Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-16

America" "discoverer Of the ten
ement." writer of plays. short stories.
novels. "a Lithuanian Village" is the
first of Kobrin's books to come out
in English. 1t is work of sheer real
ism. BY way of surprisingly trans
parent medium this writer recreates
"A Jewish village of the old world. set
ting it down in it's own peculiar at
mosphere of Jewish ritual and Gus
tom. 1t is an instrument Of fine cut
ting edge that has Clipped out this
Jewish hamlet wherein domestic
routine and trade activity. no less
than soul salvation. are shaped and
controlled by the religious ceremonial
Of the Hebrew. The Jew, as he looks
and thinks and behaves in his old set
ting, comes out wildly to ones eyes
and understanding. And kobrin has
handled the distances so admirably
that while the realism remains I'M
impaired. the whole is seen IN the
haze of an indescribable charm. The
art here is that Of an artist who loves
his work. that of some old craftsman
aeement of his guild. polished and re-
fined and adorned his handiwork with
infinite patience and genuine anec-
tion.
THE PORTYGEE. BY Joseph c. Lin
coin, author of "Shavings," etc. H.
Illustrated by H. NJ. Brett. New
York: d. Appleton & Co.
Every foreigner up Cape Cod way
was "Portygee." But Albert Miguel
Carlos Speransa was not loreigner'
for was not his own blood grand.
father. Capt. Zelotes Snow. native OF
, cane Cod, with generations OF capt.
Zeiotes SHOWS behind him? 1t was
jamie Shows elopement with the
opera singer that brought that "Por-
1ysee" into the family. and the sad
turn of their fortune that brought tne
boy back to his grandfather mouse.
And how Zelotes Snow held out
against the lad! 1t takes wnole
win from the obstinate old sea dog
what the reader gives to the BOY not
very far along in the course or TINS
down east drama. In q way the Story
deals with the making OF IeSi
american out of this mongrel stun.
The war brought this process into the
open as an accomplished fact In the
field that is pretty nearly his own e4-
elusive domain Joseph Lincoln hos
created new interest In the cape
Cod district, he has IN tne e sds his his
hest story, and. more than this. ne
has brought to q general acQuaintance
a genuine and altogether likaDle
Young American whom one couio not
forget II he would.
A HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR;
The British Campaign IN Franee
and Flanders, 1913. ~ a Asenas
Conan Doyle. New YORK: george
H. Doran Company.
This, the fifth volume OF SIT Conan
Doyle's war history OF the Brulen IN
France and Flanders. covers the 1ss.
perate period of the first haif OF 1910.
Within this period was fought tne
second battle of the Somme. IN Dulk *
that battle. The account deals with
the military technic of German OF
fensiye and British defensive. maps
and plans objectify locations, aNgn-
ments. movements, and. finally. marx
the line OF British retreat. Beside TINS
exact record Of military mechanics
10 the human story Of terrible losses
and undying heroisms. The study
bears full evidence that its primary
purpose is historical accuracy. Its ul-
erence books on the great war. But
its human qualities OF sympathy ana
understanding, together with its clear
story interest, indicate that readers.
as we'll AZ students. will set high
value upon 1t.
ALsACE IN RUST AND GOLD. By
Edith O'Shaughnessy. author OF "A
illustrated. New York: Harper d
Bros.
This book, like my Lorraine Jour-
nal" is a record Of the days doings
throughout the period that found, Mrs.
O'Shaughnessy with the French mill
tary mission in q corner Of Alsace.
Now, the same doings of the same day
register quite oppositely with Differ
ent observers. One reproduces dry
and musty record. while the other
gives out a fresh and fascinating re-
cital Mrs. O'Shaughnessy belongs.
distinctly, to the latter class. Her re-
captivity is always in working order.
So. where another concerns himself
charm and subtle surprises In the
most unlikely of material. She did this
in her Lorraine experience. She does
IT with the rust and gold' Of Alsace.
The lovely country itself looks out
here. The people. opening their eyes
upon the beginning OF a new order.
step into the picture now and then.
The appreciation of the writer her
self and the turn of her easy hand
are the means, however, by which
this little book invites itself into the
welcoming hand Of the reader.
TALES OF MY NATIVE TOWN. BY
Gabrielle D'Annunzio. Translated
by Rafael Mantellini. Phi. D. New
York: Doubleday, Page & Co.
Coming out from these tales OF Pes
cara. the native place Of D'Annunzio,
one feels much as IL he had made the
tour of the side shows that encircle
the huge circus tent OF annual en-
tertainment Such a collection OF hit
or-miss humanity In any one corner
of the world is hard to imagine. The
majority of those figuring in these
tales are mismatched as to parts that
ordinarily mate: adorned by leftover
odds and ends. such as freakish ear.
or nose. or foot. or hand, and the
mental idiosyncrasies are not step
behind these physical indiscretions.
And the moral. or immoral. tone goes
in step with the rest Now. to be
sure. IL is not conceivable that whole
town Is thus given up to such .
human harleQuinade. D'Annunzio has
selected these from the normal run
of Pescara folks and upon them he
has exercised curious turn OF art
TO show the effect Of these physical
abnormalities upon the inner I'M
pulses of their possessorS and upon
duce. 1t is art-unmistakable. un-
canny, and even devilish-but art
nevertheless.
IRELAND A NATION. BY Robert
Lynd. author Of Home Life in Ire
land" etc. New York: Dodd, Mead
* Co.
1t is difficult to reduce a nation to
terms Of definition. Nor does Mr..
Lynd attempt II here. Rather. does
he, in this tribute to Irish capacity
and achievement. lay down the impli-
cations of Irish nationality. leaving
TO the reader the task OF rounding
these into formal proof. The last Of
the discussion deals enthusiastically
with the new voices Of Ireland-poets.
dramatists. propagandists. A full
measure of appreciation is accorded
10 the Sim Fem movement-its pur-