Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-09
Reviews of New Books


Wharton Edwards. Beautifully ano
prof,relv illustrated. Philadelphia, Pa
The Penn Publishing Co, 925 Fllber'
street. Price, $40, net, boxed.
H.rc !, a theme worthy of the best in.
SEPARATION of Mr.. Wharton In h,s spec1a,
line of presenting revealing pictures o,
countries and people, and he has succeeoeo
in a manner worthy in every way OF the
high reputation he has achieved by pre-
vious not able productions. Belgium
historic, and Belgium Ii most attractive.
IL has long held high place IN world m
terest. not only by reason of itself ana its
possessions, but by the unique and ire
quently disastrous place 1T has held Tor
centuries As the favonte battle-ground OF
Europe. Time and again its soil has been
invaded by foreign armies, each seeking TO
overthrow the other, and never did TINS
fate fall upon that unfortunate country
with heavier hand than during the great
World War, now happily over, when Ger
MANY. disregarding sacred treaty as
though it we're but scrap of paper,
sent her armed hordes through Belgium, as
The quickest way to reach her main enemy,
France. and then, angered by the noble
snd heroic resistance of the patriotic Bel
gians. devastated the land and oppressed
the people with fiendish vidictiveness.
But that Is now past and better tunes
are the portion of the people OF that his-
roric country. "As soon rs the arnlstlce
was signed, Antwerp, the gate OF the
nation Mr. Edwards says, "awoke as
from terrible nightmare. Hey people
and the people of the rest of Belgium at
once entered upon the work OF restora-
non and rebuilding until now, the author
nforms us. the country is not so much
concerned over industrial conditions as
political problems. The latter are involved
N the ancient controversy between
Flemish and Walloon, especially as to the
national language, French beng en-
ploved officially and automatically, while
there is now somewhat fierce contention
over the proposition to drive out thetrench
and substitute the exclusive use of the
Flemish tongue. But the probabilities
are that this strcmpt will fail, and that
the bilingual characteristic OF the nation
rill be continued.
Following this brief dissertation over
industrial conditions and political prob
lens the reader is taken on q journey
through Belgium, with revealing glimpses
Of the old and the new. There are stops at
Antwerp. Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Tour
nai. Couillet, Liege and Mons, names
made familiar TO sll the rest of the world
nv the fierceness of the baptism OF fire that
va. visited upon them, or the ruthless
savaqerv of German occupation, through
ont most OF the fateful days Of the war.
Very interesting are these places. Each
ha. a history that stretches far into the
mast. and each has its prominent place IN
he affairs of the modern world. At each
nlac, in turn. Mr.. Edwards carries awhile
until he makes the reader familiar with
history. tradition. accomplishment, char
scterlstirs notable features and present
eonditIons. Ii is all most wonderful. tor
IN no other country in Europe can there
be found 80 many places that are so rlch
IN historical associations, and possessed OF
81 much in the WAY of architectural drs-
tInction and practical Industrial develop
ment and Importance.
Much historical and general information
about the entire country also Is presented.
There are chapter. on the anniversary OF
Belgian independence, OF itself notable
event, and 8 dissertation on the Belgian
Constitution. OF course, the war comes
into virew most prominently, and there
IS sn e.pecisily thrilling chapter on The
Glorious Story Of the ser, that conflict
n arm. when Germany was made 20 con
vincinUIy sware Of Belgium courage and
determination, and when Belgian and
French soldiers showed how braveiy snd
effectively thev could fight for their land
and their homes And there are informing
pen pictures of Cardinal Mercier, known
70 ali the world for his noble defence OF Bel
eiaus' right. even IN the face Of brutal
Csernan intolerance, and OF the brave hing
Albert and his queen.
The book is beautifully bound and the
Typography is Of the best. The luustra-
tions are especially notable They are
forty in number, all full-page and all IN
colors. There Is but one portrait, that OF
c Cardinal Mercier, all the other lliustra-
tions being Of notable buildings and places
in the interesting cities and towns ne
farnou. Town Hall Of Brussels the l Ier-
rsces, the Guild Houses, the Cathedral
the BUurse. and Steen Castle, and the
Gothic Stalls in the Cathedral, 81 Ant
werp: the Brussels Palace OF Justice and
Guild Houses; the Castle OF Gerard-le-
Diabls. the Guild Hall Of the Waternen,
Old ST. Nicholas, and the wonderfully
le.ut;tul doorway Of the Fish Market,
u Ghent; Hospital Of St. Jean, the beltry,
Id Ostend Gate, the Library, Rue de
Ans ANpuElr. 7 AalCI4Ahs4og oAAA
some ancient houses n rare old Brugss;
Cathedral and the Church Of 81. Mar
-neritc az Tournsi; the great iron works
AZ Couillet: Mont de Piete, Palace Of the
Prince Bishops, and the ancient ''Perron"
II LeSe, that special object Of German
the Town Hall, massive
and most effective, al Mons, and It's
beautifful hallway; the cathedrals OF St.
Waudru and Dinant These and Others
comprise these beautiful and faithful
Of Belgiurn's architectural
wonders.
Il lie difficult TO adequately describe 8
work Of this character or picture its
attractive embellishments, but 1t can be
said in truth that Mr. Edwards Bel
gum, Old and New, is production thst
will please both eye and mind, and appeal
TO the love Of the beautiful as well as the
lnclinetion to history that thrills in the
telling Coming al the opening of the holi-
5ay season, such book is especially ap-
propIate.
Received of the publisher
The Fourth Division In the World War"