Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-30


Soul of Europe" etc illustrated
New York: Dodd. Mead & Co
Y way of this dramatic sketch
of the Romalof dynasty SIR.
McCabe traces the rise, and fall,
of Russian autocracy. The
sketch covers period of about
900 years. At its further limit Michael
Romanofr, lineal descendant of Ivan
the Terrible" and Anastasia Roman
ovna, becomes the "tsar Of all the Rus
sfas" At it's close Nicholas ii is sign
ing away the long autocratie power of
the Romanoffs. Between these bound
aries stand the salient and significant
steps by which the natively democratic
Slays descended into one Of the greatest
and most complete despotisn1s Of his
tory. The story is, without break, the
record of malignant and ingenious
brutality bent, throughout the period.
to the suppression of the democratic
impulse. to the secure establishment OF
autocracy itself The Russian rulers
whom history generally names great
the great Peter. the great Catherine
prove to be such only when considered
from the dynastic viewpoint. From the
standpoint of the Russian people them
selves the greatness of these lies, in the
main. in superior intelligences devoted
exclusively TO the uses of larger and
more complete subjugation of the en-
pre- whole. The distinction OF
Mr. McCabe's study lies in the fact that.
to meet it's purpose. he has taken his
stand beside the people rather than pc
side the dynasty. that he has tried to
let US see how the Romanoffs appeared
to the great mass of Russians. rather
than to consider the people as whole
through the personal and selfish aims
of line OF rulers. From this point OF
approach il is a tragic story of oppres-
sion. a vivid exhibition of barbara
orientaiism imposed upon perpetual
ly out-cropping instinct for freedom.
for self-government, such as the early
Slays SO manifestly displayed. The
book is as readable as il is romantic
in its substance-an admirable study
for an outline view of the subject
TIT: SOUL OF TIT; RUSSIAN REvO-
LUTON. BY Moissaye j. Olgin. IL
Illustrated. New York: Henry Holt
a. Go.
\ Russian and a journalist of the lib
eraI type. this writer is, both by racial
Instinct and profession, keen to the
Russian currents Of thought and move
mcnt. IT is from this advantage ground
that he presents the study in hand. NJ.
OlkiB's exclusive aim here is to go back
OF tate revolutionary activities IN ofuef
that the reader may come within APP
precia bic reach of the heart of that
great turbulent Russia that is striving
SO often blindly and so often plan
leSsly-to bring itself out from under
the smotherings Of an autocratic gov
eminent. The central theme of the
book is the revolution that began about
twelve years ago and euded in the %
dication of Nicholas III. This revolu-
ton is the object-in its actual appear
ance IN it's general course. in it's high
points of achievement-that the writer
uses az the nucleus of Interpretation, as
the physical thing through which he
nenefrateS into the social and poiitica
and industrial causes Of Russian revolt
against the government Itself. To thi:
work Of Interpretation NJ. oigin brings
many another Russian writer Of dis
iiEction and power, giving in the word:
cs each of these that which to hin
covers the essence Of Russian discon
teat. that which to him sums the bod,
of Russian motive and aspiration. Tb'
value of the study lies in it's nearnes:
to The real situation, and also in thu
comprehensive aud inclusive sweep o
rs consideration. Its mediate effcc
Is to set kne down. bodily. in the Thids