davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Reviews of New Books

smile that life excites, but for the most
part 1t is wry smile at the amazing
futility of things. 'Xingu' is one Of
the more indulgent stories, picture of
women In the pursuit of culture. Com
Ing Home" is a grim story of war time
in France. "Autres Temps" shows the
easing up of the conscience of society
over the matter Of divorce. showing
this through the suffering of a woman
who arrived too soon to gain the ben
eft of these changed times. And SO
the surprisingly well developed tales
go on. each proving that human ma
ture is a pretty rusty and unlovely af-
fair. take 1t where you find 1t.
THE ETERNAL FEMININE, Aud Other
Stories. BY Mary Raymond Shipman
Andrews, author of THE Eternal
Masculine" etc. Illustrated. New
York: Charles Scribners Sons.
The Eternal Feminine" is group
of pleasantly critical short stories
which, taken together. are based on
the bundle Of traditions and intuitions
that point and regulate the life of the
great majority of women. Naturally.
therefore, these stories hinge upon the
relation of the woman to man and mar
riage, that twofold light which the an
cestral woman has followed since the
beginning Of human Institutions. The
!auSA lEdt NlttTS through tHese tdleS
comes from the vagarious departures
OF women from this guiding star Of
destiny. The writer has satisfying
sense of humor, finely penetrating
power Of observation and a good gift of
story telling. These stories, conse-
ouently. sum, first. to diverting COM
edv of modern social life, and, next, to
a shrewd commentary on women in
their make-believe departures from
this age-old standard of the feminine.
TELL ME- A HERO STORY. BY Mary
Stewart author of once Upon a
Time Tales" etc. Illustrations by S.
NJ. Palmer New York: Fleming II.
Revel Company.
Miss Stewart meets the demand en-
bodied In this title with nineteen hero
stories. by far the larger part OF them
new to children. The quality that ami
mates the book throughout, both in man
ner and material is freshness. Miss
Stewart tells story with spontaneity,
with a dash and color anc sympathy.
And from this delightful book the boys
and girls see. and feel once more. that
every land has its heroes and that every
time-even the seemingly humdrum today
has them. too. Here prince and poet
and peasant. soldier and plain man, come
together under the bond Of courage, not
only the courage that mounts at high mo-
HleHts, put that also tidt hoiuS unGeT the
dun reaches of daily life. Some Of
these tales are culied from queer rec
ords made hundreds and hundreds Of
years ago. Some are picked out Of >the
morning paper. or the latter there is
''Vive La France" the story OF young
French hero at the front in the great
war. And here, too, is zone of the
Crowd little Joe. caught in between
the floor Of the big elevator and the
shaft. with the floor OF the elevator
burning around him. All Of them are
beautiful and dne. calculated both by
Evening star., 1916-12-24

rite to two kindly men as to give their
little cnes pleasure. and the annual OBJ
servance is now known as the Tower
Plummer memorial service. and now
each year beside the handsome tree
there stands chair and on that chair
laid two Christmas wreaths: one
bears the name of Harry c. Towers. the
other that of Frederick q. Plummer
The Department of Commerce. which
has been called a great big family"
perhaps makes more of a departmental
feature Of Christmas day than any
other one of the federal departments
For several past Christmases Secretary
Redfeld has made it a rule TO send n
message of goodwill and cheer to every
man in his service. those at home as
well as those whose work is away from
the home office. Every foreign attache
or agent of the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce. be he in Europe
or high up in the Andes has his tele-
gram of remembrance from his chief
The most remote keepers of the light
houses. even in far-away Cape st. Elias,
Alaska, and every occupant of a light
ship tossing on angry winter seas; men
of the coast and geodetic survey seek
ing for hidden dangers to vessels
navigating American waters. and the
men of the steamboat inspection sery-
ice on their cold task. all receive this
personal word from Secretary Redfeld
Another Christmas act which Secre-
tary Redfield performs at Christmas
time is to send letter to every en-
poye of his department who is alb
sent from duty on account of illness.
To each of these goes letter over
his own signature containing a MESA ge
of sympathy, encouragement and good
wishes.
Still another unique Christmas func-
ton of the Department of Commerce
Is the doll show which it holds annually
for the benefit of children's homes de-
pendent entirely upon spontaneous
charity. This good work was inaugu-
rated sixteen years ago, when the men
opened their hearts and their purses at
Christmastide to give JOY to the home
less ones.
The idea of this gift and the larger
part of the work connected is credited
an who is in charge of the rest room of
the department. She had held this post
also as an employe of the census bu-
reau before its incorporation with the
Department of Commerce.
Every year a beautiful doll standing
in the rest room presents the plea of
queen of the dollies has been christened
'Pollyanna, the Glad Girl" and she
does her part graciously and effective
ly. Every woman in the service of
the Department of Commerce who can
do SO dresses a doll for tSe object in
view; if she cannot she gives funds
equivalent to the cost of dressed doll
Evening star., 1916-12-24
CHRISTMAS TREE OF BUREAU OF FORESTRY.

bachelor in this Office, Harry c. Towers
by name, who found his Christmas Joy
in giving Joy to others. Every one in
the bureau liked Uncle Harry" and
he knew his co-laborers in his or her
domestic as we'll official capacity.
He learned the names and ages Of all
the children of all the employees. and
one winter about a dozen years ago.
he conceived the idea of having them
all invited to the Office on Christmaa
eve to enjoy little festival at which
he was sole host.
This informal Christmas party, held
on the eighth floor Of the big building
which houses the forest service. was
great success and was enjoyed by every
employe of the bureau. for all were in
vited to see the kiddies hold festival.
There was a tree, a good one, too-the
forest service saw to that-and there
was a little talk. and then Uncle
Harry" disappeared, and in a short time
he re-entered as Santa Claus and
provided no end of amusement. He had
in the pack on his back packages bear
ing the names of the children present.
This Christmas celebration at the bu-
reau of forestry was kept up by Mr..
Towers for some half dozen years. and
until his death in May, 1909. Early as
it was in the year there were found
Evening star., 1916-12-24

idence In the Case" this volume Is sum-
married by its author as "a further dis?
cussion of the ethics of the world war
and the attitude and dpty of the United
that contribute forcefully to the sum of
public opinion in America on the sub
Ject Of the great war. From q general
discussion of the complex problems Of
war and peace the writer passes to spe-
cific consideration of the submarine
controversy and the relation of America
to the allies He moves backward In
review of the foreign policy of Wash
ineton. and then forward in contrast to
a critical survey of that of President
Wilson. upon whose administration in
the war he casts the sevarest reflection.
THE Vision of France" analyzes the
noble and exalted spirit in which
France met this crisis. pointing to this
as a model for the world where There
Is No Vision" investigates the historic
causes and the psychological reasons
Case f2F ths M Edfb Of snen
as an address at Montreal at Cavell
memorial meeting, seeks to illustrate
the rights of n-combatants by one
war" In effect the book sums to an
arraignment of the United States for its
policy Of unpreparedness. or rather for
its policy of Inadequate preparedness
in the face of inevitable wars that will
in all likelihood surpsss the present
one in magnitude. Mr.. Beck is frank
ana 1eGTIeSS, CTl1lClS1nS DOCn men ana
measures without reserve wherever
these stand in the way of what he be-
l!eves to be best for the future OF
America
THE LONG ROAD OF WOMAN'S MEN,
DRY. BY Jane Adams. author of
Twenty Years at Hull House" etc
New York: The Macmillan Company
In substance this is study of race
memory. 1t Is a survey of the long
road which races and peoples and in
dividuals have travelled from an incon-
ceivabiy distant past. a journey that
has left them with a thousand half
defined prepossessions. with innumer-
able vague relationships and curious
sense of unseen and mystic Affiliations.
Miss Adams uses her long experience
with the many nationalftieS assem-
hled at one time or another at Hull
House to trace some of these evil
dtnces of the long memory, and again
she makes use of her own travels and
observations among ancient peoples for
further consideration of it's elusive
power and the many strange customs
ana beliefs to which 1t gives rise in
direrent countries and among different
races and peoples.
Evening star., 1916-12-24

benefit of those absent ones, whom
Christmas finds doing their bit" hun
dreds of miles from home. Each Of the
boys at the front is receiving from his
mates in the Department of Agriculture
q big box, to which every employe has
contributed.
No favoritism has been shown. All are
to share alike. To see that the matter
has been satisfactorily carried out a
committee was formed. OF this, Carl
Vrooman, assistant secretary of agri-
culture, was made chairman. and he
has had a small but efficient corps
of men and women associated with
him.
All sorts of good cheer has gone
into those boxes for the boys at the
front The men nave contributed TO
their needs as smokers. readers ana
with various other gifts. The women
have sent warm socks, slippers, and
have baked cakes. pies and even tur-
keys, all of which will doubtless bring
their absent comrades nearer home on
this Christmas day.
The bureau of forestry. despite Its
share in the soldiers boxes. holds a
Christmas celebration each year which
has become too honored a rite to be
omitted for any reason.
Many years ago there was a lone
Evening star., 1916-12-24


Ward. author Of 'Eltham House."
etc. Illustrated by Albert Sterner
New York: Hearst's International
Library Company.
7THERE are two sorts Of consid-
cradle men and women In fic-
ton In the drst class are
d those who prove their claims to
consideration out of themselves,
DO TO speak Looks actions and words
work out the various situations under
their control in 9. manner tnat is wholly
and consistently supporting. Chose
Of the second class fill the measure Of
hero or heroine merely by the say-so Of
their authors When they themselves
come into action they leave the reader
unwarned and unconvinced. Lady Con-
ME belongs 20 this second class. A slip
Of a gi;i rich and titled. takes by storm
the staid dons and elderly wiseacres of
Oxford, bowls over the entire student
body and marches triuInphantly into the
fo-tressed hearts Of such great men as,
upon occasion, honor tne university with
their presence. Except for the author
herself. who steps in between Lady Con-
rlie and the reader to describe I'D assert
the charm Of this heroine. ono would
never guess that she had power Of any
sor:. what is thoroughly enjoya bic at,.,.tt
this story. however. Is the picture Of Ok
ford life that IL presents. Here iirs. Ward
APPEARS 70 be AZ home. Certainty to this
picture N" gives q yividne&s and a real
Ism Of such peculiarly intimate quality as
. carry the reader along in d mood OF
thorough enjoyment.
THE LIONS SHARE. BY Arnold Ben
nett author OF "Buried Alive" etc.
New York: George Il. Doran Com
pany.
A very pleasing and amusing story.
1t is the story of Audrey Moze. who is
out for the lions share of life In it's
most enjoyable aspects. With q good
sense Of fun. and with his admirable
gift Of making characters in the best
Of working ordC :. Mr.. Bennett follows
the adventures OF audrey MoZa from
England TO Paris and back again. The
experience in Paris is delightful in at
moSUhere and incident and in the quail
fty Of its people. Desiring "a part in
every interesting thing that is for the
momeht uppermost. Audrey naturally
becomes suMragette. with laughable
and realistic consequences of this
choice following her about The whole
is fresh and divcrting story, made
up with as much skin and detail as Mr..
Bennett puts on his more serious and
ambitious novels. Any one will enjoy
the bright and wholesome quality OF
this novel
xINGUi And Other Storics BY Edith
Wharton, author of Ethan Frome
etc New York: Charles Scribner's
Sons.
Here are eight of Mrs. Wharton's
short stories. all as fiawless in struc-
ture as they are ironic in character and
unpleasant in effect. To be sure now
and then. there 10 q genial turn to the
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Celebrating Christmas in Government Depa
N ACH Christmas sees messages of
In good will and cheer encourage
ment and appreciation go out

m AcH Christmas sees messages of
IN good will and cheer encourage
n ment and appreciation go out
- from Uncle Sam to nearly all
who work for him from the heart of
things federal at the National Capital
More and more is the human element
coming to be considered in the per-
formance of the nations work, and at
the close of the year word of cheer
from chief to clerk is stimulating and
encouraging. and gives q brotherhood
touch which helps to lift the work along
for many a month of the new year.
The Christmas tree and it's message.
far enough removed from the nations
business at other times. is by no means
an unknown object at this time
throughout the bureaus of the govern
ment
The Department of State and the De-
partment of Justice indulge in no de-
partmental frivolities at Christmas
time. and the War and Navy depart
ments confine themselves to seeing that
the regulation holiday celebrations of
the men in army and navy are provided
for. But IL weighty and tmagination-
less congressman happened into the
Treasury Department at the close of
the year he might be slightly taken
aback at beholding a few childish toys
reposing familiarly on the top of the
desk of one who should. in the nature
of his work, be delving deep into
things financial. and he would surely
rub his eyes in astonishment were he
to walk into the great room of the
counting division of the treasurer's Of
fee and see the place decorated with
Christmas bells and greenery and
lavishly adorned Christmas tree as it's
central feature.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
CHRISTMAS >'
paint
inspecting suspeious strnnser

the conclusion of her address she ut
tered the famous words
Il know that | have but the body OF
a weak and feeble woman. but / have
the heart of a king, and of a King OF
England"
The Prince of Wales card this year
is also from painting by Howard
pavie. 1t depicts a meeting of British
apd French knights in medieval armor.
Evening star., 1916-12-24


calculated a prominent official of the
department. when interviewed upon the
subject. "It Is the day we each and
every one work harder than any other
day in the year. The only thing we
have time to give is temporary employ
ment to a few hundred out-of-work
men and to a few college boys anxious
to make extra money to help with their
expenses for next years tuition. Our
highest holiday pleasure is to know
that every piece of Christmas mail has,
through our efforts. been delivered on
time, and that none has gone Christ
masless because of any failure of ours"
Postmaster General Burleson issues
every officer and employee Of the pos
tai service for their loyal. faithful and
efficient service, rendered in unstinted
measure during the entire year which
has just ended. and especially during
the recent holiday season"
The Department of Agriculture has
in its various bureaus during past years
held small Christmas observances of
an individual nature. but this Christ
mas all the divisions have combined
in doing one big thing which is to add
to the pleasure Of others.
The Department OF Agriculture has
given nearly fifty of its bright young
men to the service of It's country on the
Mexican border. and the men and wom-
en- in the departme ent-wtth the excep-
tion of one bureau-are setting aside
their own departmental jollity for the
Evening star., 1916-12-24

their substance and their manner to get
hold of boy and girl readers. The book
is charmingly and appropriately decorat-
ed Taken all together it IS one of the
best of books for those to whom it is ad-
dressed.
LANDS AND THE PHILIPPINES.
BY Isabel Anderson, author of The
Spell of Japan" etc. Boston: The
Page Company.
This writer has the gift of discover
ing and recounting the spell that one
country or another works. in greater or
lesser degree. on the minds of travellers
and readers. Already the spells wrought
by Japan, by Belgium and by the is
lands of the Pacific stand in proof OF
the superior quality of this gift. Here
the writer travels over the Hawaiian
Islands and the Philippines, selecting
and describing those distinctive fea-
lures that give to each of these groups
Its special personality and appeal
Present fact and historic setting, pic
ture and anecdote. daily custom rooted
in ancestral legend and tradition, meet
here in many picturesque groupings.
To this, her usual method of treat
ment. the writer here adds touch of
political discussion that serves to give
a timely point to her consideration of
these islands. A rapid sketch of the
recent history of the Philippines. and of
under American administration. gives
rise to a critical analysis Of the atti-
tude of the present administration to-
ward complete sef-government by the
Filipinos. Excellent maps and good
pictures supplement the text, round
ing this vivaeious and interesting ac-
count to full measure of usefulness
The volume is one in the admira bic
series of travel books put out by this
house.
GALLIPOLI. BY John Mascfeld. au-
thor of THE Everlasting Mercy"
etc. Illustrated, New York: The
Macmillan Company.
This book is. in a sense, an answer
to the many questions pat to Mr. Mase-
field, when he was in America, concern
ing the Dardanelles campaign These
questions brought him to u serious con-
sideratior of this campaign, which as
he says here, Il BEGAN to look upon
not as a tragedy. no" a mistake but
as a great human effort, which came
more than once, very near to triumph
achieved the impossible many times
and failed. in the end. as many great
deeds OF arms have failed. from some
thing which had nothing to do with
arms nor with the men who bore them.
That the effort failed is not against it;
much that Is most splendid in military
history failed. To myself, this failure
Is the second grand event of the war;
the nrst was BeIslumS S answer to the
German ultimatum-"." Himself having
taken part in the Dardanelles cam
paign, Mr.. Masefeld goes from point to
point showing the enormous task set
by the allies and the .prodigies that they
achieved. all of them falling just short
of victory. 1t is a great story, the en-
thusiastic but sober story of partici-
pant and witness. as it is also great
In the manner of it's telling.
THE WAR AND HUMANITY. BY James
NJ Beck, author of ''The Evidence in
the Case" New York: G. p. Put
mans Sons.
Following an earlier study. '"The Ev-
Evening star., 1916-12-24

O

in his desk some toys already provided
for the following Christmas. Not will
Ing to allow the custom to die out an
other member of the bureau. Mr..
Frederick G. Plummer took it in
charge. and it was conducted under
Evening star., 1916-12-24

the direction of Mr.. Plummer until his
death in 1912
The employees of the forest service
since then have sustained the beautiful
custom of providing a Christmas tree
for the children as much as a memorial
Evening star., 1916-12-24

Well for the maintenance of his dig
nifty that he did not arrive there at
about noon on Christmas eve a year
ago. Had he done so he would have
found himself back in the country
schooihouse of his youth; he would
have been surrounded by fifty or sixty
KAN and woman clerks, children for
the hour. listening with expectant mien
to the half humorous and wholly wise
little Christmas talk the schoolmas-
ter, H V. Speei-7an, chief of the bu-
reau. was giving them. Had he waited
the honorable gentleman would have
witnessed at word from the chief the
entrance of Santa Claus-for three
hundred and sixty-four and half other
Gays IN the year the messenger boy for
tne ofiice-and amid the gayety of the
assemhlage he would have seen the dis
tribution of real TOYS
The bureau of engraving and print
ing makes merry at Christmas in sew
eral of its divisions. Director Ralph aid
ing ana ahettfng any reasonable diver
zion which does not in the slightest de-
gree interfere with the issue of Uncle
Sans money. In the office of the
chier clerk. Mr.. A r. Ruth, a brightly
decorated Christmas tree holds the su-
prenle place every Christmas eve. and
as often as not Director Ralph and AS
sistant Director Ferguson find them
serves there. each saying a few words
aDout the season and its message
There is an unique mode Of present.
giving In vogue here. The name of
every one of the half hundred men and
women in this Office is placed in a hat.
ana every clerk in the room draws a
name. and for that person whose name
ls drawn he or she must purchase a
chlids toy of moderate cost To the
woman clerks dolls are popular gifts.
the men receiving every boyish play-
thing from miniature automobile to
q jumpinE-jack. After little talk by
the chiefs. the gifts are distributed ac
cordlng to the names upon them. and
1un prevails for brief half hour The
toys are then carefully collected. and
with a few exceptions they are given
to the santa Claus Girl" of Washing
ton, who has been awaiting the close Of
the frolfc with a list of names of moor
kiddies to whom they will carry frag-
ment of the spirit of Christmas
Nor do the employees of the Office of
the chief clerk stop there If they have
learned of any sick and absent among
the bureaus workers. they see to il
that Santa Claus does not fail to find
that shadowed home on Christmas eve.
Upstairs in the postage stamp per-
1orating division of the bureau a some
what similar festival is taking place.
A tree has been brought in a day or
two previously and beautifully deco
rated before and after work hours by
the employees. who save their trimmings
from season to season. Here, too, there
is frolicsorne distribution of toys
which later find their permanent own
ers in some poor youngsters who might
otherwise go toyless.
In the numbering division of the bu
Evening star., 1916-12-24

reau the employees gather together
during the lunch hour on Christmas
eve and enjoy a song festival and an
exchange of gifts. Other divisions OF
the bureau hold light carnival for
brief space also on Christmas eve.
Almost all of the Christmas festiyity
connected with the Department of the
Interior manifests itself through the
Home Club, the great departmental re-
creation organization composed OF the
employees of this department. This club
was organized several years ago at the
instigation of Secretary Lane, who Is
it's president, and it has fostered
spirit of comradeship among the CO.
workers in the great department.
A tree Is the usual accessory Of the
Christmas festivities at the Home Club.
and in connection with it the children
Of the Department Of the Interior en-
ployes come in for large share Of the
good things which it distributes. and
the grown-ups participate in the pleas
ures of the youngsters.
The Post Office Department, although
making much Of holidays in general. Is
left out when it comes to Christmas.
This great division Of the government
service is so busily engaged in seeing
to 1t that the rest of the hundred mil
lion Inhabitants of the United States
get as much Of Christmas as comes to
them through the mail that they can
not give a thought to their own cele-
bration.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
LADY CONNIE.

LADY CONNIE. By Mrs. Hurnphry
Ward. author of ETHAN House."
etc. Illustrated by Albert Sterner.
New York: Hearst's International
Library Company
Evening star., 1916-12-24

their substance and their manner to get
hold of boy and girl readers. The book
is charmingly and appropriately decorat-
ed Taken all together. it is one of the
best of books for those to whom 1t Is ad-
dressed.