The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-26
WASHINGTON CLOSE-UPS"

Coming closely on the heels of the rAfirror family''-first "The Mirrors of Downing Street. and then "The Mirrors of Washington" and other books written in that vein-Mr. Ed ward G. Lowry presents his Wash ington Close- Ups, Intimate Views of Some Public Figures" (with illus trations; -Nnfflin company publishers, Boston,, at a very happy time, the eyes of the nation general ly being focused around the national capital and the men in public serv- ice there.
 So pleased have I been with Wash ington C1ose-Ups." by MT. Lowry. that I've been hoping to find that he is relation of mine-a very near ene-because nothing cleyerer has come from tho pen of anyone after whom I've read for many moons than these ''pen sketches" of various peo- pie. things and conditions, and If there is anything that I'm proud of 1t is pointing 10 a blood relation" who is "clever"
 Being a Lowry myself-en my mothers side-and always puffing up with tremendous pride when the name, especially of my beloved uncle. the late Gov. Robert Lowry of Ms sissippi. who served two terms as the chief executive Of my native state, Is mentioned. and whose memory revere So affectionately. pass further on and say that the author of ''Waahington Close Ups" reveals much of the delightful sense of hu- nor and keen insight into human na- ture which my forebears possessed to a marked degree-and so
 ''I doff my new spring bonnet
 With the little ribbon on it"
 to Mr. Frederick G. Lowry-kin or no kin-for writing one of the most interesting and entertaining book of the past decade, amazingly pene- trating and keen as a two-edged sword.
 The "sharp point of his pen" Is in- serted frequently in his vivisection of the great and near great" states men he places upon the table for this purpose, and like the skilled surgeon he knows just how far to go with it and he uses deftly the remarkable talent he has, making each of the q chapters of the book delightful story in itself.
 MT. Lowry's -washington Close Ups, has the charm of an intimate knowledge of people and things round about the national capital, and 1. sT,,fr ist." always welcome at any time, and in any place, and his "views' are sketched with certain assur- ance which proves that he knows whereof he speaks.
 One of his critics has said:
 .'Mr. Lowry's Washington is not the Washington of the Chevalier de Bacourt. when the pigs ran through the gutters and the Bayards from Delaware were the leaders of so- eiety, or that of Mrs. Dahlgren, or of the clever Kate Chase. There are no salons now. and women seem to have very little influence on the course of politics" and then quotes Mr. Lowry:
 washington cries aloud to be written about in an intimate, amus- ing way. It is somehow different
 
 broad expanse of our continent The town has a distinctive social life of its own, with a flavor and quality slightly tinctured with the modes and manner of abroad It has, too, & se- ductive charm and gIamor all it's own. The oddity and part of the charm of the Washington condition is just this, that while it has the so- ciaI framework of world capital, the chief official personages who people the scene are villagers with a villagers outlook and a villagers background. This makes for unex- peeted eclipses and provides conve-- sation. Henry James called Wash ing the City of Conversation. Washington talks about herself, and about almost nothing else; falling Buperffcially, indeed, on that ground but into line with the other capitals 1t Is in positive quest of an identi-' ty of some sort, much rather-an identity other than merely func- tionA and technical-that Washing ton goes forth, encountered with no ideal of avoidance or escape. It is about herself as the city of conver- sation precisely that she incessant-t ly converses, adoring the topic, more over, with endless ingenuity and humor."
 Tn this, the opening chapter, en- titled, "The Washington Scene" MT. Lowry bids us 'come into Mir. Hard ing's front yard and sit under a Towering magnolia and leisurely, as becomes the pure in heart and de- tached in mind, talk about the fa-