The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-09-15
At the Library
New Books

The Russian Revolution, Isaac Don Lee
vine
The VIII to Freedom, John n. Figgis.
The Immigrant and the Community,
Grace Abbott.
The Russian Revolution. The most
vivid bit of writing thus far on the new
Russia is, perhaps, this little book by
young Russian, the foreign correspon-
dent of the New York Tribune. The
first part of the book is a survey of the
forces that eliminated in the "drive'
of last March. The last of the book
tells what actually happened and how
far the revolutionary leaders were able
ITO carry out their aims. Perhaps the
gripping part of the narrative is the
description of the days passed in Petro
grad as Russia passed from absolutism |
to democracy.
THE WILL TO FREEDOM by John
Neville Figgis has as its subtitle ''The
Gospel of Nietsche and the Gospel of
Christ. It is a brilliantly written
study of the German philosopher whose
IDEAS have had much to do with Ger
many s peculiar attitude toward the
world. Nietsche was primarily poet
and prophet, possessed of vivid and con
vincing style and absolutely convinced
Iof the rightness of his positions
He was in rebellion against all ac-
lcepted and conventional ideas of mo-
rality and Christianity. His fundamen-
tai idea is that of 'tthe will to power, -
that there is no basis for right or Truth
Except the will Of the strongest, and that
it is the business of the superior man
to make the most of himself for him
self, regardless of the welfare of the
weaker. Nietsche' s appeal to his gen
Grafton consists in his emphasis on the
sturdy virtues and the defiance Of mere
T conventionality. 1t is a cell to free,
+ eager, strenuous living. He is danger
, Gus in that his basis for morals makes a
1 decent and humane society impossible
: He thoroughly misunderstood Christian
lty and made his attacks on his own
: caricature of it. This book is note
worthy for its fair appraisal of the
lights and shadows of this strange
genius. Its just and sympathetic
appreciation make it of special val
ne for the average reader. Eel
: pathetic appreciation make it of spe
cial value for the average reader. Fo,
/, Nietsche stands for certain elements il
c life that are neglected at our peril
owe shall do well if we take from thi:
: bitter tonic its goodness, its sense Of Tho
greatness of things, the need of courage
, and free soul, the. worth Of discipline
the futility of mere comfort worship
and the vanity of all security that ha:
;, any other anchor than our own soul .
:, Reviewed by Rev. r. H. Clapp.)
n THE IMMIGRANT AND THE COM
u MINIT1 by Grace Abbott is writer
!, :, by student and worker who knows til
:, problems at first hand. The immigrant
In relations to the various new clements h
to finds in American life are presente
re with insight and sympathy. Gu
achievements and failures in introdu,
+, ing him to our schools, courts, politici
life, social relations and industry tell
y story that we need to know for the SAX
- of the days to come. It the chief il
"a dustry of America is the making (
% Americans it is our obligation to kno
ye our raw material and the best ways
as adapting it to democratic ideals.
the immigrant is given intelligent CO..
y slderation in the making Of social Or
!, gram, this complex population may b
- come source of new national strengt
ID a means Of translating into reality OF
American ideals. (Reviewed by Re
r. II. Clarp)