The Detroit times., 1917-06-20

PREsENT-DkY EUROPE. by 10th
rop Stoddard. book which clears
up many points. obscure 20 the
ordinary person. in the causes
which led 20 tho great war In
which we are about 70 participate.
Mr. stoddard, who Is professor Of
philosophy In Harvard university
must be given credit for writing a
book OF probably the most worth OF
any which have been poured upon
curious and onniyOrous public since
the war began He Is able 10 de-
tach himself from his subject. very
much "a q physician would detach
himself from any personal feeling
and antipathy OF his patients and
diagnose his case Mr. Stoddard. un-
like the physician. does not deliver
an opinion but simply states the
symptoms OF Europe which could be
easily diScerned by students OF In
ternafional affairs and which, nat
urally. led 10 the conflict Mr. Stod-
dard divides his book into II parts
England. France Italy, Russia. Ger
many. Austria Hungary. the balkans
Turkey, Belgium and Holland Scan
dinayia and Spain and Portugal and
gives the national state OF mind u
each Granting that any small event
may have precipitsted the war. Mr.
Stoddard says the underlying cause
was unquestlonably a militant spirit
OF unrest. The preceding decades
plainly heralded one Of those great
crises in mans historic evolution.
such az the Reformation and the
French Revolution which stand forth
as periods Of reyaluation OF all val
ues" The twentieth century. he de
clares. dawned on worn out age,
foredoomed TO speedy dissolution.
The states Of mind OF each country
would be ludierously alike were il
not for the preservation OF civiliza-
ton and only an impersonal few can
see any other angles to the situa-
ton As a survey OF Europe at the
opening OF the war, THIS book is
without a rival.
II clears the atmosphere IN an
amazing way and allows those crop
Ing In darkness 20 see Europe as q
Icwhole and in sections with all the
cross currents. diplomatic entangle-
ments. rivalry OF commerce and the
growing needs of vrlle. intense.
active people who had outgrown
their institutions and environment
and. like certain insects, were ready
to slough of The outgrown shell.
The Century company publishers.
New York; $500
SONGS OF COURAGE, collected and
edited by Zoe Beekley and Joseph
GoIlomb, Of special interest in
these days when all the courage Of
individuals anc- a nation IS needed
10 face the future.
These poems are collected from
all sources. from Marcus Aurelius
down 20 the popular rhymster Of the
day. There are the lofty thoughts
OF Ralph Waldo Emerson and the
homeiy. comforting lines OF Walt
Mason. These various bits. none
more than page long. are inspiring
and will give strength TO the weary
and heavy laden They are broad
in scope, but all have the same spir
Il. the unconquerahleness OF tho hui
man soul
Barse & Hopkin. publishers New
York: 800
SOMEONE AND SOMEBODY, by
Porter Emerson Brown, said 70 be
better than a musical comedy for
the "tlred business man" better
than Bernard Shaw for his wife
and better than 30 treatlses for
the High Brow.
However that may b.. ~ is anus
Ing and thoroly American written
mostly IN popular newspaper style
and a little monotonous in the mat
ter OF leaving OF the subject OF the
T h e Bloom Of