The sun., 1919-11-02
A. Candid Friend of Italy

THIS, which is being less heralded and
l. discussed than it deserves, appears
to be just the book for the intelligent
American who has never lived in Italy
and desires, as he ought, to have a reason
ably comprehensive idea of that land, its
people and their institutions as they are
to-day.
"Appears to be-" I write instead of
"is," because do not know Italy at first
hand. Without such knowledge, however,
it can be said that the ring and feel of
this book are decidedly convincing
eidentany, that My Italian Year makes
good reading of its sort.
The authors identity is no light guar
antee of his reliability as an extra-special-
correspondent. He; is distinguished
neurologist, which means a psychologist
of qualification FAR beyond the consulting
room and the clinic, and argues a genu-
inc intensiyely trained observer. The OBJ
servations of such one, whatever may be
their. subject, are valuable sight unseen.
But if there were no more to him than
his medical and associated equipment
the value might be limited. That there
is much more in this case appears In
every chapter; an eclectic social philos-
ophy, a well sophisticated devotion to
the fine arts amounting to foundation
for critical judgments worth respect, a
personal unwearied human sympathy, and
a remarkable range and depth of general
information, besides rare special knowl-
edge of Italy. -.
Dr.. Collins seems to have known Italy
and become fond of her long before the
war. His military assignment there, as
an official of the American Red Cross, was
a eongenial one His chapters were orig
inally letters from the scene to friend
at home. Lucky the friend for whom so
much time was found and trouble taken
even though (unless the letters have been
radically revised) he may occasionally
have felt himself addressed like public
audience. If he did, so much the better
for the present public audience!
None but an incorrgible Italian chau-
whist is likely to question that My Itakdn
Year makes its authors profession OF
friendship for Italy good. He reverences
Italy's great past; he believes In great
future for her. As to her present his
friendship is not blind. Generally, his
first undertaking is that of descriptive
and expositive reporter. A chapter on
The Government Machine is a careful
demonstration of its subject which would
do to put in the hands of young students
of governments. Chapters on the nobll-
ity and gentry, and on Il popoIo, add to
this character something of a critical
analysis. And always Or. Collins is as
ready to say what he thinks of a states
man, a policy, procedure, popular
tendency or the architecture and decora-
ton of modern government building as
he is to reveal the sickening (''indescrib-
able" would be his own adjective, which
he would proceed to beIie) want of hy-
giene In country village
HIS Characterization Of the demonstra-
tive italian temperament agrees with
what we have all understood from tradi-
ton about Latina HIS sympathetic 9-
animation of II, however, will leave q
reader less prone than before to turn up
his nose, on provincial grounds associated
with race prejudice, at the next example
be sees here In America Of Latin mag
niloquenee and all but spontaneous emo
tional combustion.
Dr.. Collins himself has no foolish
scruple against letting his own personal
ity loose in his book. If he had, IT