The New York herald., 1922-04-23
The Child of
Yesterday
and To-day
Continued from Preceding Page.

"Over Two Seas" is a bit more
thrilling and exotic, more in the ma
ture of possibly plausible adventure
than of everyday occurrence. Again
we find two boys on board ship, this
time in the Southern Pacific. The
captain in this case is the father of
one, and so the lot of the ordinary
seaman is not theirs. They go
through a storm in the tropics and
a battle with bushmen in the Solo
mon Islands.
The author Of "Scott Burton and
the Timber Thieves" is director of
the school of forestry in the Univer-
sity of Minnesota and therefore COM
petent to give a picture Of woods
men and the life of the forest. Scott
Burton is a ranger whom the Fed
eral Government assigns to run down
marauders who have been mysteri-
ously cutting publicly owned timber
in Florida. He succeeds and has an
exciting time of it. The book is en-
tertaining.
George Washington" is announced
as the first of series of sketches of
American historical personages for
children. The authors purpose is
thus expressed in the preface:
washington is placed upon pedes-
tai as a cold, aloof, blameless figure
to be worshipped. Boys and girls do
not like that sort of hero" The
average boy is interested in Wash
ington. and the story of his life. with
out idealization or trimmings, is ro-
mantle and thrilling enough to suit
anybody. Here the first President is
presented in accurate terms. with his
difficulties and his political quarrels
shown in proper proportions. His
decency to the captured Cornwallis
should appeal to the sportsmanship
of boys. Moreover, the Revolution
ary War is told without any of that
unnecessary animus toward Great
Britain that once upon a time was
common in school texts and historical
fiction.
The little girl in "Ne, Virginia."
observes that all the houses in a
particular street are alike except
one, which is decorated in a distinc-
tive manner that arouses her admi-
ration. Whereupon she remarks thai
beauty would be more prevalent did
not some lazy persons think it toe
much trouble-not bad bit of criti-
cism. Having overheard a woman
riage that, however happy all tn,
passing homes appeared, there wa
much tragedy and sorrow scattered
among them, Virginia thinks it a,
idea worth repeating and gives it I,
child friend later. Whats tn
tragedy in that house?" asks he
auditor. Virginia hesitates, bu
finally explains in detail, givin.
names and dates. Such is Virginia,
child with a lively imagination, in
itiative and high spirits-in othe
words, normal, healthy youngstel
She feels unduly restrained in tn
routine of boarding school and he
reflections on such institutions ar
fresh and amusing. A book for girl
but also worthy of the attention {
boys if they can be got to read it.
peggy Pretend" lives in an ol
Virginia town and in not very pros
porous circumstances. Into ht
young life come such things as tf
mortgage on the house and oth'
family troubles. But Peggy has
genius for bolstering up hope al
this through various vicissitud'
brings at last good luck to her fan
lily. This may sound like the e.
travagances of Pollyanna, but in &
first place the story is charming
told and in the second place eve
one who has read that essay (whi'
everybody ought to read), THE w
to Believe" knows that there is
certain measure of truth in
Faith. or the will to believe" mi
when other things are equal Ju
turn the scale. Edna +. Hart Hub
has added to the attractiveness
the book with illustrations that a
mirably express the spirit of it.
1.-THE Marines Have Advanced"
story of the experiences of the
troops in hunting German spies