Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-04

striking personality, a flashing indi-
vidualism, whose intuition goes straight
to the work and the writer under APP
praisal. There could hardly be a
franker critic, nor one who, at the Same
time, had a keener realization of the
limitations that. naturally. bar the
critic from a complete communion with
the author himself. 1t is, in part, by
reason of this consciousness that Mr..
Dixon here proves himself so superb a
critic. In other part, this surprising
quality lies in the spontaneous quality
of his work. in it's joyous and natural
note. in its freedom from the cant of
criticism, in its genuine helpfulnesS
for such as would like to know where
in the standards of criticism do lie, and
how these operate in judging the pow
ing feature here is that Mr.. Dixon
takes up single characteristics of one
and another writer. dealing with each
in fine finish of consideration. For
of Bernard Shaw" the meekness of
Rudyard Kipling," the artlessness of
H c. Wells" 1.-The common sense of
Arnold Bennett" His appreciation Of
Henry James is full and rich-some-
thing to read.
COTTON AS A WORLD POWER. A
Study in the Economic Interpreta-
tion of History. By James A. b.
Scherer. Phi. D., author Of The Jap
anese Crisis" etc. New York: Fred
erick A. Stokes Company.
This study is about as far away from
a bare commercial consideration as it
is possible for any book to be. On the
other hand. it is rather epic in its treat
ment and appreciation. While doing
full justice to the industrial and COM
mercial supremacy of cotton from GER
tain points of view. the writer does not
undervalue the romantic and pictur-
esque side of the origin and spread and
influence of this industrial commodity.
He goes back into history. and off to
golden fleece" for the wool Of this
vegetable lamb" as the old legend
named it He then transports it to
England, following this by review of
the industrial revolution in the British
Isles and the part played by cotton in
this overturning of the common life
of the country. Across the water.
then, he presents cotton in American
history as a sectional evolution. stand
ing as the bulwark of the agricultural
south in its controversies with the
manufacturing north over the burning
questions of free trade. on the one
hand, and protection on the other. The
significant part played by cotton In
the civil war and it's influence in the
new south upon politics. social prob
lens and social changes is defined here
most arreStingly and informingly.
Finally, the writer examines this sub
ject in the light of world trade, setting
up against the south such rivals in
cotton productions as exist and point
ing the future of the south by way of
it's efficiency in regard to the world
needs for the golden fleece" of which
it possesses so large share. y study
that is as useful as it is dramatic and
interesting.
WAR PHASES: According to Maria.
By Mrs. John Lane. author of
Maria Again. etc. Illustrated by
A. H Fish. New York: John Lane
Company.
Maria is becoming. institutional in
character. Woman suffrage, eugenics,
prohibition. preparedness. maifeasance
on the part of both labor and capital.
war-all these come and go, but Maria
remains Indeed, Maria becomes. in
turn the mouthpiece of each of these
phases of the times. Here Maria has
the war on her hands, the biggest yet
of the undertakings, for to embody
the various aspects of female attitude
and opinion in respect to this over
event puts the prod even to
so capable and versatile a person as
Maria. However. Maria is ever single
of purpose. She never mixes her I'M
dertakings. Maria is consecrated to
the cause of finding the weak spots in
the fraiI character of woman. So. you
see Maria is prodigiously busy in her
specialized calling. If woman really
wants to know just how foolish she is.
or may be, all that she has to do is to
follow Maria around and the whole
matter becomes as clear as day. Laugh
able and clever? Very The author
of Maria has a rival here in the artist
who has so deliciously and capably
pictured Maria in one or another of
her various enterprises.
WITH THE FRENCH FLYING CORPS.
By Carroll Dana Winslow. Illus
trated. New York: Charles Serb
ner's Sons.
Mr.. Winslow. a young American now
Of the French flying corps. here gives
a graphic and most interesting account
Of his personal experiences and ad-
ventures while qualifying for this field
Of service with the allies. and while in
actual service as a part of the flying
squadron of France. Operating with
The squadron above Verdun during the
siege against that fortress, the
writer gives an exciting account of his