The Washington times., 1921-10-16
BOOKS in BRIEF
' his sdmirsbls .outiins Of


torical chronicle. Where hitherto
q history was too often . dreary
chronology OF the rise and fall Of
Kingdoms. wars. and cAtastrophes.
Mr.. Wells impaired into his work
much OF tho literary style which
had made for the success OF his
novels. That the new departure
met with public approval the enor-
nous sale of his book 10 sufficient
testimony.
Prof Edward X. Turner'S Europe
Since 1870 Doubleday, Page 4
Coz Ia just another such readable
work a. the Outline" In q single
large volume. with copious bibliog-
raphy and thirty-six maps. DR..
Turner has chronicisd the story Of
Europe since the formation of the
German empire. after the defeat of
Napoleon ii. through the defeat Of
the central powers In the great
war. Never was history told In such
readable form; never was there a
work of Importance In which nom
essentials were 20 ruthlessly elimi-
mated; where each political and
economic event falls gracefully into
just its proper place.
No era can be more interesting to
the student than the last fifty years.
The history of Europe during this
period was In large measure the his
tory of all the world. for most of the
worlds population was controlled by
or affected In large measure by the
European powers. The events OF
this time have touched the lives and
fortunes of most men and women
now living. The years were
thronged with vast developments
and crowded with q multitude OF
persons and events. moving. AZ DR..
Turner says. like soms drama on
to it's tragic end.
DIR. Turner begins his history with
a summary Of the era Of 1870, most
readable chapter. This 10 followed
by THE French Revolution and
After" New Inventions and tho In
dustriai Revolutions" Certain In
tellectual and Social Changes"
chapters devoted to the new German
empire, the recovery Of France
after the defeat of 1870. Great Brit
ain. Russia, Austria. Turkey, the
Balkans, Italy. Spain. and the lesser
European states.
Then follows a chapter devoted to
the great war. one of the ablest ex-
positions Of the underlying causes OF
that conflict which has yet been
presented. In forty-eight pages. DR..
Turner relates the progress Of the
struggle between the Central EN-
pires and the allies, condensins
vast amount Of information into
small space. The author admits that
he tried hard to attain this end. As
he tells it in the introduction. I'm
his own studies and reading he has
never had any lasting impression
from a mere collection Of details. He
has, therefore. striven to eliminate
non-essential things wherever ne
could, and elsewhere subordinate the
less important matters to considers
ton Of principle tendencies and DOM
inant ideas"
DR.. Turner was born in Baltimore
in 1881. He studied in st. Johns
College, Annapolis, afterward enter
ing Johns Hopkins. where he re-
ceived his degree in 1910. For the
next two years he was associate pro-
fessor Of history at Bryn Mawr.
After leaving the Pennsylvania In
stitution he became professor OF Eu-
ropean history In the University OF
Michigan. other important works
over his signature are lengthy his
tory Of modern Europe. and volume
called ireland and England" which
created quite a stir several years
ago.
THE campfire has always been
the place Of council and friend
ship and storytelling. The Boy
Scouts Of America have Incorporated
the campfire" in their program.
and in this Boy Scouts Book Of
Campfire Stories edited by Franklin
X. Matthews and published by Apple.
ton, make available for parents and
leaders a collection Of the very
finest stories for boys. The book re-
presents not only an unrivalled list
OF authors but the collection has bean
made on the basis of the sheer merit
OF each story.
The authors whose work Is In
cIuded write from every sort OF
angle that appeals to boys. Henry
Van Dyke. Jack London, Zane Grey,
Ralph Connor. Irving Bacheller. Rex
Beach, Irwin Cobb, Stewart Edward
White, Clarence b. Mulford, Ellis
Parker Butler, and others equally
well-known, are included. The book
IA one that the boys will delight in