Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-28

instability of government This point
is, however, touched sketchily, as the
purpose of this study is to summarize
the business situation of Mexico and,
at the same time, to give an adequate
idea of its vast possibilities in this d.
rection. Immensely rich in gold. silver
and copper, Mexico is richer in oil than
in all of these others combined, and
here the writer gives chapter sum-
ming the enormous foreign investments
in this country. AS plain fact the
book is concise and dependable. Moth
ing appears about the turmoil of the
country, yet this plain business state
ment serves to emphasize the unfortu-
nate situation existing in a region that
should be given over to productive in
dustry.
OUR MEXICAN MIDDLE. By Henry
Morris. Chicago: Laird & Lee.
Mr.. Morris has travelled in Mexico and
appears to have a comprehensive grasp.
not only of the present situation and
that of its recent past, but he is in
touch also with the resources of the
country and sees. clearly. what its
legitimate future should be. One has
the feeling that he would like to hear
him talk dispassionately about these
things. But to be dispassionate is quite
beyond the writer under existing cir
cumstances. His mind is surcharged
with anger over what ne designates as
the political chicanery oS Washington
In respect to Mexico. Me does not
grant even good intentions, diverted by
political ineXperience and academic il
lusions, as the origin of the Mexican
trouble. 1t is this attitude of extreme
bias that takes away from what might
otherwise be considerable contribu-
tion to the information already in hand
about the actual situation across the
border. One instinctively refuses to &C
cept the opinions of the angry man. He
lacks the pause that gives weight to
opinion and information. And this man
is angry, angry with Washington, with
the administration, with the whole
political outfit now in action. If he
were not in this condition, If he would
talk and not rail. if he would explain
and not arraign. he has, one is sure,
good body of knowledge about affairs
in Mexico. His point would have been
made in better way II he had simply
told his story and left it to his readers
to fly into a fury over the outra geous
conditions that. without doubt, do ex-
list among our neighbors across the
border.
A HANDY GUIDE FOR BEGGARS. BY
Vachel Lindsay, author of The
Congo" etc. New York: The Mac
milan Company.
While this book may be of service to
all the various brands of beggar, it is
designed specifically for those of the
poetic fraternity" In it Vachel Lind
say himself turns beggar. "Afoot and
penniless' he takes his vagrant way
from Florida to New Jersey, wandering
off toward the west in order to try the
hospitality of the mountains of ZEN
nessee and Kentucky. The book is
dedicated to "all the children of Don
folks see windmills." 1t gives certain
rules of the road also-seven or eight
of them-telling one what to shun, the
most promising hours in which to ask
for meals and lodging, what to keep
ever before ones eyes as his true OBJ
iective and. above all. is the command
to travel alone" Now if one has not
a bit of the tramp left in him from
the great days when everybody was a
tramp, he would better pass this book
by. 1t will mean nothing at all to him.
But if. on the other hand, he is really
only tramp in the disguise of a re-
specta BILE citizen, let him take this
book as guide and go out to tempt the
of the by-ways. To him il
will be a true guide back into his own
neglected kingdom.
PLAYS AND PLAYERS: Leaves from a
Critics ScrapbOOk. By WalterPrich-
ard Eaton. author of The American
Stage of Today" etc Preface by
barrett IL SldTh oleW-
art & Kidd Company.
These general articles on the subject
Of the stage appeared first in the :
newspapers as the regular weekly re-
port on theater news. 1t is this fact
hat gives them their wide appeal and
heir direct appeal warmng-over
process has not taken away their
1avor. The avowed critic has not de-
iberately diluted them with the avow-
I'd critics dull wisdom. They are
,nappy and pungent and full of sharp
aste. 1t is the current play, the play u
,rs now on the stage, that Mr.. Eaton
leals so illuminatingly with here. He
ellis with an enjoyable informality and
With many a lightning turn of speech
Why this or that play is worth while
,r is not, wherein. this actor excelled
,r fell below the mark of intelligent
lcting. He makes casual comments 1
N the taste of the public in matters
lramatic. and gives incidental dis