Evening star., 1922-12-09
The Library Table
BY THE BookLovER.

Il consider that my decision to Civ
books 40 Christmas presents this yea
10 supported by the best possible rea
sons. Since books mean more to M
than anything else. in makini
thoughtful selections of books O.
gifts = really give more Of mysel
than In any other way. In choosing
good books to give to others pa!
them the highest of possible compli
ments. In sending a really fine bool
I also give something that will affore
lasting pleasure. Therefore. say !
choose books for Christmas gifts.
No Christmas season approaches
with Its annual reminder to Tn,
Bookloyer to search out the best o.
the seasons publications to shar,
with his friends. without his also re-
calling q story which. though old, II
always opposite to such an impulse
One ebefore-Chr.stmas season q GrouI
Of chorus girls were planning theil
cooperative gifts. They promptl,
agreed that for Gwendolyn, who dotef
Q on .,,a dainty lingerie. they would Ee
very fond of sweets. they quickly de-
cided to get five-pound box Of choc.
olates; but since she was getting
somewhat stout from too frequent In.
dulgence in her propensity. they
quietly agreed that they would hely
out In eating the present Then they
came to Mayme. the spiritueile mem.
lately she had noticed that In add.
ton to the murder mysteries in the
Evening Scream, Mayme had beer
reaoing some magazines. and SO. She
proposed that they give Mayme q
book. but Eloise. Mayme's Roommate.
no book; why Mayme, she's GOT .
book already"
Ihe literary movement, variously
called American regionalism, local
color, or the spirit OF home, as EN-.
bodied In fiction, is well illustrated In
Short Stories of America" edited by
Robert L. Ramsey, published last year
That the short story 10 an Interpreter
of the sectional differences of the
United States is explained by Hamlin
Garland, who said in "Crumblina
IDOLS The sun of truth strikes each
part OF the earth at q little differen,
angle; 1t is this angle which give.
life and innnite variety to literature. !,
The volume includes such old favor.
ties as Bret Hartes "The Luck OF
Roaring Camp" and AamIin Garland'l
Among the Corn Rows" showing The
now banished frontier; Hopkinsor
smiths Arrival Of . True Southern
M 49,
social heritage: The Making Of q
New Yorker" by Q. Henry, depicting
city life. and "A Local Colorist," bs
Annie Trumbul Slosson, ILLUSTRATING
rural New England life
* X \ r
The book just commented on con.
sists in such large part Of delightful
stories that one Is somewhat troubled
also to find that it contains the ma.
.chinery Of analysis and Of study ques.
tions that form the staple OF q school
text book. One cannot help wonder.
ing whether the result of the con.
scientious use of all this scholarl,
equipment by teachers and pupils will
help to better appreciation and 10, .
of literature. or whether the process,
OF dissection and analysis will no,
defeat the proper object of literar,
study. II, instead of Strengthening
the appetite for reading and sharpen.
ing the appreciation such analyst.
causes a hatred of these and other
stories of excellence, better never
mention the subject Of technique to
young readers.
x & **.
The recent literature of religious
thought-not of theology, at presen,
apparently a barren and untitled field
Indicates q constant effort to ap-
proach the religion of Jesus. Re
ligious thinkers are examining the
findings of the sociologists and the
schoolgirls are studying construc-
lively the problems of religion. One
Of the most significant contributions
to these allied studies is THE Recon.
struction of Religion, a Sociological
View" by DR.. Charles A. Ellwood
professor of sociology in the Uni
versity Of Missouri. The author be
lieves that the present crisis in the
religious world has been brought
about by the failure Of existing re.
ligion to adapt itself to the two out
standing facts in our civilization
science and democracy. He finds tha,
the need of the world is more ra-
tional, vital and socialised Christian.
ity, and that only a Christianity OF
this sort is equal to the task Of saw
ing civilization and harmonizing its
warning interests. classes, nations and
races. His purpose is to show how
the social sciences may help religion
to build q better world. Prof. Ell
woods book is probably the ablesl
and most stimulating discussion OF
religion In Its relation to modern life
that has yet appeared. 1t has at
tracted such wide attention that he
has recently been invited to give q
University Divinity School. Trans.
lations Of his work will shortly be
published in German. Italian ard Jap.
anese. The practical character of his
contribution to religious thought Is
attested by the fact that he has been
asked to participate In the revision
of the international Sunday school
lessons.
X !: x x
The Booklover gets SO much pleasure
and profit from his own reading and sc
firmly believes that all may find ir
books the same enjoyment and .bene-
fit, that he is somewhat disturbed a,
the thought of the possible encroach.
ment on the exercise of the reading
habit by the movie and the radio. viii
the now silent movie. which will soon
no doubt. everywhere have = phono.
graphic accompaniment of Spoken
drama or explanation. and will the
radio. perhaps soon to be as common
as the telephone, together make read
ing unnecessary and kill of the read
ing habit? These and similar ques
tions are raised and considered in {
thought-provoking article on Change.
in Reading" written by the well known
Newark librarian, John Cotton Dana
for the December North American Re
view. Mr.. Dana vividiy shows tina