Evening star., 1920-03-14
Reviews of New Books

LEONARD WOOD, Conservator OF
| Americanism. By Eric Fisher
| Wood. author Of The Writing on
the WALL etc. Illustrated New
| York: George H. Doran Company.
TNHIS biography runs exactly
with the times. since every
| daily paper supplements its
! contents with fresh views of
the doings and sayings of Maj. Gen.
Leonard Wood. frankly out in the
! lighting open for the next presiden-
| tial election. The book is timely in
| the best sense-not in the sense of
political expediency. but in the way
| of supplying a compact background
of character and achievement for a
| man whose current public pronounce
| ments contain so much of good sense.
! of wise outlook. of all-around fair
! dealing. of statesmanly sagacity and
| of sound Americanism. The book is
| enthusiastically friendly to Gen
| Wood. 1t is not partisan IN spirit.
however. a conspicuously well writ
! ten story, whose appearance at the
moment meets general desire to
! know all that there is to be known
about the particular American with
whom it is engaged. Lieut.. Col. Eric
Wood it may be said in passing. has
no blood tie with Gen. Wood-only Il
strong mind and heart tie instead.
THE INSIDE STORY OF THE PEACE
CONFERENCE. BY DR.. Edward J.
Dillon. New York: Harper & Bros.
DR. Dillon himself calls this a
sketch of the doings of the peace con-
ference. 1t impresses the reader as
a fun drama of the great event. The
writer knows how to set the stage
and arrange the players. One. read
ing. has a sense of being in the midst
of significant things-some of them
open and aboveboard. many more Of
them filled with secret implications
under the show of the outwardly
frank gesture. 1t is fascinating
drama. with the movement of me-
teor and the colors of the rainbow.
For twenty years and more the au-
thor has applied himself to the study
of European politics. Therefore me
outer manifestations of the confer
ality that to one less versed in the
matter would have had either no
meaning at all or one that was far
atield from the truth. This is very
ee-speaking observer and very
impartial one. The book gains by
is obviously well considered. Hun
dredS of world figures stand here as
natural as life. innumerable vital
conditions and events germane to the
business of the conference flock into
these rich pages. A vivid and capti-
waiting drama of the all important
event of the times.
GEORGE Won LENGERkE MEYER:
His Life and Public Services. BY
NJ. A. De Wolfe Howe. author Of
Life and Letters of George Ban
croft etc. Illustrated. New York ::
Dodd. Mead & Co.
AS ambassador to Italy and then
to Russia. as Postmaster General and
Secretary of the Navy. George Won L.
Meyer gave varied and distinguished
service to the United States. 1t is
of this service that the book in hand
deals with SO much sympathy Of spirit
and discrimination of judgment. In
one sense the story Of Meyers Life
is a vivid chapter of recent Amer
ican history. Illuminating in a new
light many important points of ma
tional and international Importance
in the admnistration of Mckinney.
Roosevelt and Taft. Much first-hand
| matter - letters. reports, records -
gives concrete reality and special
liant and many-sided career The
narrative brings out the fact that
George Won l.. Meyer. like Theodore
| Roosevelt, belonged to the leisured.
educated. mOdeStly affiuent class. and
that. like MIR. Roosevelt again. he
overcame this disability and devoted
himself in usefulness to a construc-
tive craftsmanship. This is a situa-
tion as inspiring as that OF the ira
ditional canal driver and lowly back
woodsman who achieved fame. for
wealth no less than poverty is n great
handicap in the mastering of ones
energies. A valuable contribution to
the history of Americans who deserve
well Of their compatriots and their
country as whole.
OUR UNSEEN GUEST. Anonymous.
New York: Harper & Bros.
! There is nothing fictitious about this
| record. according to it's authors. ex-
! cept the names of the persons in
| volved in its course. The book is one
| of the rapidly increasing number OF
! those which. at the moment. are ask
! ing questions. adducing evidence. Of
| PHILOSOPHERS about the going on of a
personal existence after one has
| moved out from this earthly plane
! The ouija Notwithstanding as ia
! miliar an article of household furnish
! ing as frying pan-is the instru-
ment of this revelation. Darby and
| Joan" receive and transcribe the
messages. The experience and the de-
! ductions do not vary essentially from
| those of which the public is. at pres
ent in constant receipt. stephen" is
the unseen guest" From him there
| is a fairly explicit account of the
| mode of life. the interests. the occu-
| pations of those who have crossed
| the bar. There are many evidences
! or that which is given as evidence
; Of a tremendous spiritual activity. OF
1 nd ~ yl-H h ifs