Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-22
WOODROW WILSON AND HIS
WORK. By William E. Dodd. pro-
lessor of American history in the
University of Chicago. New York:
Doubleday, Page & Co.

fessor of American history in the
University of Chicago. New York:
Doubleday. Page & Co.
n n r. DODD'S study of woodrow
n" Wilson is. in one respect,
challenge to the common
claim that no adequate his
tory can be written while that his
tory is yet in the process of making.
The author grants full value to the
necessary corrective effects of long
ripening for historic material. But,
on the other hand, he maintains that
the immediate seizure of specially
significant body of historic fact is
also imperative, for the sake of those
interpretations which its warm VI
tality alone is able to give to the
subsequent permanencies Of history
In the pursuit of this conviction Mr..
Dodd presents comprehensive study
of the rst forty years of our ma
tional life. making the intellectual
and spiritual reactions of woodrow
Wilson to this important period the
radiating center of his investigations.
Enthusiastically in accord with the
idealism for witch Mr.. Wilson so
clearly stands, the author reviews the
political and social vision OF the
President in its relation to the actual
period. Much of this material Is al
ready familiar Much of it is new.
All of it is thrown into the expand
ing democracy of the day, Slv1ns
definite form and direction and force
to the new freedom of the times. The
study as a whole is a very competent
and interesting one One dlsconcertlns
flaw appears here and there. me
writer stands in respectful awe pc
fore the eternal forces working out
~
On the other hand. he freely places
blame to the account OF those VINO
obstruct the progress Of the Presi-
dents political and social plans one
wonders if these, too. may not De
channels for the outflow of eternal
forces. A most interesting piece OF
work, notwithstanding.
THE GREAT ADVENTURE OF PAN
ANA. By Philippe Bunau-Varilla-
New York: Doubleday, Page & Co.
This is the moment when many
things of international significance
can, for the first time. be told. Into
this place of open disclosure M. Bu-
nau-VarfIla sets the true story OF the
Panama canal NJ Bunau-VariIla was,
away back in 1885. chief engineer OF
the French Panama Canal Company.
He was, also, in 1903, first minister
of the republic of Panama in Wash
ington- From this story one gathers
that about the whole of this mans
public life has gone into the service
of France by way, chieny. OF tne
Panama canal. And the story makes
clear that this service was, In the
end, not to France alone, but TO the
civilized world as well. NJ Bunau-
Vanilla, in the course of this account,
asserts that the vicisSitudeS OF tne
Panama canal scheme were. from the
beginning, part and parcel OF the
German plan for world domination.
The book is a document rather dnan
a narrative. Evidence is submitted TO
substantiate the writer's ciam
against Germany. In specific detali ne
goes back to show how. just here ana
there. steps were taken by Germany
to gain foothold and advantage lot
her own expansion in the western
hemisphere. There is here a de-
scription of the revolution in Pana-
ma, and an analysis of the true mean
ing of this revolution. BY his sub
stantiated account the writer den-
nitely defines the German conspira-
cies at this time against both France
and the United States. The book Is
more than a chapter of history bear
ing upon the great war. 1t Is the
interest and we'll being Of France
through the promotion Of this essen
TALLY French enterprise. It is also
story that emphasizes many aspects
of the fine friendship existing be-
tween France and the United States.
SOUTH SEA FOAM. By A. Safroni-
Middleton. New York: George H.
Doran Company.
This book is enough to make any
natural man yearn to go a-vagabonding
among the islands Of the South Seas.
And. at casual glance, there appears
to be no reason why any one of us
should not set out at once A Safroni-
Middleton had not thing to go
upon. save q fiddle and temperament.
Almost no one has both. so-not half
tramp the Polynesian Islands by the
proxy Of this care-free youth. When
he plays his fiddle the islanders group
about him. Old chiefs make a friend
of him and give him a new name
Papalagi. They tell him hundred
of island life-tales spangled with
names of sheer music-Ora Tua, the
great chief; the goddess Tarioa, and,
among mortals, old Pokara himself,
who would say, for instance, You
liker know. o Papalagi, who those
stop thereT' Then the old chief is on
on the enchanted trail of the begin
ginnings of things Tahitian. One goes
from charm to weird charm here in
the company OF this prince OF vaga-
bonds Myth and legend and fact
crowd one another for place. Actual
beauty and the beauty that all ar
fists create rival each other. An
amazing adventure. call to the. pa.
gan that lives in every mothers son
of US, Il still jog along, carrying my
staff and my violin, and weighted
swag of dreams, as I roam along the
forest track" Is that not the life?
Oh. surely! Get in touch with this
glorious tramp and you will know.
if you do net know already.
ENGLAND TO AMERICA. By Mar
garet Prescott Montague. New
York: Doubleday. Page & Co.
This story drew the first prize, Of
fered in 1919 by the o. Henry memo
rial committee for the best American
story of that year. This is one among
the thousands Of stories drawn on
from the war. 1t embodies. in SIN
gle English family. the invincloie
courage of England under the deVas-
tation wrought by war. To this mousse
hold there comes an American sosuier
on leave The beautiful solicitude Tor
his happiness during his short stay.
the conceament of their own griefs In
order to secure the soldiers perfect
respite. the tenderness of their very
real kinship to this boy from across
the sea-this is the substance OF the
story whose implications embrace the
time and natural bond that actuaily
exists between England and America
An introduction by John Drinkwater
gives modest acknowledgment OF
this tribute to England. and, at the
same time, pays respectful homage 10