Evening star., 1922-07-16

policies, their recreations, their stti-
tude toward education art and ma
terial progress. A readable book
drawn OF. from the common life of
Mexico. Throughout tnis portrayal
of Mexican life the author traces all
national behaviors and actions to
their origin in the peculiar cast OF
the Mexican mind. He goes back
farther to show the source Of this
peculiar mental possession and drift:
A convincing book. that points upon
this race psychology as the funda-
! mental fact upon which mist be
, based any successful intercourse with
Mexico. The book stands sas one
! of those simple things which. once
ing why he himself did not see it
without having to be told about 1t.
To officials of any country whose
| business 1t is to look after outside
! relations. particularly to those of our
| own country. this book will prove.
| one Judges, to be of inestimable value
as summary of vital fact
| THE vENEERINGs, A Novel. By Sir
Harry Johnston. author of .'The
Gay-Dombeys." etc. New York:
The Macmillan Company.
An act of filial devotion toward a
beloved literary foreb6ar-and a very
ingenious plan, besides-is the one
on some of the familiar Dickens peo-
pie past the point where their famous
creator left them. The Veneer
ings"-out of Our Mutual Friend
include John Harmon, Bella, the
Lammles and Georgy Podsnap. little
them along about 1854. Sir Harry
Johnston owns up to an Irresistible
temptation" to gather this group into
the current trend of things to see
what they would do. how they would
comport themselves in the present.
His sole obligation toward Dickens
is to hold them to the personality in
which Dickens created each of them.
Beyond that the author is circum-
scribed only by the plausibilities OF
the present. There is a good deal OF
the author himself here. and that is
deeply interested In the medicinal
powers of certain plants the way
opens for the wide travel and explo-
ration which have played SO large a
part in the authors own life.
Through John Harmon. or his young
Veneering. there are botanical explo-
rations almost the world over. with
deal Of interesting stun to read in
connection Herewith. This, however.
does not obscure the individuals them
selves. So one goes on absorbingly
his wife Sophronia turned out to be.
and in the foolish decline of Hamii-
ton veneering. and in the other hu-
man frailties and virtues that mark
the rest of this group. A delightful
story-one that rcvives old friends
to the readers mind and makes him
resolve to take up Our Mutual
, Friend" again. and at once. just to
prove that 1.-THE Veneerings" Is an
altogether consistent projection of an
earlier situation.
THE QUEEN OF sHEBA, Her Life
and Times. BY Phinneas A. Crutch.
B. A.. S. o. s.. etc. illustrated. New
York: G. P. Putnams Sons.
1t was up in "Beeswax." Maine. that
this author made the di Jcoyery upon
which rests this unassailable biog-
I raphy of Balkis. queen Of Sheba. Sent
| to this fishing village while recover
| ing from "a severe attack Of tempo
| rary insanity" he. occupying a lonely
| farmhouse. beeuiled the tedium Of
| exile by ransacking the attic of that
house. Rich literary relics came to
| his hand from this occupation. among
| these a nest of moth-eaten, mouse
,nawed. time-riddled fragments. upon
which this indefatigable man spent
ten succeeding years Of restoration.
These turned out. at last. to be an