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

days a week in a genial and often hu-
morous self-forgetfulness. fs the Key
ROBERT sHENsTONE. By w. ].
Dawson. author of "a Prophet in
Babylon" etc. New York: John
Lane Company.
Robert Shenstone tells his own story
here. the story of boy who would be
poet and of youth under the urge
of the spirit of adventure. Moving
quietly at first among the simple things
Of childhood, the story gradually txkes
on speed. and spread. maturing plot
of robust complexity. But It IL the
taste of the romance that one likes
best, the havors that II leaves on the
tongue and the genial atmospheres with
which 1t surrounds one 50 soothingly.
Often and often there is distinct
turn of the hand Of Dickens here. The
spirit OF humor mixed with tenderness
Is again reminiscent Of this incom-
parable writer. The author claims the
novel as refuge out Of the horrors
and personal anxieties OF the war. That
it prove to be this to readers also is
quite within its possibilities. an out
come that ought to double the writer's
ease of mind and prolong the once Of
the story as sanctuary to troubled
heart.
A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
SINCE THE CIVIL WAR. BY Ellis
Paxson Oberholtzer. New York: The
Macmillan Company.
This is the first Of the five volumes
in which Mr.. Oberholtzer proposes to
deal with the history Of the United
States from the close OF the civil war
UP to the present time. The book in
hand covers the period from 1865 to
1sss-the three years lying between
, the assassination Of President Lincoln
and the impeachment Of Andrew John
son. The distinction of the author
| plan. as it appears in this volume. is
that 1t concerns itself. not SO much
with the. rival activities of political
parties and the machinery OF the ma
tional government as it does with the
| economic and Industrial awakening of
! the country at the close of the war.
The expansion Of industry in all direc-
lions; the development OF better means
| of communication by railways and tele-
| graph; emigration toward the west
| through the operation OF the home
! stead act: the purchase OF Alaska by
the United States, and the sorry con-
dition of the south at this period
! ton in this volume. This writer con-
| ceives the purpose of history to be a
| study of all the people In their eco
| nomic and social relations. rather than
| the study of q privileged class, or
! classes. under the accident OF war, or
,, the turmoil of political rivalry. He has
well in hand, besides. the art of spirit
| ed and interesting narrative. This is.
| therefore, vivid and concrete story
| that presents men and events with the
| breath OF life within them aad presents
| the whole country in the normal condi-
| ton of peaceful growth through nat
urally stimulated industry. full and
| authentic study of admirable spirit and
| workmanship.
THOSE WHO WALK IN DARKNESS
of THE Bugler Of Aigiers." etc
New York: George n. Doran Com
pany.
| Mr.. Sheehan starts this novel with
rash act. He hampers with the ira
| dition OF marriage. Now, both in novels
and out of them. q bride is q spotIess
| lily. AS for the bridegroom, this does
not matter. He may. or may not. have
| spots. And Mr.. Sheehan turns this
squarely around. The bridegroom here
is an unawakened country youth come
up to the city to make his fortune
| The bride is, or was. a bird Of the
night who. to the enamored youth
across the hall. seemed an angel OF
light. Upon this foundation the writer
constructs q novel OF originality and
power whose course 10 determined BY
| the separate reactions Of these two
that eA0h one h And o3 Aimeel1 ~ and
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