Evening star., 1922-04-09
VICTOA HUGO. BY Nine. Duclaux.
New York: Henry Holt & Co.

less skillful hands lead to overcrowd-
ing and confusion Of effect. Mime.
Duclaux Is an historian of achieve
ment and recognized worth. She is
familiar with the literary move
ments Of France, q critic in whom
the trained critical faculty func-
tions with insight and originally.
She herself is poet Of no mean
powers. So equipped, che takes UP
capably and sympathetically the life
of Victor Hugo. Huso's life 1so2-
1850 covers eighty-three years OF
century vastly important to France
in her progress toward republican
ism. Empire, monarchy, republic
this is the swing. Then empire. mon
arehy. republic over again-the mon
archy fading out. the empire growing
thin and disappearing to give place
TO q permanent republic. The author
stretches this background in striking
it. she weaves the life Of Hugo
drAmatist, novelist, great lyric poet.
politician. man. Hugo's place in the
worlds interest rises from his ere.
Nine. -Duclaux fingers In review, mar
rative, = touch Of criticism, q general
summary. With twenty years OF ex-
lie to his account, the political activi-
ty of Hugo deserves attention as an
inalienable part of the man himself.
The writer gives graphic attention 10
as man, Hugo Is prodigiously inter
esting by virtueoof 4 most perplex-
Ing blend Of idealism. egotism. plain
vanity. follies and frailties galore.
All this becomes part of the story
h..A yN1,rr tY1af
ing one. This perfect emphasis is one
of the excellencies Of Nine. Duclauxs
work. Hugo was something OF a
genius in his gallantries rs wen as
clear genius in poetic creation. He
was an idealist In political vision:
nations already outlined in his mind
and projected in his speeches and
writings. In a masterfully balanced
sum OF evidence and opinion this
writer delivers over to the reader q
thrilling story Of one mans life ana
Of that mans permanent place IN the
world of letters and Of politics.
LETTERS AND JOURNALS OF
son; 1s46-lo06. Edited by Mary
Thacher HiRginson. Boston:
Houghton Mifnin Company.
If you like good company in the
house of an incompatible host get
into these living and breathing let
ters by Thomas Wentworth Higsin. :.
son. Here you will fnd. coming and
given to New England a peculiar
savor-we call 1t atmosphere--that
not yet has any other part OF our
country acquired. Here one meets
Emerson. Whittier. Lowell, Holmes
and a host of others face to face in
Int
that lecture of Emerson's on economy
it was dull. No weather in 1t. no
outdoors" There is temerity for you
and a corking criticism besides
Here one meets. too-and this will
Stowe. Harriet Prescott Spofiord.
Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott and others
all alive. mind you. and all up and
doing. One catches. out of these
spontaneous letters. impassioned
views on the anti-slavery agitation.
on the competition in the settlement
of Kansas. on the tragedy at Harpers
Ferry. and many a view OF the civil
war itself, through which the writer
served Here one gathers giimpses
and. later. Impressions Of foreign
travel. One likes to linser best. how
ever. around Cambridge and Boston
and Newburyport. for there the writer
is himself most at home and these
are the places that give over nne
substance and seriousness about him
this letter-writer likes the good story.
particularly the story on one OF his
friends. For instance, a guide in the
Adirondacks said: DO you know Jim
Lowell:" No: who is he?" Hes a
and % POEMS "Yes: James Russell Low
eli know him." ''Well, he's id ig-
norant no cuss. ain't he! (Then told Of
some lack of wood lore on the part
of the poet.) Imagine the uroane
too. Higginson's joy over the yarn:
The book throughout invites ana
holds one while it warns him and
informs him.
THE GOLDEN GOAT. BY Paul Arene.
Huard, author of my Home in the
Field of Honour" etc. New York:
George H. Doran Company.
The legend of hidden treasure has
gone round the world embracing the
seven seas. in response Response Tb;s TO man ans
versale tale is projected here in the
colors of old Provence and in the
name of "The Golden Goat" The
drift of this ancient coast is a blend
of Phoenician. Greek. Roman, Saracen
"a tertlIe SuosoA III tac IN =
able Provencal. In this corner OF
the Midi" the legend of the golden
goat has survived many centuries.
The hiding place OF the enormous
treasure, gathered under this name,
is known to the women Of q single
generation to generation Of Gazan
women is free to name the hiding
place. but in doing this she sacri-
fees love. 1t is up to her which she
shall choose. since she cannot have
one Of these women has yet dared.
Paul Arene's lovely little story is
built around one OF these crftical
moments of decision. This pictur-
esque corner of France is in the
blood Of Paul Arene, Tor he's. ne is MN. .h.
legend in the colors Of the ProvencaI
:: landscape, in the childlikeness OF the
southern mind. and the translauon n
holds to this innocence OF the mino
! in which the original Is cast. BY
way Of it ON one com comes !, upon ,pneh BESIDES.
! with one of the great artists OF
French literature.
CHINA, CAPTIVE OR FREEf By GIL.
bert Reid, A. NJ, D. D., author OF
-"Glances at China" etc. Ne"
York: Dodd. Mead & Co.,
Rev. Gilbert Reid has lived in China
something like forty years. 1t Is ea,e
! to assume, therefore, that his knowi-
edge Of the country and the people Is
both extensive and intimate. TIE
| book itself bears out this assumption.
More than that. it, embodies deep
affection for the Chinese and q SIN,
! cere desire for their substantial ano
peaceful progress. In proof OF this
desire the writer here makes a stud!
Of the entanglements into which China
ha q fallen nv way Of her international