Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-16


ARLYLEs French revolution
possesses no considerable
meaning for one who has not
~ already well in mind both the
general movement and the
salient points of that event. To one
thus brvadly informed, however, Car
lyle's history becomes a darkly splendid
illumination of the saturnalia of revo-
lutionary France, a vivid and unfor-
Rettable embodiment Of France at this
period. So 1t is with Mr.. Chesterton's
history of England. Not knowing the
general course Of English development,
not familiar with the essential facts
of the English national career. one
comes out of this, book no wiser than
he went in. But, on the other hand.
possessed of this general view. the
reader comes into genuine and un-
accustomed delight over what, at frst
appears to be a mere haphazard to-tng
and fro-ing through the fields OF Eng
1ish history, a vagrant gathering OF
certain ili-assorted blooms OF English
event What Mr. Chestertor has done
is to pass over miles and miles of arid
English happenings without so much
as glance their way. Then pouncing
Nsh prepossession and behavior. he
gives to this that thoroughness OF at
tention, that independence OF treat
ment, those striking thrusts OF disclose
ure for which he Is so well known
so much liked, so much not liked also.
History in the extract-that is. history
peppered and tobascoed In the familiar
Chestertonian way. It is fine. 1t posts
one anew on England and stirs up ones
thinking, not only about England, but
about its lineal descendants on this side
as well.
A HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR.
BY Arthur Conan Doyle. New York:
George II. Doran Company
For the purposes of a clear general
outlook upon the main features of the
first three years of the great war, Sir
Conan Doyle broadly designates these
years as the year of defense, the year
of equilibrium and the year OF attack.
This. the second volume. deals with
the year Of equilibrium. giving in spe-
cifc detail the British campaign in
France and Flanders. Within this
period stand the second battle of Ypres.
the great battle of Loos-two furious
conflicts, the bulk of those details this
writer claims to have brought for the
nrst time to the general public. Maps
and plans supplement a text, which,
obviously. the author has striven to
make both authentic and as circum-
stantial as the most painstaking and
patient research enables it to be. But
this Is not altogether a story of massed
men and the automatism of war. Here
and there are pictures of gallant
groups, like the Canadians, of COM
manders and men whose heroisus sep
arate the mass into glorious individu-
ais Both the student, therefore in
search Of facts, and the general reader
urgent for the human element in this
supreme test. hnd their respective sat
fsfactions in this competent and SYM
pathetic treatment.
BURROWS OF MICHIGAN AND THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY. BY William
Dana circuit New York: Long
mans, Green & Co.
In 1884. when julius Caesar Bur-
rows was but eighteen years of age
,the republican party came into ex-
I, istence. Mr. Burrows Immediately
identified himself with the aims and
plans of that party. By virtue OF this
fact. the story OF Mr.. Burrows life be-
comes, as well, the history Of great
political party for more than half 4
century OF distinguished usefulness n