Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26
BOOK REVIEWS.

JULIA WARD HOWE: 1S1a-IalO. BY
Laura r. Richards and Maud Howe
Elliott. assisted by Florence Howe
Hall Illustrated. Boston: Hough-
ton Miffin Company.
-T is in the main. by way of her
own personal diary and letters
that the daughters of Julia Ward
Howe have given out the life
story of their distinguished mother.
In this case. certainly. no other plan
could have proved comparable to the
one employed. In no other way could
so vivid and so personal an impression
have been produced. Julia Ward Howe
as public character is well known to
readers. She is familiar to them as an
intellectual and moral force. as a lead
er of progressive thought. as an eff
fcient worker in movements of social
reform and as a writer of at least one
immortal hymn to which may be add
ed a considerable bulk of serious and
Influential literary work in both poetry
and prose. But in her private life
as girl and woman as wife and mother.
as friend and comprehensive is, as
matter of course, something of
stranger to the general reader. And
there exists. naturally. a keen and
widespread interest in the intimate life
of this notable American woman. The
Two volumes in hand meet that in
terest in manner that is most graft
flying. This is in sum. the story Of
happy life. A prodigious capacity for
work. a great variety of interests. and
q genial accommodating disposition
are the sources of this happiness. In
a beautiful generosity these two VOL
umeS permit one to see the daily
aspects of this great activity, to catch
the easing humor that diSposes of
mountains of plain tasks while big
thoughts are making their way to the
front. to delight in the ready play
hours of mother and children. to enjoy
the social gifts. and to marvel at the
unconquerable will to study. to learn.
to know more. whatever obstacles the
daily press of homely work may set
up The home pictures expand to in
clude many of whom one is ever keen
to know more-Emerson. Longfellow.
Whittier. Holmes. Agassiz, Sumner.
Alcott and many other intellectuals of
the time. There are charming records
of travel in Europe here, leisurely
going about, often in the company of
famous men and women whom one sees
here in the informality of friendly in
tercourse. Notwithstanding the easy
biography of high quality valuable
primarily by reason Of it's central fig
ure, and in a subordinate manner for
the innumerable sidelights that. it casts
upon HOtdDlc men ana events and
movements.
SEVENTEEN: A Tale of Youth and
summer Time and the Baxter Fam
lily. Especially William. BY Booth
Harrington, author of "Penrod,'' etc
Illustrated New York: Harper &
Bros.
While the other Baxters. particular
~ Jane, are much in evidence here,
this is. after ALL the story of William
Baxter at the tragic age of seventeen
Along about this time. every boy comes
to know in his secret soul that he is
hero of adventure, knight of chivalry
warrior. a wizard pirate-anything
but mere boy. The little world around
MN. however, still persists in regard
ing him as boy. more than likely an
average one at that. They continue to
sccost him by the silly nickname that
a futile mother bestowed upon him in
babyhood, or that small compa MONS
evolved out of their smartness for his
identification. And in innumerable 9TH
er ways of dull brutality they belittle
and dishonor him. This daily persecu-
ton at the hands of an uncomprehend-
ing world is part of the tragedy of
seventeen and Whereabouts. William
Sylvsuus Baxter's tragedy rose to ter
rible heights, plunged to terrible
depths, through the awful power of
love. Seventeen is always in love- and
William is no exception. That, how
ever. might nave beFn managed with
out SO much of utter misery had il not
been for Jane. That Jane was I'M
conscious enemy to the various brands
Of hero done up so secretly in the per-
son of William Sylvanus made her
none the less their enemy, ready with
disgusting offers of childish compan-
iouship. and quite roo ready with Of
fensive intuition that might have been
borne had not her tongue been quick
her mind. Whatever in this crisis Jane
may have been to her brother William,
she is JOY TO the reader. Cnquestion-
ably Jane is one of Booth Tarkington's
treasures. This is an "uproariously funny
story" Yet, one does not laugh all the
time he did with "Penrod." Penrod
in his puppydom, easily comforted.
open in his griefs- William is different.
His sorrows are secret well acute
and desperately real. Under all the
laughter that the story provokes there
Is such complete comprehension of the
hoy. such sympathy with him. that now
and then a little fearful catch checks
the shouts of mirth- "Penrod and
Seventeen" not merely stories of
az absolutely frst-rate quality. They
are. besides. quite remarkable expo
s.tions of the psychology of boyhood
ard youth.
THE TWIN SISTERS, a Novel. BY
Tuztus Miles Forman, author of
The Blind Spot" etc. New York:
Harper Bros.
One is impressed with the womanly
quality of this romance. with the ar
tis,ic unity OF it's effect. In a social
setting. where wealth. intelligence and
refinement are blended with apprecla-
ton and SKILL the story advances by
way of the interests and experiences
Of the two girls who give title to the
novel While the narrative itself is
held 70 a high level of fresh incident.
of spi rited and consistent action. IT is
"a the lifelke development OF CHAR
scter that Mr.. Forman's work reaches
It's true distinction here. Diana, one
OF the girls: her father. Lord Henry,
sutton in turn TO both of the sisters,
and Mera del Monte Brun are finely
attractive characters, all of them.
Alice the other of the girls the moth
err and western congressman. Diana 5
sutton. while just as real. are by no
means as wholly worth while as are
the people Of the other group. When
Mr. Forman creates a character. be IL
man or woman. in just the right blend
Of the two sexes he produces an IN
commonly fine and spirited person. For
Instance, Diana hasa dash of the boy
and Diana is a girl Of a thousand The
father is instinct with a woman's ten
derness, a most lovable and clever man.
And il is this proportiontnR that make