew
Manse as triumphantly as she produced
tie sam. effect ia "Amariliy OF Clothes
Line Alley.
PERSI asIVE PEGGY. BY Maravene
Thompson, author OF The Woman
Law. etc. illustrated by Clarence
i'pd1rWDod New York Fred l.