The Detroit times., 1917-11-30
MY -FOUR YEARS IN GERMANY
BY James w. Gerard, American
ambassador, one Of the most i'm
portant contributions 20 the lltera-
tvrc OF present day events.

tvrc Of present day events.
Perhaps nowhere can one obtain
a fairer. more faithful presentation OF
affairs in Germany, from the Amer
lean point of view, than IN this book
OF Mr.. Gerard. II is written With
admirable moderation and with a
very real desire 20 avoid eXaggera-
ton on either side. The fourth
chapter on "Mlitarism IN Germany
and the Zabern affair" IS q revela-
ton. II was this series OF events
which decided the system OF
military autocracy, for a speedy war,
says Mr.. Gerald 10 was the hand
writing on the wall The Social
Democrats az that time showed such
amazing boldness that the govern
ment realized something must be
done 10 quell their rising courage
and power. la a military country.
ready for action. this something
was naturally war. The SERB
ian assassination. and subsequent
events. gave the oppOrt unity for au-
tocracy to assert itself with the
mailed fist. The military system
Is described by Mt Gerard IN
lucid manner and gives % AmeTi-
can minds a much clearer under
standing of this institution, A sig.
nifcani fact related is that on May
20. 1914. when the reichstag ad
iourned. the Social Democrats re-
fused 10 rise and cheer the en-
peror. as is the custom tryinE, m
stead. TO drown the cheers with
hocts and hisses Schiedemann.
whose course OF action has caused
conflicting opinions IN American
minds. Is given credit, By Mr. Ger.
ard, for a splendid and fearless
stand against the government The
author corroborates the general
opinion in America that 10 was the
intention Of the military party 20
win the European war and tnen
suin its attention 20 America. Al
together there could scarcity pe
anyone better fitted 20 give "A true
account OF German affairs 30 the
people OF this country We must
also appreciate the fact that Mr.
Gerard appears 20 be completely in
command OF bis reason and never
allows emotion 20 carry him astrsy
George II. Doran, publisher, New
York; s..
All book lovers are indebted 20
Honi and Liceright. New York, for
the publication of The Modern Il
brary," a collection OF books com
prfsinR the choicest modern litera'
ture OF all countries. 4 glance over
the authors will convince one OF The
wise and discriminating selection
made, The list includes Anatole
France. De Maupassant. Strindberg,
Tbsen. Shaw, Chesterton, Wells.
Nietzsche. Tourgenev. Maeterlinck.
Stevenson, Schnitzler. and others.
II In rather noteworthy that ". ID.
Howells is the only American IN
cluded In the distinguished group.
New volumes VIII be added from
time 10 time. The books are small
with excellent print and attractive
" bound in limp Croft leather. They
retail at 75 cents a volume, and
there are already 81 volumes IN the
set.
IN THE WORLD, by Maxim oorky,
the second volume Of the famous
Russians autobiography; sequel
20 my Childhood"
Now. when all eyes are concen-
trated upon Russia, TO see what the
next act OF the great drama staged
In that half occidental. half ORR
entail country will be. the life Of the
lower middle and working classes.
faithfully reproduced by Gorky, will
be an illumination in our befuddled
minds. Like all the great Russian
writer's, Gorky Is a realist tcom-
parable 10 the French Zola). and
paints his pictures in big splashes
OF drab or lurid color. There Is
nothing attractive in this book II
tells a sordid story OF a Russian
hoy's struggle for existence. II is
an almost unbelievable tale. but the
reader knows that Il is true from
first 20 last. and follows its un-
evantfui chapters with intense IN
terest Russian character Is shown
without apology or excuse. Some of
the men have CLEANS of nobility, or
at least a certain decent kindness,
but the women, II they are a pic
ture OF the females Of the Bolshe-
wiki, we must tTemble for the future
OF the torn and troubled country.
The fact that there is a Gorky and
others Of his kind. is a guarantee
that out OF injustice. oppression,