Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-21
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ard Green, edited by L. Cecil Jane.
Published by e. P. Dutton & Co., New
York.
In this storm and stress" period,
Khen the primary thought is of war
Phd its horrors, it is refreshing to delve
deep into the history of one of the
nations that is at war and see how
comparatively unimportant part war
has played in that country's develop
ment. War is sometimes an asset to a
country. but to England, according TO
this historian, war has been but a
drawback The figures of the mis-
sionary. the poet, the printer the
merchant, the philosopher, all are
herein placed upon a pedestal and
lauded for their share in the social
and intellectual development. of Eng
land, which has placed her where she
stands to-day. without this develop
ment the commercial instinct would
have been of no avail. These things
are Just as important, thinks Mr..
Green. as are the accounts of battles
and the oddities and eccentricities OF
kings in telling, and undoubtedly he is |
right. lie takes the peaceful angle in
his treatment and develops it along
the lines suggested
Everymans Library, of which these !
two volumes are an important part, is |
broad in its scope and alI-inclusive in
it's variety; it has proven its efficacy |
and one need never hesitate to add one
or two of its volumes to his biblio- |
graphical possessions.
The closing argument in the book, |
written since the great war was start
ed, asks the question whether England !
is to keep her commercial supremacy |
or not, and declares that it all de- |
pendS not on her attitude on the queS- |
tions Of tariff, but upon her willing |
ness Tor unwillingness) to submit all
who are carrying on the operations OF |
commerce. whether as leaders or
manual workers TO thorough scientific |
and technical training as her |
greatest commercial rivals, Germany
and the United States, have done"
Just David. by Eleanor II. Porter, |
Published by Houghton, Miffin & Co,
S1.2J.
eleanor II. Porter's latest book,
Just David" is the rather impossible |,
story of a youthful genius who with
his father has led a secluded life in
the mountains for six years. Very
happy have their lives been, however, |
for the years have been spent in the |
education and training OF the child
David. who next to his father, loves
his violin better than anything or any
one else in the world. Evil has never
entered into his conception of things. |
nor has it been taught him, and he
has experienced only the beautiful in /
life.
The death OF the father at the time /
the story opens leaves the boy David
alone in the world, thrown on his own
resources and unaccuStomed TO look |
ing out for his own interests. The boy
is taken in rather grudgingly by a
farmer and his wife. whose hearts ,
he soon wins by his sweet temper,
sunny disposition, and rare courage, /
as well as by his inspired genius. Just
as did PollyanDa, so does David bring |
happiness TO every one with whom he
comes in contact and the discovery
that David's father was one of the
worlds greatest violinlsts and that
David has inherited that genius
leaves the reader half cheated, in the
midst OF the great happiness of the
spirit of David's presence, while David
has stepped out into the world to find
fame, fortune, and an adoring public
awaiting him with open arms.
The story, frankly, is too good to be
true. but fact is not the essential in
a story of this sort. One feels a glow
sibilities for the shedding of happiness
over others which resides in human
being like David, and one longs just a
wee bit TO be somewhat of that ma
tUre. We predict safely enough, great
popularity for this new book from the
pen Of the author of the Glad Book"
series.
Rabindranath Tagorc, a biographi-
cal study by Ernest Rhys. Published
by the Macmillan Co., &C Fifth ave-
nuc. New York, 81.
This is the first adequate biography
OF the great Hindu, and we are shown
most wildly the figure of the poet
and prose writer, who has perhaps
done as much any to recall us to
the vision of inspirational writing, in
his long loose coat, with his white SEN
sitiVe hands, his large serenely-lit
eyes, and his noble features, curling
hair and beard. His importance and
value to his own people is incalcul-
able. His understanding of life his
gaiety his humor, his adaptability TO
his surroundings, as they are clearly
defined in this biography, give charm
10 his personality that adds, if that
were possible, to the wonder of his
writings. He breaks up all precon-
ceived notions of an Indian ascetic
by his keen delight in the ordinary
and daily occurrences of life.
Mr.. Rhys tells of his boyhood |
young manhood and later years. lie
describes the poet as man of great
serenity and fine instincts; a man of |
big vision tempered by love and hu-
man sympathy. His varied works are
taken up and contrasted and discuss
ed. with special attention given TO his
short stories.
The King of the Dark Chamber, by
Rabindranath Tagore. Macmillan
Co, SIPS.
This, one of the most famous works
Of the Indian ascetic whose biography
is mentioned Just above, is mystical, |
visionary, extraordinary, smoothly |
flowing bit of writing that abounds In |
beautiful expressions and Thoughts
vet phantasmagorioal illogical sort
Of a semiplay that gives the reader an
extremely real sensation of unreality, !
to speak paradoxically. There is a |
story that runs throughout, but the |
thread is somewhat difficult to follow, |
and the characters in it are more like |
spirits and the theme is one of the |
power of darkness and courage and |
weakness. It is the story OF king |
who was too black to show himself. |
yet ran his kingdom in perfect order
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