Evening star., 1921-10-02
Reviews of New Books

the Puritan religion, of an intelli-
gence of high order, of a character
distinguished by industry and pa
thence. and forgetfulness of self. by
tenacity of conviction and complete
integrity" The book forms a worthy
and desirable contribution to the gen.
eral history of the United States.
SOCIAL SCANDINAVIA IN THE vIk-
ING AGE. By Mary Wilhelmine
Williams. Phi. D.. associate profess
sor of history in Goucher College.
New York: The Macmillan Com
pany.
This volume presents strikingly
competent and scholarly treatment of
/ the social life of the Scandinavians
during the periods of their greetest
| influence in European history. 1t is
a most readable account, giving that
essential view of the history of a
people that is too often relegated to
the background of consideration.
Beyond a sketch of the land itself
lation divided, the writer takes up
the infancy and childhood of the
Scandinavian, following him from
this point on up through youth and
maturity. in the web of daily things
that engage people everywhere-in
habits of work and play. in food. in
dress, in common social dealings.
Farming. hunting and fishing are de-
scribed. Modes OF communication are
set down with an account of the
commerce that depended on these
routes. The position of women is
amplitied. The courts of Justice are
defined and the sort of government
that prevailed is outlined. In a word,
the full sum of social life in the Yik-
ing age is given here with vividhess
and completeness that moves that age
into the immediate interest of the
reader. A most useful book for the
student of history, as well as one of
value to the general reader.
THESE YOUNG REBELS. By Fran
ces r. Sterrett. author of Nancy
Goes to Town." etc. New York: d.
Appleton 4 Co.
That evergreen conflict between
two generations, the older and the
younger, is the foundation for this
sprightly tale. In order to tame the
wild instincts of a group of nieces
and nephews, old Uncle Albert bribes
them with the promise of 100000
each If for year each will abandon
his outrageous career-futurist art,
votes for women, socialism, and SO on,
and SO on. More than this, they are
to live with Uncle Albert. there to
enjoy the blessings and protection of
a good old-fashioned home. A house
keeper of Uncle Albert's generation
and presumably of his own outlook is
engaged to mother and guide these
rebels. An uproariously amusing
year is the comic outcome of the ex-
pertinent. At it's close it is difficult
himself is not a rebel of the deepest
dye. And the young folks have, to a
degree, naturally shuff1ed off the
worst of their vagarious theories un-
der the sanity and comfort of the
good old mans administration of their
n
unexacting character. :
TWELVE MONTHS IN AN ARMY
HOSPITAL. By Nurse Who Didn't
20 Across. Washington: The Able
Printers.
ing. is the keynote of this account.
That which the writer sets out to do
is to give. as the title of this book
implies, the details of her service in
an Army hospital. AS matter Of fact.
however. less than half of this record
has to do with the actual hospital
service. There are so many engaging
things all along the way that the writ
er finds herself unable to resist them.
So. the first six chapters stand as
sort Of getting ready to get ready. so
to speak. First. she tells about her
self as "a plain nurse" then as Red
Cross nurse. After this she finds her
self on the road to her new assign
ment-the one that this book is sup
posed to deal with. Almost every
thing happens "on the road" and each
happening looms large in the eager
eyes of this forth-farer. Bye and bye.
after awhile, she does reach her des-
tination. But enthusiasm can do no
more than it has already done. There
fore, the hospital account does not
lift-above the high level
of all the things that have gone be-
fore. or the joy of the thousand i'm
pressions that assail this young writer
upon her leavetaking. The writing
itself partakes of this full rate of liv-
ing. 1t crowds and pushes along the
pages in an ardor to gather all the
exciting impressions under which the
author is struggling. Grammar falls
down and picks itself up again. hurry
ing forward lest it be left entirely.
Sentences throw themselves together
in a wild rush to arrive somewhere.
and not too late. Paragraphs gather
all they can hold and press ahead
Nevertheless. it is racy and readable
account.