The Washington times., 1921-05-29

touches feelingly
on its cultural and
social influences,
and bitterly asks the prohibitionists
what they have to offer in its place
Old Soak charges that in closing the
saloons the prohibitionists have
robbed him of his contact with re-
ligion. since "A fellow that has spent
maybe a dollar for drinks couldn't
well refuse a quarter to a Salvation
Army girl" claims that he Is nc
longer interested in outdoor sports
since he now has no plsce to keep
In touch with baseball and the races
Ito the detriment OF his heAlth): says
he now hears no political group. and
does not know who to bet on in elec.
tions: therefore, he Is no longer "a
good q citizen as he formerly was
AYERS his education in the arts has
suffered. since In idle moments bar
tenders were wont to discuss the
merits of the paintings which adorned
the walls of places of the better sort.
His soul Graves for the music which
In the late hours Of the evening re-
sounded from groups who sang of
home and mother. "A government
which takes away all It's music from
the plain people like that had better
watch out" he warns.
His worst indictment of the prohi-
bitionists Is that they have placed
liquor In reach Of growing children.
He says that in the old days one went
to q barroom to drink. away from
sight of children now, what with
home brewing. and keeping 1t around
in bottles and Jugs, millions of chill
dren will take to drink before their
time, to the detriment of the race,
and where will they get their strong
soldiers from in the next war;
And so on runs the wasgish pen of
Don Marquis, but ever there is tho
CLINT Of truth just beyond the sparkle
Of the Jest. The book IL a record OF
the past, for tho author evidently has
little faith that the old days will re-
turn. nor any faith in home brew.
Hope" says the Old Soak. us a nne
thing. but 1t don't gurgle none when
you pour 1t from . bottle Hope Is
what these fellows have who try to
make their own with q tea kettle and
q piece of rubber hose. That's awful
stun. Homemade booze Is either a
farce with no kick in it. or else a
tragedy with an unhappy ending.
Hail and Farewell" the latter half
Of the book, IL . collection OF verse
dedicated to comrades of the brave
old days before prohibition. Grant
land Rice. BENJAMIN de Casseres, Gil
bert Gabriel Foster Follett and many
others have suitable verses dedicated
to them. Also there's q chantey in
spired by the last case Of gin. and q
drama in poetry dedicated to patent
Woe . Tales Ernest Thomp-
son Seton's nsw book of the outdoors,
- meant for children of six years and
upward But in the belief that the
rpother or father will be active as .
leader. those chapters that are de-
Voted to woodchaft are directed to the
parent.
The greater portion Of the book.
however, consists of delightful stories
of fable and fairy tale flavor. They
have the wild things of the woodland
for their heroes. and at the heart of
each there 10 revealed some nature
secret. some truth, which will be an
Inspiration and an incentive to whole
some outdoor life. More than 100 IL
Illustrations are provided by the pen of
the author.
1t IL a particularly suitable gift for
the Boy or Girl Scout. doubleday.
Page & Coz
A TRANsPLANTED SERVICE.
Robert w. Service has become
widely known through his verses of
the Yukon country, the first of which
were published about fifteen years
ago, and by his volume of verse de-
failing the experiences of an ambu-
lance man in France during the
world war. Since the war he has
maintained silence except for an oc-
casional bit Of magazine verse, but
tho present volume. Ballads Of a
Bohemian" shows that he has not
been idle.
After the war, Mr.. Service took w
his residence in France. He has
studied che country and certain types
Of people with the same meticulous
care which marks his earlier work.
He now sets himself to depict more
especially the Bohemian and cosmo-
politan lite Of Paris. though he does
not limit himself to those characters.
From the viewpoint of a poor
poets garnet Ia The Latin Quarter he
gives. in ~ series OF detached poems
threaded together by prose comments.
picturesque glimpses of the motley
throng which surrounds him-Julot,
the Apache, and his reformation; the
Tavern of the Golden Snail: the little
sewing girl next door; the starving
artist on the other side; the concert
singer; the habitues OF the boulevard,
and many another. Later he goes for
a tramp into Brittany, and the JOY of
the open country seizes the old Serv-
ice of Alaskan days. Then comes che
shadow OF war scress the Latin Quar-
tor. and the many changes II works on
the neiEhbors there.
The contents are appropriately d.
xIded into sprln1 early s,immer late
summer and winter. They run the
yamut of Joy, sorrow, humor. psthos
: nd tragedy. and are marked through
cut by that warm sympathy and keen
insight coupled with an ability In
frame trerohant phrases which have
united to give Service his tremendous