Evening star., 1917-03-11

as flimsy and superficial and preten-
tious and mean and common and no
account as are the poor ladies and gen
tlemen that are so ruthlessly exposed
here. This is very clever disclosure
One laughs. He has to by reason Of
the keen edge to this writer's wit. Yet,
after ALL backyards and musty dark
closets are no more enjoyable subjects
of exploration on the west side OF New
York than they are on the east SIDE
of that said town. However. this fund
amental fact does not take away from
the adept workmanship of this indus
trious and capable lady-in-waitinS.
BREAKING THE KING ROW Fly
Countess de Chamdrun. author "i
Pieces of the Game" etc. London;
Simpkin, Marshall Hamilton. Kent
& Co.
The activities of Mr.. Freshleigh, Ger
man American, control the curren. OF
this comedy of breaking into society
The method is. in the main. th1t ol
hold-up and blackmail 1t stars IN
Washington, with faint odors of the
diplomatic circle about il, with casual
namings of Dupont Circle, the Met
ropolitan Club" and such Other
sacrosanct places and orders How
ever. the whole to-do soon shifts 10
Europe as the place whose present de
mentIa makes all impossible thlnss
sound real An adventures, to be sure
plays second to the hyphenate. And
things move fairly well for the PAR III
the early stages of the adventure. There
appears to be an uncommon numper ol
lofty minded, unthinking, unSusplclous
French, English and Americans on
hand, with whom this willy PAIR dc
pretty much as they please for an UNI
believably long time. And when the
tables finally do turn against them thls
is not brought about by the astute-
ness of these very superio" p.oDie.
Not at all. 1t is when thieves fall Out
that honest folks get their due. rms
is the fact that now. upon the very
edge of accomplishment, brings eE
posure TO the graceless pair. THIS theme
is rather below the commonplace. IL
ranks with the newspaper news tha
one rarely reads. This fact, without
doubt, accounts for the commonplace
effect of the whole. A writer, natural
suits his medium to ms theme lhls
writer has already done serious work
in A competent manner. breaking the
King Row" is, obviously, day off from
such work.
RELIGION FOR TODAY. By John
Hayes Holmes, author of New
Wars for Old" etc. New YORK:
Dodd. Mead & Co.
The addresses gathered up in this
religion, or of that new Interpretation
that is being given to the precepts and
life of Christ. 1t is a stirring. inspir-
ing book. Not that much with which
it deals has not already been pro-
nounded and preached. But even yet IT
is not common for a minister of the
gospel to come out into the freedom
of thought and speech that ~ here
accepted and advocated by the pastor
of the Church of the Messiah, in New
York In these addresses Mr.. Holmes
outlines the striking characteristics OF
the new religion" whose essence IS
freedom, truth and justice. Following
these Introductory addresses are others
whose purpose is to define the princl-
pies upon which this liberal religious
sides, lectures, which furnish concrete
examples of these principles worked
out into action, as this action applies
to the social and spiritual life OF the
community. The writer takes the ap-
pealing attitude that religion has
moved with the forward movement of
the rest of the world. The religion
that he projects here has direct ref
erence to this advance. 1t bears upon
the industrial and social and political
aspects of the present. 1t eXalts moral
ity rather than theology. 1t eliminates
the influence of superstition. 1t gives
heed to the findings of science in
modern world, and to the effect of this
upon the general life. In d word, ii is
an alive, urgent. inspiring outlook on
the subject of religion in its bearings
upon the present.