The Washington herald., 1922-01-15

essays, or all stories without an
obvious and thrilling plot. Such
persons may herefrom take warn
ing and shun "Hsrbours of Mem
ory." II your idea of good litera-
ture is a magazine story OF business
acumen, by no means read McFee!
But other persons, especially those
who enjoy dipping into the
mysteries OF human nature here
and there about the world, and
those who see romance in the fol-
lowers of the sea, will find the book
delightful. 1t is the kind OF book
to keep on your table and pick up
whenever you feel in need of a
complete change of mental air. 1t
is not consecutive; ybu can pick 1t
up and drop il wherever you please
But it is remarkably refreshing.
like a sea voyage. and is written,
as we have said, by one who can
use the English language.
"Potomnc Landing.Io by Paul VIII
stach. doubleday. Page G Col
Mr.. wiIstach has made a very
fine book. 1t Is well written, full
of interesting accounts OF people,
PLACES and customs associated with
the country along the Potomac, and
fully Illustrated with photographs
of historic places. 1t is book
which will delight everyone who is
interested in the early history OF
this part of the country and cspe-
cbally those who are familiar with
or have visited the places whose
historic backs round is set sor;h. In
tho AmnrIFnn tat 1t
Of us have been required To study,
there is. Of necessity. the chief en-
pEasis OIL gress events AMI impci
ant personalities and one gets but
the most meager information about
the life of she times. the laws and
customs under which people Iivea,
the physical appearance of places.
and in general the background
against which these great event,
took place. Such books as this ought
TO be part of the history courses,
for they are essential to a real
understanding of men and events.
All this is aside from the intrinsic
interest in the facts which are pre-
scented.
According 20 many authorities.
both1 foreign and native, the chier
topic of conversation in these days
Is prohibition or how to avoid it's
consequences. Mr.. Wilstach's ac-
count Of the situation in colonial
days should be of particular inter-
est just now. 1t seems that small
tipping houses. probably mere
drinking bars" for refreshment Of
travellers become so numerous that
virginia passed her first prohibition
laws limiting each county to one at
the court house and one at a public
landing or ferry. But this ancestor
OF the Eolstead act was not popu-
lar and was quickly swept aside.
The inns md conee houses were
SO attractive with their conyiyial
tap rooms, that they became an
embarrassment TO the, colonial gov
eminent, for the clerks in the pro-
vlHcial offices spent far more time
tipping at their bars than in re-
cording deeds in the government CT
hces. Jellie's tavern in st. Marys
CITY, the first capital Of Maryland.
was so alluring that the council In
1856 requested the mayor and alder
men to suppress it. To all those
victims of the eAorbitant bootleg
ger, who regret the days when a
orlnk was a drink instead of a
transaction in high finance, the
Maryland laws against profiteering
IN liquors will be interesting,
Among the charges fixed by the leg
islature were: Brandy, malaga and
sherry. 10 shillings per gallon; cam
airy. IL shillings; French, Rhenish,
Dutch and English, wines, 6 shiI-
lings; Mum, shillings; plain cider,
%, and boiled cider, 80 lbs. tob.
per quart
BY reference TO these matters.
which may give pain to some, we
do not wish to imply that Mr..
Wilstach Places particular emphasis
on this phase of the life Of the
colonial period. IL is only one of the
many phases that. are very admir-
ably described.
''The wolves. of God and Other Fey
storfes,"- by, Algernon Black.
wood and Wilfred Wilson &C.
p. Dutton and Company.
Those who are familiar with AL
gernon Biackwood's stories. such
as Day and Night Stories" or Zen
Minute Stories" already know what
to expect in this volume. Although