Evening star., 1919-08-31
Reviews of New Books

ally he marries the daughter. A
comment on this institution has pass
ed into a Japanese proverb:-"Do not
become an irimuko (adopted hus.
rice" The story in hand pictures
the family life of Japan, including
within this treatment an illuminating
body of social custom as well. For
the purpose of the story five char
acters stand out clearly. There is
the adopted husband. light-minded
uncongenial wife; an old mOther-in-
law, an illeghimate half-sister OF the
wife. and young business man
friend of the family. In a lifelike
comedy of family life in Japan. The
beauty of the landscape itself takes
prominent part in this development:
Many customs novel to the occidental
find place in this romance. Simple
and transparent in treatment-as the
French are straight and clear in
their inventions-the novel sums to
a delightful picture Of this exotic
life. sketch by Mr.. Sinclair, one
of the translators. defines the course
gives the particular place of this
author-Futabatei- the fiction
writer's of Japan. Drawn off from
cotemporaneous life, this realistic
novel projects an important and IN
teresting picture of Japan as it is
today.
THE IVORY TRAIL. BY Talbot Nun
dy, author of 'Hira Singh etc. IL
Illustrations by Joseph Clement Coll
Indianapolis: The BobbSMerrill
Company.
The search for an ivory hoard sets
both motive and field in this stirring
adventure. 1t had leaked out-as
precious secrets are bound to do
that somewhere in Africa were hid
den mountains of pure gold in the
shape of elephant tuSks, whose owner
had betaken himself out of this world
leaving behind him a secret exactly
calculated to draw adventure to this
African Ell Dorado. Upon this ground
and for this quest the author gathers
four young fellows - English and
are ripe for the joy OF
the hunt rather than for the yield of
pounds sterling in discovery. There
are rivals in this pursuit-nothing less
than the German and English govern
ments. to say nothing of the mob OF
criminals and outlaws also bent to the
business of finding the ivory. The de-
light of the story lies in the opening
out of the endless and mysterious
country under the daily journeyings
of this rabble of fortune hunters. Con-
spiracies against the big four swarm
like bees around them, intrigues OBJ
struct their way, natives and aliens
alike lending a hand to their discom-
future and hindrance. Something hap
pens every minute of the day and
night. So. with the general activity
of gold-hunting and with the graphic
and picturesque portrayal of the land
itself. the reader is insured against
any dull moments here. The book pos
sesses the attraction, too, of being
drawn off from the doings of the pres
ent day. 1t steps on with the rest OF
the world at the moment. and this IS
real appeal Mr.. Mundy is a good story
teller. More than that. in this case, he
displays a genuine knowledge of this
eastern continent and passionate
love for it.
WHAT AMERICA DID; A Record of
Achievements IN the Prosecution Of
the War. BY Florence Finch Kelly.
New York: E. p. Dutton & Co.
of surprising fact. 1t gives without
establishment. or comment even. the
achievements of this country at its
highest moment of single-minded
zeal for the succor of the menaced
liberty of the world. The writer sim
ply tells the story of the American
fighters and of the people at home
the first place. the record of making
an army-a sea, land, an air army
of eQuipping and training it. of pro-
viding for its general welfare, of
sending it across for service in
France. The story includes. in the
second place. the prodigious work of
the nation behind the army-of mobi-
liking and co-ordinating industry.
finance, food, fuel, transportation. 1t
includes also the work of the women.
of the Red Cross. of the multitude
nous instrumentalities bent whole
heartedly to the support of the men
at the front and to the exaltation of
the cause for which this country en-
omitted all but the high points of
achievement. As a result. the reader
comes into possession of q body of
solid fact, all of it important and
Illuminating. Inspiring. too. one finds
this book Something for one to study
younger ones as a glorious chapter
in the history of their country.
THE RELIGION OF OLD GLORY. By
William Norman Guthrie. New
York: George H. Doran Company.
A kind of poetic vision. a degree of
poetic rapture. ehvelops this study
In patriotism through a consideration
of the history and spiritual signifi-
canoe of our national emblem-"Old
Glory" One reflects often on the
course of the power exercised by the
fiag-the American flag, in respect to
Americans; other flags in relation to
their respective nationals. The root
of the matter is historical. psychology
ical, SPIRITUAL potency produced by
the three in combination and solution.
Mr.. Guthrie by way of this sympa-
thetic ana discerning study traces
out the lines of fact and meaning that
lie back of this national impulse to-
ward brotherhood and patriotism
toward religion itself and. finally to-
ward an enduring internationalism.
The book Is unique. Its value as pure
information is more than balanced by
its Importance as an inspiring excur-
sion into the spiritual aspects of our
national life-these aspects embodied
exemplifed and promoted by the pro-
gressive significance of the flag itself,
One of the books to illuminate the
new education that is bound to mark
the way and point out the ideals of
our new world.