The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-12-08
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New Books
New Books

Abraham Lincoln, Lord Charnwood.
makers Of the Nineteenth Century
Series)
The Challenge Of the Present Crisis,
II. +. Fosdick.
The Religious History of New England,
Rufus +. Jones and Others.
Mountain Interval, Robert Frost.
Abraham Lincoln, by Lord Cham
wood, is the first considered attempt
by an English author to give picture
of Lincoln as statesman. Lincoln
has become known and loved by the
political liberals Of all nations, especial
" by the English in these days that
so sternly challenge all political prin-
cipleS and leaders. 1t seems especial
~ fitting that 50 judicial and apprecia-
tive a study Of his life should come
from England at this time.
The book does not pretend to be an
exhaustive study of Lincoln 5 life in
all its detail, but centers on his de
velopment and achievement as a SUI
preme statesman The story of his
early years is covered in brief chap
ter, graphically summarizing his en-
| vironment and his growing individual
ity. Careful, often striking, summaries
OF the political development of the ma
ton Of Lincoln : relations to il fol
I bo nd
the always fascinating story Of the
leadership of the great President are
related in some detail. At the end
we are thrilled and subdued once more
by our contact with this master spirit.
The story IS all the more refresh
ing for being told from the critical
standpoint. We have had Unreasonable
eulogy of Lincoln, much of it indiscrim-
mate. This book PRESENTS his lmita-
tions and faults, with much critical
comment on the men and conditions
with which he had to deal. But one
of Lincoln s surest claims to enduring
fame is revealed in the fact that all
s hlStuSSlDH VI lIiIlldlIulS OA4N iHt IltLt
emphasizes the outstanding greatnes.
OF the man. The author writes with q
keen discrimination, which tinallJ
passes into Just and noble eulogy
Many great deeds were done in tho
war. The greatest was the keeping OF
the North together in an enterprise Sc
arduous, and an enterprise for object:
50 confusedly related as the Union anc
freedom. Abraham Lincoln did this
nobody else could nave done it; to &c
it he bore on his sole shoulders sucl
a weight of care and pain as few 9th
or men have borne. Some of u
recall his name as the greatest amons
those associated with popular govern
, ment He was citizen of that ia
9 country where there is neither aristo
crat nor democrat. No political theor.
? stands out from his words or actions
a but they show : most unusual sens
t OF the possible dignity of common mel
b and common things
: The Challenge of the Present Crisis
by II. +. Fosdick, is little book tina
5 is worth more than most larger book
/ on the same subject. 1t Is a remarkabl,
terse and vigorous discussion Of tn
| moral issues of the war. free fror
: ranting and bitterness, yet Very Iosi
II Itiyc and logical in its conclusions. Nett
& - Sriauca comp,ar.p r,rourpSS lax n
Il education can kill war Only rclioio
can do that Without religion we ar
4 without hope in this world. Withou
a God we are lost.
I The Religious History OF New Eng
! land is collection Of lectures by ron
q inent representatives of eight larg
Y Protestant communions. The Congrt
II aational, Unitarian, Baptist, Quake
Episcopalian, Methodist, Universali>
and Swedenborgian churches are pr,
.euted in the development Of thei
ideas, organization and relation to on
D. another and to society. Together the
e make an interesting story of a lare
: part of the life of New England. TIL
! heroism and romance of beginnings, til
Il limitations of an established order an
r rigid orthodoxy, the unfortunate ccl
i troversies and divisions that too ofte
~ reveal that perseverance of the saint
which in sinners is called obstinacy,
and through it all the constant nurtul
! OF the noble piety and sterling chara
ter which is the justification of I'll