Evening star., 1921-05-01
Reviews of New Books

near murder-a prodisiously ousS
matter. you see. And not till the very
last word of the story does the read
er know which one. out of something
| like half a dozen suspects, did murder
| the beautiful movie star. Stella La
| mar. This crime was by pure design
| The others were TO close up. conclu-
Sirely. certain troublesome suspicious.
| In each case, a subtle poison was the
medium of the taking off, right in the
face and eyes of the camera. so to
| speak. since the poisons were admin
| istered in rehearsal scenes of The
| Black Terror" Kennedy's assistant
and understudy tells the story and
i, serves. besides. as the means by which
| Kennedy sets out his methods and dis
! cuSseS the action of certain subtle
, polsons on the human system. To this
{ atmosphere Of the chemical labora :
| tory is added also that of the film
| studio. with whose technique there is
| here shown complete and interest
! ing familiarity. There is substance
! TO this adventure, and ingenuity and
/ skl!l-a gratifying departure from
! the pottcring around III a little circle
! of nothing that SO often stamps the
modern detective story.
THE PEACE TANGLE. BY John
| Foster Bass. New York: The Mac
! milan Company.
! Since the publication of this book.
, something over year ago. some of
| the matters with which it deals have
| materially changed in aspect and
| bearing. Much, however. remains as
! proper subject Of this authors thor
| oughSoing observation and broad per-
sonal experience in the countries of
! the old world. Happily, the book was
! written in hurry, since the author
, wished as soon as possible to get
! before American readers the things
| th3t hn had 1iSrnCpre1 about the -
: eral European situation. This desire
! for a speedy publication produced an
almost diagramatic economy of pro-
! lection. causing facts to stand out
strikinsly, before the eye. In this
! sharp and incisive manner Mr.. Bass
! gives the exact content and effect.
| both material and psychological. of
! the secret treaties. He describes.
| briefly, the peace conference and then
! moves out into special considera
nomic standpoint. of the various
! states involved in the war. A final
| chapter outlines a plan of recon-
Struction and indicates the ways in
! which America can help in re-estab-
! fishing in Europe some measure of
cooperation in place of war. There
is vigor and push and personal con-
| viction about this writer that is call
culated to meet the need of the gem
! eral reader In search of clear and
| ScHSlse survey VI luc helu VI cA
! ploration.
THE BOOK OF MARYLAND. Edited
by Felix Agnus and others. Balti-
| more: Maryland Biographical As
| sociation.
| This book of Maryland is designed as
a volume of reference for the use of
newspapers and libraries. To meet this
purpose it has gathered here the men
and institutions that stand for the state
| itself. Its men of substance are pre-
sented by picture and short biographical!
! sketches, its notable institutions by pic
ture and concise descriptions. BY rea-
; son of the reference character of the
! book the editors have exerted uncom-
| mon care along the line of accuracy. A
| historical chapter of the state introduces
| the work. A summary OF its resources
! follows, with a description of it's largest
cities and towns and of the various sec
tions into which the state is divided.
Beyond this valuable Introductory mat
ter is the Geographic division. forming
! the bulk of this impressive and his
! toricaily useful volume OF reference.