Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-05-10
BOOKS AND MAGAZINES
The Land of Deepeninp Shadow

The Land of Deepening shadow
ID. Thomas Curtin (Doran $3.50 metz
The subtitle of this volume-Ger-
many at the third year of the war
is probably more specific than the
real title, although knowing the sec
ond, the main title takes on a Won
derfully significant meaning. This
work is extremely sensational-that
is, in its own peculiar way-for the
sensation lies in the recital of cold,
grave, sheer truths impassionately
told regarding Germany-truths
CLEANED by personal observation
made during the year following De-
eember, 1915. Much of the author S
information comes from conversa-
tlons and experiences being through
risks which endangered his life, but
in his volume there stands an unde-
nlable knowledge of what has actu-
ally transpired within the German
Empire from that time, when, gay
and wholly confident in the prowess
of her troops as she saw them de-
part-from a time when well-fed,
both in body by food and in mind
by Wilhelm Strasse, until now when
one hears everywhere "Freide"
(Peace), "Esse" (Food) and even
"Steuren" (Taxes).
Germanys viewpoint is not ours,
and now that she is our enemy, it
is particularly desirable that we
know the true measure of the people
we are going to fight. Most clearly
does Mr.. Curtin sketch the organiza-
ton which has at the same time
been "the glory and the curse of
Germany" How any nation can be
one of deluded dupes is something
foreign to us, until we comprehend a
system of forty years training,
which leaving no stone unturned,
has guided the lives of its people by
pulpit. college, university, newspa-
per; fooling them, creating public
opinion, deluding them, perverting
them, both in soul and in mind.
Mr.. Curtin's volume is one of
painstaking analysis which serves to
show first, how the German organi-
zation had so adequately prepared
nation for die crosse Zeit;" Sec
ondly, to clearly illuminate for us
that system from which not the
minutest detail which could possibly
add to the efficiency of promoting
the conception of the Germanic ideal
could escape (no matter that the
ideal was the child of a distorted
vision and brain); thirdly, to render
justice to the German race, for
where commendation Is proper the
author bestows it without stint. The
public receives in this volume q
notably unprecedented account of the
worlds greatest emilitary power.
do you think that if our gov
ernment were responsible for the
war that we should be willing to
bear all these terrible sacrifices?"
asked a German woman of Mr.. Cur
tin, and herein do we have the
summed up character, the expression
of supreme unity which typifies the
Germans. Explanations of just how
that unity has been accom- plished, by
what methods it is being preserved,
even enforced, and to what point 1t
is going to carry Germany-these
are the arduous, self-appointed tasks
to which the author has addressed
himself. THE Land of Deepening
Shadow comes to us at a particu-
larly appropriate time. a time when
knowing the actual social, moral and
economic conditions of the people
we must fight. is a step of inde-
scribable value. How popular Amer
ica is with Germany is not the only
interesting phase of Mr.. Curtin's
work; and at length does he de-
scribe the well-promoted course OF
scientific hate which to "Gott Strafe
England has caused to be added so
vehemently that the United States
flag had to be removed from the
American hospital at Munich, "Gott
Strafe America"
Mr.. Curtin's book commends it
self in the opinion of the writer to
every American who seeks the un-
vanished truth regarding conditions
within the boundaries of Germany,
and it is by all odds the equal. IL not
the leader. of all of this character
| of books on the war yet published.