Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-25

tory OF a momentous period from a
specially privileged point Of view. II
10 biography focused by the most
critical point in our national develop
ment. Further. It is a remarkable ex-
ample of self-reve1ation through the
medium of personal retrospect upon q
career of singular and brilliant activ-
ity. Generally speaking. it Is the his
toric quality of this book that will
make the broadcast appeal, and give
its existence. In this respect the
author has been most painstaking in
his effort to maintain the historic point
Of view. where authenticity of fact.
dispassionate judgment and deliberate
deductions must have the right Of way
over merely personal opinions. The
book has excellent value in the field of
history. There are thousands, however,
who will find their greatest Joy in the
strongly personal quality that the
book exudes from page to page. re-
vealing the character OF the astonish-
ing man who, without rule or proceed
emit. wrought SO valiantly for the Con-
federacy. Without question. this is one
Of the most oonspicuously dramatic
to hand in many long year.
CALVARY ALLEY. BY Alice Hogan
Rice. author of Mrs. Wigs Of the
CdDpd8e fdtcn, etc. ILLUSTRATIONS
by Walter Biggs. New York: The
Century Company.
Nance Molloy makes a very Nance
Molloyish entrance to the story Of
which she is here the heroine. With
feet set well apart for solid and stable
base. with sharp eyes fixed upon the
cathedral fence. and both hands packed
with coy mud. Nance stands ready
against the moment when some hated
choir boy shall poke a detestably sleek
eleven years old at this militant in
slant. And the story Of Cathedral alley
goes on until Nance is old enough to
fall in love, and out. and in again
and. indeed. to leave her with mar
riage Just around the corner. Tene-
ment houses. and beer saloons, and
police raids. are the alley surroundings
Of this heroine. surroundings which
Mrs. Rice depicts with the humor and
sympathy for which she IL already so
Through the stresses Of a workaday
life Nance Molloy Is a constant pleas
ure to the reader. and particularly a
pleasure because she Is SO unvaryingly
have mischances come to this heroine.
for she SO completely deserves the good
fate that ought to wait upon sheer
courage and the square deal. 1t Is one
Oh MIS. rice 3 SoOQ StofleS-poBe1Dly
her best one, even counting Mrs.
Wigs"
AUsTRIA-HUNGARY The PoIygIot
Empire. By Wolf Won Schierbrand.
Phi. D., LII. D., author OF Germany:
The Welding of a World Power"
etc. New York: Frederick A. Stokes
Company.
with her twenty intolerant races
and eight onicial languages, Austria
Hungary presents a curious racial and
political enigma. Over her seething
populations the tottering throne of the
Hapsburgs sits as upon q volcano. Yet
she has played an important part in
the destinies of nations. And II. to
the world, she shows divided front,
from within she gives the impression
Of a charming, diversified people," The
book In hand gives an Interpretation
of the many institutions and customs
and characteristics Of the polyBlot en-
pire, whose essential features are
traced in the foregoing quotation. To
the historical. social and political facts
Of the empire this writer adds an in
depreciation Of the sum OF these. CIV
ing this informing and illuminating
summary by virtue OF long and init
mate acquaintance with the country
and its people. The book. at its close.
deals with the conditions Of war time