Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-11


Jected according to certain principles
of composition, as painting, sculpture
and architecture are similarly produced:
To lay down the principles Of the art OF
park design is the primary purpose OF
this volume. The book is, however, as
far away from bare statement or
principles as it is possible for book
to be. The writer is a landscape arch
itect of broad training and of concrete
practical experience. This concrete ex-
perience is brought into the book,
transforming principles to things. OBJ
jectifying purposes In ends accomplish
ed, explaining, illustrating, comparing
and experimenting the text with pic
tures-l63 of these-and diagrams. The
park experiments of both Europe and
America contribute to this study. One gets
here an Illuminating view OF the remark
able park system that is opening out LOT
the city of Washington under the direc-
ton of Mr.. Burnap The book Is invaiua-
BILE for the use of city and town officials
charged with the work of park devel-
opment and maintenance. 1t Is an ad-
mirable contributory study to the work
of the artist and the art student. 1t
is highly interesting and stimulat-
ing book for the general reader who
possesses an interest in this subject.
THE COUNTS OF GRUYERE. By Mrs.
Reginald de Koven. Illustrated. New
York: Duffield & Co.
Ten centuries have passed over this
castle on the bill; six told the story of
its sovereignty over the surrounding
country. but, unlike most Of the cha
teaux of Switzerland, 1t has been care
fully restored and maintains its 'feudal
character. The caparisoned steeds no
longer gallop along the ancient road.
the crested knights no longer break
their lances in the jousting court, but
in the wide streets of the little city is
heard a speech, and in the valleys and
from the hillsides echo herdsmen's
songs. which contain Latin and French
words, Greek. Saracen and German
patois holding in solution the long story
of the past" This is the poetic table
of contents, noting the points of origin.
rise. climax and decline, under which
Mrs. Reginald de Koven tells the story
and dramatic tale, woven of myth. leg
end, history, poetry and romance. 1t
is a tale of wide and confusing rami-
fications. Within this maze of material
Mrs. de Koven has visioned in round
ed completeness the picturesque essen
tals of Gruyere. This dramatic story
she has drawn out from its entangle-
ment of non-essentials, and has set 1t,
a thing of great beauty and charm of
portrayal, before the reader. This is
bit Of interesting local history rescued
from the crumbling recollections with
which 1t was falling into oblivion. 1t
Is tue TlauueF Oh It's recovery tnat con-
stitutes the Importance of this story of
classic treatment.
THE THOROUGHBRED. By Henry
Kitchell Webster. author of THE
Real Adventure" etc. Illustrations
by W. B. King. Indianapolis: The
Bobbs-Merrill Company.
An episode in the married life of a
young couple is expanded here by Mr.
Webster to the dimensions of a novel, It
Is, however. an episode of such moment
and bearing as to serve adequately the
full purpose of a novel. Bankruptcy fac
ing pampered wife is the tide along
which this narrative flows. That it proves
TO be only temporary in its character
that the two finally float back into COM
potency OF circumstance. does not at all
interfere with the plan of the author
What he has in mind-as matter Of
fact, what he always has in mind when
he sets about story making--is to put into
interesting and effective drama the fact
that love can survive marriage and the
other fact, besides. that domestic lie is
not all SO completely problematic as the
most up-to-the-minute novelists would
have one think. To prove his case at
this time Mr.. Webster makes a be-
lievable as well as n charming thor
oughbred' of the girl who can take on
poverty with both efficiency and dig
nifty when poverty turns out to be the
next act of her domestic drama. 1t is
an enjoyable story. One likes the girl,
calling her a brick and trump" at
about every stage of the development
One is sure, moreover, that this kind Of
girl is more common. after all the to-do
of the writers to make one believe
otherwise, than is the soulful creature
who is forever floating outside her law
full metes and bounds. Added to his