The Washington times., 1922-12-24

VOW and then. ~ opportu-
III nifty presents. It II ono OF
~ our chiefest delights to
put away from u everything In
the line Of books that smaclxs Of
the modern. and In the seclusion
Of our cloister revel In the works
Of bygone days. But yesterday
We felt one Of these spells com.
ing upon US. and retiring to our
cave We spent the better part Of
the afternoon In company with
Sir John Fro!ssart. and later on
Milton. a.
A. we turned the pages OF our
dust-covered copy Of Paradise
Lost" We could not but reflect
upon the fate that attends all
books. Take the case OF this
epic. No library II complste
without . COPY Of It; and its In.
cluston In 20 many Of the inex-
pensive series Of classics would
indicate that there are few homes
that do not possess . COPY Of It.
Nevertheless. one cannot help
wondering whether the poem n
much read outside Of prescribed
courses In schools and colleges.
Still. In the Eighteenth century,
there 10 no doubt that Paradise
Lost" was s.bsst seller. Accord.
ing to Prof. Raymond d. Ha-
ven's study, The Influence Of
Milton" that century saw the
publication Of 1oS separate edi.
tons Of the poem. and this fig-
urs. the learned author assures
us. does not include versions in
prose. selections. publications out
side the British Isles, and nu.
merous adaptations and transla-
tions.
In passing. for information OF
those interested In Milton. Prof.
Haven's book. for which we are
indebted to the Harvard Univer.
sity Press, just about says the
last word on Milton that need be
said for years 70 come. II y full
Of information about Eighteenth
and Nineteenth century poetfy,
and II IL written In such agree
able style that he who comes
merely to consult . book Of ref
erence will find himself spending
hours browsing through its pages.
1t IL the kind Of critical work,
brilliant and thoroughly alive in
spite Of its heavily documented
pages. that will 90 far to wrest
from German and English axthori-
ties the primacy they have long
held in literary investigation.
CIR JAN GEORGE
FRAZE RS Tho Golden
Bough" CMacmillan) 10 . remark.
able book. the primary aim Of
which is to explain the rule which
regulated the succession to the
priesthood Of Diana at Aricia. Orig.
inally published In twelve vol
umes. the author has condensed
into one large book the account
OF the origin Of many forms Of
superstition and religion among
primitive races.
To have the twelve books Of
this wonderful treasure house Of
legends. myths, and superstitions
reduced to the compass of q
single volume seems ~ incredible
as 1t 10 delightful. Yet. In one
great book we have the fascinat.
ing pageant Of primitive thought
and early religious customs, the
whole range Of anthropolosical ana
folklore literature OF classical ana
Oriental legend.
Among the subjects covered in
the volume are the principles OF
magic and its relation to relision
in history; the evolution Of the
kingship; the worship Of trees
and cereals: the Precipitation OF
game and fish by savage hunters
and fishers: the principles Of
taboo; the life and violent death
Of human gods: the custom OF
the scapegoat; the fire festivals
Of Europe; and the theory and
practice Of the external soul.
Although the bulk OF the book
has been greatly reduced, its
leading principals have been re.
tained. together with an amount
Of evidence sufficient to illustrate
them clearly. In the preface. wa
ere assured that new matter has
not been added nor have the
views expressed in the last sdi.
ton been altered in the abridg.
ment.
ssRED BUD WOMEN" by Marx
O'Dea (Stewar, mud, !.
series of four one-act plays
which has aroused q great deal