Evening star., 1920-04-04

\HEsE two volumes of reminis-
cence by Champ Clark are so
complete as to constitute an
autobiography up to date. so
specialized as to stand for the history
OF twenty-five-year period of Amer
ican political development and SO in
clusiVe as to produce a portrait gal
iery of any number of distinguished
politicians and statesmen. The book,
promise of it's title. In the record of
his own early struggles-for this is
another self-made man-Mr. Clark
portrays genuine pioneer existence,
though 1T is not easy to assign to the
past nifty years of life in the United
States set of pioneer conditions. SO
swift nave been the advances OF mod
ern modes of life. One likes the
story OF these homely beginnings. Of
OF deserved fulfillment One likes
the simplicity of this story. just as
he likes the solid sense of it, whether
this sense be applied to politics or to
any other of the fundamental insti-,
tutions and issues that come logically
into this consideration, And what
one likes best of all is the big nature
lying back Of the book. the warm
kindness of the man, the freedom
from any partisan bitterness, how
ever vigorous be the opinions eS-
pressed in support Of political theory.
The book is solidly informing along
political and national lines. 1t is
more than that. since 1t is human and
wise and understandingly farseefng.
RUSSIAN PEOPLE, Revolutionary
RecOllections. BY Princess Can
:.ca:ene. illustrated. New York:
Charles Scribner's Sons.
The standpoint from which these
recollections are made gives to this
book a character not shared by the
Russia. This standpoint is a stable
one. in sharp contrast both to the
fitting views of the casual observer
and to the impersonal findings Of the
special student. 1t is set in twenty
years of time. years of daily contact
Russian soil and landscape, with the
institutions that. hitherto, have given
Russia its peculiar national personal
ity. From her own home-the great
estate of - Bouromka - the writer
draws a clear picture of the patri-
archal institution Of prince and peas
ants. 1t is a sketch OF children de-
pendent for such good as life holds
for them upon generation after gen.
Grafton of the same princely house.
Bouromka produces something of an
idyl of this ancient social organiza-
ton. 1t serves to enframe the best
of old Russia. From this point the
writer moves forward to the coming
of unrest to the war, to an inf1amed
people. to agitation ever increasing,
struction-beautiful Bouromka finally
burned to the ground; to lands laid
waste, to their own villages de-
stroyed. to war and its lusts, to the
ultimate overthrow of Russia itself.
The story is as simple as a child's
tale of marvel and wonder. Drawn
from personal experience and
deeply bitter one-it holds no grain
of rancor For it is built on a COM
prehension that makes for patience
with a childish people, that makes
for confidence in their ultimate So
self triumph. Moving out of the cir
Gle of personal life. Princess Cantacu-
zene sketches the story of Denikine's
army in the effort of the Crimea to.
overcome the bolsheviki. and outlines
the whole Ukrainian movement. 81
of Russia" bring this remarkable
story to close.
HEY RUB-A-DUB.DUB. BY Theodore
Dresser, author Of SISTER Carrie"
etc. New York: Boni & Liveright.
ANYBODY, who is alive at alleging:
up and down, Is bound to gather In,
about certain vital matters, impress
sions, opinions. conclusions whicn,
from their rebellious character, ne rs
more than likely to keep to himseif.
This anybody Is. as a rule, cautious
soul, not out hunting for trouble. SO
he puts on a coat that looks like all
the other coats. and says nothing az
all about his inside disturbances ana
denials. This anybody's real name Is
Dresser glories in what. to him. Is the
truth He spells the word with big
letters throughout. Having thus
signed himself he proceeds to walk.
with his boots on. into ones soitest
securities and smoothest delusions.
instance national character-ours, al
Ileast-well, we haven't any. For in
stance, again, personal character is
mere selfshness swobbed over with
some gelatinous blend Of conformity--
no character at all. Again. our insti-
tutions are mere covers for a COM
posite human nature that Is not MT TOT
! the open He turns back these tnsti-
tutional blankets, with JERK, anu
there we all are-naked. Life? Just
the blind staggers. Love! lnsatiapie
nature using US to her need. pitching
! us out on the dung heap, her need iul-
filled, Marriage? Nothing to mention.
| Children? Nature at her real pusi-
ness These are essays Win twenty
different titles on the single terror OF
| life itself. The trouble is-and 1t Is a
trouble-that the man is. the most OF
the time, so relentlessly right, so
scrupulous in pursuit, 30 sure or ms
quarry, so bald in it's exposure that
one hates him-and honors him, at the
same time.
THE BLOWER OF BUBBLES. By Ar
thur Beverley Baxter. New York:
D. Appleton Co.
Five short stories here. Each a mere
| flick of the brush against the vast back
ground of war. Each an episode of no
| importance. sized up by the full meas
/ ure Of war itself. Each, on the other
hand most important in its personal
! beauty and charm. There is touch of
Barrie here. and one of William ]. Locke
there. with. once in while. Booth
Harrington when the latter's gesture is
particularly graceful or his divination
specially delicate. There are whimsical
! bits, you see, with the best that folks
have in them coming out when the need
| is there Petite Simunde" is. accord
| ing TO US. the Jewel Of this flock. though
| the author owns to another as the ia
vorite child: There is wonderful charm
about petite Simunde" from its start
! in the Canadian lumber camp with
Jacque des Rosters. bully and braggart.
and Capt. Douglas Campbell. real man
and gallant soldier, to the war itself.
| In France Petite Simunde wins the
readers heart, as well as that OF the
/ terrible Jacque, who, in love with ST.
munde. turns deserter under only half
comprehended military discipline, and
| captain. One laughs here in pure JOY
QUAR- tho delicious Jacnne and the Deau-