The Washington herald., 1918-07-14


Think Of it, Here was a man who
lived his most active years at a
time when the great American dis
ease dyspepsia" had reached the
crest Of the wave, who must have
noticed with what avidity all Ameri-
cans drank quarts of patent medi-
cines, who no doubt had full knowi-
edge OF our overheated houses. our
insanitary plumbing. and our COM
plete opposition to outdoor exer-
cises. Whitman must have
noted these vagaries so completely
divorced from common sense. other
wise he would not have dwelt In his
poems on strong-limbed men and
Walt whitman ha, be.
come today, tone of the clearest re-
sonance with mighty reyerberations
which are effecting a complete change
In the youth of France and England.
And the resonance OF this tone should
be of immeasurable value to medicine
American medicine which is bat
Ting on, on behalf of those measures
which shall circumvent disease. No
greater authority on preventive med
ieine has ever lived than Walt Whit
man. for his genius made 1t possible
for him to solve problems with a smile
that was born Of common sense, and
not as Is too often the case when a
medical man "tackles' these prob
lens. by a frown, a sigh and a final
statement that nothing can be done
on account of the lack of education
Of the masses.
Women and the French Tradition.
Like breath of ozone comes a
book that is great relief from
the deluge of war literature which
Is inundating the reading public.
Not that war literature is unac-
ceptable. On the contrary it is
most necessary now, but most of
the publications on this subject are
little more than trash. Women
and the French Tradition" Is the book
referred to, and the author. Flor
ence Leftwich Ravenel. has produc-
ed n volume of which she may
justly feel proud. 1t arrives at a
most opportune time, when Ameri-
ca. filled with gratitude to the
French people who so valiantly
helped us conquer our tyrannical ap-
pressors of 1176. is aiding the gallant
French in their struggle against tu-
tocratic dominion by aliens.
The world is much indebted to
French culture for many OF its most
enlivening and intellectual features.
Mrs Ravenel is fully cognizant of
this. and includes in her volume criti-
cal resumes of some of the most not
able women OF French history.
Among them are Madame de stael.
Madame de Sevigne, George Sand, the
Duchess de Broglie, Maria Mancini
and Arveio Barine. Three essays are
also contained in the book, their IT,
ties being THE Eternal Feminine"
Great Women's Daughters and
Women of France
In the chapter The Great SAL
oniere," Mrs. Ravenel. makes the
following subjoined statement
which is a convincing proof that
the seed of feminism was forceful-
ly sown in France: by the mere
act of going into voluntary exile
Madame de Stael made it plain that
while Napoleon might blockade
England, bully Germany and
threaten Russia. his power came to
the halt at the door of one will,
one conscience" This chapter on
the authoress of Corinne is possi-
bly, the best in the book.
The article on Arvede Barine
serves a double purpose. 1t gives
deep insight into the character of
this woman who took keen pleasure
in delving into the souls of her
sex. and also makes known to the
general public the unusual talents
of this genius, of whose existence
the average person has seldom
heard. La Bardine was an intense
admirer of Saint Teresa. and wrote
much about this marvellous woman.
The much-discussed Madame de
Sevigne. whose letters have been
the cause of many controversies,
and the little-known Madame de
Lafayette, who is termed The Rid
die of the Sphinx" also furnish ma
terlal for interesting literary and
critical treatment The essay,
Great Women's Daughters" Is re-
plete with unusual information.
while Women of France" is vi
tai refutation of the worldwide
accepted theory of four years ago
that France was a decadent nation.
The Macmillan Company.
1.-THE Sub is an autobiography on
David Munro. sub-lieutenant of His
Majesty's navy. Lieut.. Munro dis
guises himself behind the name Taft
rail'' and takes US into his conf
dence and relates a few surprising
incidents In the life OF sub chaser" :"
In short. this book describes in the
form Of fiction the career and train
ing of n Young naval officer from
the time he enters the Royal Naval
College until he eventually becomes
81 full-fedged lieutenant. The life.
work and routine in the colleges at
Osborne and Dartmouth and the life
of the hero as midshipman in the
gunroom of one of His Majesty's
battleshfps is vividly described. From
the time when. as acting sub-lieuten-
ant. just before war is declared, he
begins service on board a cruiser
which is sunk by German subma-
rine: the story deals with the life
on board a destroyer in the North
Sea and elsewhere In the stirring
and adventurous days of the grea:
war. The book is accurate in all its
details: the incidents and scenes de-
scribed are true and unexaggerated,
and many of them have come under
the authors personal observation
George II. Doran Comany. S1.35 nett
The Koehler Method of Physical
Drill.
Captain William H. Wilbur, author
of the book. served as assistant to
Major Koehler at West Point for sew
cral years, and had the best possible