The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-14

has found ready response in recent markable book Eminent voctorians followed by his Queen Victoria startled the world and then the au- dacious but fascinating "The Mir TOTS of Downing Street" made its ap- pearance in Anonymous form Gre
 puted among literati on this side of the globe to be from the pen of Harold Begbie) followed by The Glass of Fashion" by the same "Anonymous' author.
 Now comes the amazing book The Mirrors of Washington "Anony- nous; with fourteen Cartoons by "Caesare" and fourteen portraits. tG r. Putnam's Sons, Publishers, New York City), with it's distfng guished subjects, each dissected and vivi- sected according to the latest pro ceses of literary art.
 None can deny the sincere form of flattery accorded the Anonymous author of "The Mirrors of Downing Stree" in the hoice of the title of "rhe Mirrors of Washington" for the author of the later book evidently as I said before, feels that the vogus of the mirror is in keeping with modern ideas of literary values-and has adopted this form as a means of showing up' the big statesmen of America, pointing out their "fads and oibles"-mercilessly etimes-jus { as "The Gentleman With a Duster' did in the case of the English states men in 'The Mirrors or Downing Street''-most of the time very fn- stingiy-sometimes bit preju- dicedly.
 It is the concensus of opinion among the literary critics that "The Mirrors of Washington" has at least two authors-one having made political pilgrimage 10 the Paris Peace Conference and also to tho best minds" meetings at Marion and the publishers" suggest that the book may have been written not by a participant in the political fray but by mere observer" which bears out the opinion of the critics.
 MT. Wilson's famous "Fourteen Points" had nothing on the author of "The Mirrors of Washington" and his Fourteen Subjects" chosen for critical analysis sometimes satiricai. always "crisp and spicy brilliant and pungent.
 Beginning with President Harding and running the gamut of public statesmen, the author includes ex- President Wilson, Col. George liar vey. Mir Herbert Hoover Mir Elihu Root. Colonel House, Senator Lodge. Senator Borah, Secretary Hughes MT. Lansing, Senator Penrose, Senator Knox. MT. Bernard Baruch and Mr Hiram Johnson.
 The most interesting of the sketches" to my way of thinking are those of Mr. Wilson Colonel House, MT. Hoover, Secretary Hughes ,,J Mr.
 The Mirrors of Washington tell painfully plain truths about these major personalities of the present and the recently past era-the minds, hearts, and souls of the grear men of America being dissected. The author or authors speak in plain English and do not mince matters where discussions of personalities and the psychology of the statesmen of today are concerned. s'
 The volume is not ill-natured. but it is searching and an unbending survey that will unquestionably make Washington and the country at large sit up and take notice.'" say the publishers.
 It would probably be considered "lese majeste" in any Reviewer of "The Mirrors of Washington" not to give first place to the nations .Chief Executive" President Harding, so to him we will turn our attention for a few brief moments.
 Occupying the place of honor" in the volume. President Harding has the mirror held up to him with ex- ceeding frankness
 One of the views of Mir. Harding as the mirror presents him is that Mf Harding is a, man absolutely without initiative-no back bone and put into the Presidential Chair by bunch of smart Republicans who wanted the whip hand, ,''-he being the most pli- able of the Republicans whose names were offered as Presidential timber last year.
 One reason why he was nominated is that given by Senator Brandegee at Chicago when he said;
 There ain't any first raters this hear; this aint any 1880 or any 1894; We haven't any John Shermans or Theodore Roosevelts; we've got a lot of second raters and Warren Hard Ing IS the bes tof the second raters."
 The pose" of MT. Harding as just lolks' and the front porch at Marion come in for their share of ridicuie and sarcasm under the hammer of the authors of "The Mir TOTS Of Washington" quoting the witty remarks of a clever woman who said when the President and hrs- Harding stepped into the exc cutlve mansion at Washington:
 Main street has arrived at the White House."
 MT. Harding. fiayed right and left by the authors is quoted as savinr a1ter his nomination at Chicago.
 We drew to a pair of deuces and filled"
 He did not say this" the author declares, "boastfully like man who Ekes to draw to pair of deuces and Wno always expects to fill, but he sald 1t with relief and a surprise. Tor he is the sort of man who hates to lose"
 The author declares that MT. Hard Ing mas such a democratic passion Tor equality-"just folks"--that he mas opened the gates of the White House calling everyone by name, his first name
 50 constant is his aim to appear so, the author says, that I won- der if he is not sometimes betrayed lEto addressing his Secretary of State as Charley"
 The President is described by the authors as a modest man. with only two vanities-one about his personal appearance and the other about his literary style having moved Marion With his big editorials"
 And right here is as good place as any to set down the terse and sar- castle remark made by ex-President