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

bell opens, through its finely intelli-
gent appreciation, most appropriately
upon the letters themselves
ITALY AT WAR, And the Allie. in the
West. By E. Alexander Powell.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Today Mr.. PowelPs book reads like an
old. old story1for it was written while
Italy was making such amazing head
way against the central powers. 1t is
stirring and exact account. by one
already in the field of action. of the
various moves of the italian armies in
their successful offensive against Aus
tria. Historically the book is of as
much worth as first-hand evidence can
be- The writer is practiced in military
observation and in the energetic and
spirited writing of the accomplished
journalist. 1t is. therefore, adable
book, as well as an authentic and in
forming one. 1t is a vivid account. One
sees these armies fighting ION the roof
of Europe" one feels their incredible
endurance and surprising bravery. The
puzzling geography of northern Italy
clears up and straightens out under the
treatment of this direct and unwaste-
full writer. Venice appears like twi-
light dream in its dark silences, it's
hushed breathlessness. Trieste becomes
a purpose rather than p mere citv The
Trentino locates itself definitely in
place and ultimate design. Mr.. Powell
discusses. with adequate knowledge
and in a fine competency of under
standing the. reasons that prompted
Italy to repudiate the triple alliance
and take her place with the allies. The
book is rarely restrained discussion
of Italy at one point in its war prog
ress.
CHRISTINE. BY Alice Cholmondeley
New York: The Macmillan Com
pany.
This is book Of letters written by
daughter. in Germany, to her mother, in
England. Christine Cholmondeley was in
Germany studying music for the three
years Immediately prior to the outbreak
of war. She dies at a hospital lin Stuff
CART Of acute pneumonia. Of this death
her mother says. 1.-The war killed Chris
tine just as surely as if she had been
a soldier in the trenches: / never saw her
again. 1 had a telegram saying she was
dead. I tried to go to Stuttgart, but was
turned back at the frontier. The two last
letters reached me after I knew that she
was dead" The mother submits these
letters to the general reader because they
give SO clear picture Of the state of
mind Of the German public Immediately
before the war. Her conviction is that
these letters, written by one who went to
Germany enthusiastically ready to like
everything and everybody" may have
certain value 'in helping to put together
a small corner of the great picture of
Germany which it Will be necessary to
keep clear and naked before us in the
future II the world is to be saved The
book itself. apart from the purpose of its
publication, is touchingly tender story
of longing and ultimate inconsistencies, as
well as a revelation of German feeling and
German attitude toward the great CUES
ton of the Germanmade war.
AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GAR
Py
author of Home Vegetable Garden
ing" etc. Illustrated. New York:
The Macmillan Company.
In an incredibly short time the garden
patch passed from mere idea into a
substantial harvest. The garden is
popular. Everybody is coming to want
a garden of his own. The book in
hand is an immediate and competent
response to such need. 1t is. first of
all. the work of a recognized author
ity on the subject. Coupled with this
fact is the equally important one that
Mr.. Rockwell is able to translate his
own practical gardening experiences
into terms of such definite direction
that, with his book in hand. one is able
without further instruction to achieve
a real garden of his own. One hardly
expects to begin his garden in January,
but this is the time. according to Mr..
Rockwell, when the garden should pro-
ject itself as a plan. Then. week by
week. through each month of the year,
this book follows up garden-making-
indoors and out-till a harvest of vege-
tables and fruits and flowers verifies the
hopes Of the gardener and proves the
profit and pleasure of the work. Every
item of embarrassing appears here.
Mysteries of the soil are made clear;
its preparation is definite and complete.
Planting and care of vegetables and
flowers are given in a detail that for
bids failure. Plates objectify the text
in a hundred garden devices. AS a
whole the book stands as an admirable
guide to garden-making. It is we'll
ordered. complete. concise. definite in