Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-18

the hde1tty OF Its characters to a class
and Convincing atmosphere that sus-
tains them.
THE UNKNOWN ISLE. By Pierre De
Branch" etc. Translated from the
French by Alys Hallard. New York:
Dodd. Mead & Co.
This is not new story by Pierre De
Coulevain. 1t is an old story brought
out anew. Some years ago this writer
met an English mother and daughter
at Monte Carlo. AS result of that
meeting this Frenchwoman made a
visit of some length to her new friends
in England. THE Unknown ISLE is
an outgrowth of that visit. 1t is. in
effect. a picture Of English country
whereupon the at-home
appears in clear lifelikeness of his
substantial daily interests. and Of his
equally substantial English outlook.
upon the. affairs Of the rest of the
world. A touch of fiction here grants
the writer a pleasing freedom along
certain lines. but, in substance. the
record Is literal picture of English
life projected in an atmosphere of in
telligent and sympathetic interpreta-
ton. Here in America, whose enor-
nous distances count 5000 miles
a
conceivable that the trifiing stretch
between England and France can be.
in effect, the distance between two
planets. But SO it is-or was. The
two countries are getting better &C.
quainted now. And this present urgent
need Of mutual comprehension stands
as the occasion for this renewed offer
to the French of Pierre De Coulevain's
circumstantial story Of English life
It is charming story. as we'll as a
definitely useful one. a story of strong
appeal to American readers as well as
to the people for whom it was original
ly designed.
"HONEsT ABEs, A study in Integrity:
By Alonzo Rothschild, author OF
'sLincoln, Master Of Men, Boston:
Houghton Miff1in Company.
For his second book on Lincoln. Mr..
Rothchild goes back to the days prior to
those of Lincoln's national prominence
and world wide distinction. Lincoln as a
boy in the pinch Of poverty, as student
of law, as a practicing lawyer, Lincoln in
business and in neighborhood politics.
Lincoln as the center Of an expanding
political horizon-this is the material out
Of which the author draws In such rich
abundance the concrete evidence OF Lin
coins answering honesty OF purpose, his
unfailing integrity Of attitude and con-
duct Mr. Rdthschild constructs spirited
and interesting narrative OF historic ac-
curacy as the foundation for this study
of character; a wildly realistic story,
made up of one days doings after another
IN a middle west community, wherein the
figure of Lincoln already possesses a
prophetic Significance. It Is story OF
fine substance and dramatic appeal. Aoo-
ing materially to its intrinsic value Is a
list Of books bearing upon the early lie OF
Lincoln and a substantial body OF notes
bearing upon the text.
UNCOLLECTED LETTERS OF ABRA-
HAM LINCOLN. BY Gilbert Tracy.
Introduction by Ida Tarbell. Bos-
ton: Houghton Mif11in Company.
Yet another cleaning of the Lincoln
correspondence brings to light here a
considerable body of hitherto unpub-
Usher Lincoln letters. Something like
800 of them all told. they. together. open
a clearer approach to Lincoln himself
than even the most admirable Of second
hand studies is able to do. Matters of
minor importance-either neglected or
undiscovered by more ambitious collec-
tors Of the Lincoln letters-come to-
gether here in a hundred Illuminating
flashes upon the big nature. upon the
great character Of Lincoln. These let
ters brief and generally informal bear
upon points of business. upon political
situations. upon the common interests
of the community, with some OF them
merely friendly notes. good will alone
their substance, That which gives the
book its high value is the innumerable
purely Lincoln touches-the Dear
ing new here, except my marrying.
which to me, is matter Of profound
wonder; the droll reflections. the In
comparable simplicity. the unconscious
adds substantially to the Lincoln lit
eraturo. An Introduction by Ida Tar