Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-06-23

ting settled into habits. So Ring
Lardner constitutes himself the physi-
cal culture man whose immediate mis-
sion is to establish a reverse action to
these improving lines. He sets out
to make us laugh. And he does 1t
by the simple expedient OF holding TO
his original attitude of knowing MOTH
ing at all about the war. With the
same naive freshness that each one OF
us would, of necessity, possess he ap-
proaches the various features or war
work that he is permitted to look in
upon, describing it all in an amusing
frankness of profound ignorance. one
gets, by rhis plan, any number of war
and near-war scenes from the many
bright points of view that do illumi-
nate this grim business, after all Bits
of French civic life-if France may be
said to possess a civic life nowadays
snapshots at soldiery from the four
corners of the earth, amusing Incl
dents of attempted adjustments to the
new situation and the tantalizing
French tongue, and a bright-hearted
return to this side-these are the lines
along which this genial humorist tries
to inject a laugh into the general
gloom Of the world. And it is good
effort, made under a kindly human In
stinct. One. reading. comes upon MANY
of the lighter phases Of the stupendous
matter that could not appear in any
serious consideration of the war.
THE END OF THE WAR. By Walter
E. WeyI, author of THE New De-
mocracy." etc. New York: The
Macmillan Company.
This book looks toward the close Of
the war. 1t is an argument for inter-
nationalism. 1t is also an urge to
Americans that tho United States earn
and assume leadership in the delibera-
ganized and legalized International
ism of the future. The bulk of this
study is given over to a summary of
events leading to the war and of those
international events that have marked
its development. These summaries are
plications that are well worth the
thoughtful examination of American
readers. One does not always agree
with this writer But he listens to
was not altruistic in her defense Of
Belgium. 1t is easy to say any num-
Der Of things looking toward the ma.
Heaven knows that nations have not.
as yet. shown themselves to be pure
good time to impute anything to any
body. Just now we have to be shown,
both in respect to individuals and to
states. Therefore, scholarly people
will add strength to their arguments
by holding them well within the zone
Of indubitable proof. The second part
of this study defines the nature of a
conclusive peace. and sets forth the
obstacles that lie in the way of it's
achievement. A tentative peace con-
ference is outlined and a final picture
supplements this conclusive confer
ence. A scholarly and interesting
study of bent that adds markedly to
the interest that it very justly excites.
THE sTUCCO HOUSE. By Gilbert
Canaan, author of "Mendel." etc.
New York: George H. Doran.
We already know James Lawrie. the
man of this story. for we have met
him, more than once before. in the in
ventions of Mr.. Canaan. This is the
book of Lawrie's middle years. OF
those impetuous years when. against
the solicitations of material success.
he was fighting to save the life of his
own dreams. his own ideals. The
work all-day atmosphere of Trigsby
:. Is the background against which the
author sets the struggles of Lawrie.
A quiet story, whose beauty lies in,the
faithfuiness of the writer to the Sc