Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-11
TRAVEL BOOKS
Seeing the Far WeSt With John
T. Fmis and Belgium With
George Wharton Edwards

John T.. Faris. who writes such ad-
mirable travel books, IN his latest en-
ables staySat- homes to "see America
first" It is called "Seeing the Far
West" and is prcdicated on a phrase
appearing on the jacket to the effect:
Americans need to wake up to the
fact that in their own West is scenery
that is beyond comparison.
NJ. Faris has been over the ground
from the Rockies to the Pacific with an
open eye and a seeing mind. Hence he
is able to set forth the scenic beauties
and the glories of veritable wonder
land. His descriptions are graphic in
line and vivid in coloring and they are
supplemented with 113 fine illustrations
and two maps.
He is not, however. merely n word
painter of scenery, but also incorpor
ates interesting items concerning the
history. romance. customs and other
phases Of the regions through which he
than 5000 miles In the great National
Forest. far from railroads. Among other
unusual places described are Zion Can
yon in southern Utah, klamath Falls,
in Oregon, and the various national
parks and monuments.
Belgium. Old and New" Is pictured
and described in a characteristic book
by tho artist author, George Wharton
Edwards. Mr.. Edwards clever brush
and pencil are responsible for the forty
full page plates, Of a large size, in
color and monotone.
Names of cities once more or less
unfamiliar to the average reader, but,
thanks to heroic little Belgium's stal
wart resistance to Hunnish invasion,
now household words. appear con =
stanty. Mr.. Edwards writes about and
pictures colorfully in pigment Antwerp,
Brussels. Mons, Courtrai, Bruges ,Ghcnt
and other cities. His book is also
rich in studies Of eminent personalities,
such as the king and queen of the
Belgians and Cardinal Mercier-a par
ticularly excellent brief sketch-and he
devotcs foreword to historical
sketch and some of his text to accounts
Of the national characteristics and GUS
toms.
Anne Hollingsworth Wharton. who
has written so much and so we'll on
colonial ways and manners, and Ameri
can antiquities, has seldom done any
thing of more interest than "In Old
PENNSYLVANIA Towns. There is hardly
a New England hamlet that has sur
vived from pre- revolutionary days that
has not been written up in sympathetlc
or even loving fashion, but the Middle
States, which are. just ms rich in his
torlc, scenic and antiquarian interest
and Pennsylvania especially among
them, havo found little recording and
appreciation.
This book is especially worth while
ms close study and first hand inter
probation OF the history and romance.
the customs and the achievements of the
towns described and. thanks to its beau
tiful formation and it's choice ilustr.
tions, is highly available az a gift book.
Among tho towns described are Ches-
ter. Lancaster. Carlisle, Shippcnsburg.
Allentown, Bethlehem. Wilkes Barre,
ChambersburG and Lebanon. Quaint
customs of Dunkards, Moravians and
other peoples, interesting social side
lights, gossip about notable personalities
and persOnages and descriptions of
lovely old doorways. porticocs. houses
all these make Miss WhartOn's pages
a delight.
A. Hyatt Ncrrll has followed his
interesting essay in popular science.
'The Ocean and Its Mysteries. with
Islands and Their Mysteries" Hc de-
SrribcS in nontochnicaI hut authorita-
tive manner the origin Of islands.
their romance, their classification and
other phases Of the subject lie has
made out of what hardly seems to a
likely subject an Instructive and charm
ing book.
SEEING THE FAR WEST Ry J. r. Farl4.
Hhl!2delphia: J, b. Lippincott Co
BELGIUM. OLD AND NEW. By George
wharton Edwards, Philadelphia Penn
IN OLD PENNSYLVANIA TOWNS. Bv
Ammo Holltngsworth Wharton; PhlIadcI-
ISLANDS, BY 4 HWott Warm >,.,,,
Duffield & Co WV i''N'