Evening star., 1923-02-03
The Library Table
BY The Booklover

Ever since I read an article by
Theodore Roosevelt entitled, How
tionaI Geographic Magazine for Feb
ruary, 1916. have been intending to
read the book on which his article
was principally based. On recent
visit to New York / was able to get
away from Broadway long enough to
visit the American Museum Of Nat
ural History. There in it's Hall OF
the Age Of Man found the intensely
interesting originals or models of the
remains and implements Of prehis-
toric man and paintings OF the ami
mails by which early man was sur
rounded. Since these were the ma
terials on which the book reviewed
by Roosevelt was based l renewed my
resolution to read DIR. Henry Fair
field Osborn'S Men of the Old stone
Age, Their Environment, Life and
Art" Since its first publication in
1915, the book. partly because of the
attention called to it by the Roose-
welt article, but more from it's in
terest and real worth. has had wide
reading, 30 that the edition l have
Just finished Is the third.
X X *.
Men of the Old Stone Age" is not
an easy book, but 1t Is highly inter
reader. Dr. Osborn states that his
work is the direct outcome OF a tour
made in 1915 through southern
France and northern Spain. the re-
gion Of the world richest in paleo-
lithic remains and apparently the
home of the most highly developed
of the prehistoric races. 1T appears.
the author states. that men with
faculties and powers like our own,
but in the infancy of education and
tradition. were living in this region
of Europe at least 25,000 years ago.
Back of these intelligent races were
others, also Of eastern origin. but in
earlier stages of mental development,
all pointing to the very remote an
cestry of man from earlier mental and
physical stages" He further con-
cludes that in the region visited I'VE
have a complete, unbroken record of
continuous residence from a period as
remote as 100000 years. In con-
civilizations appear as Of yes
terday."
in my visit to the museum and now
in reading the book, have been espe-
cially interested in the profuse illus
trations, including those by upper
Paleolithic artists" to whom DR.. Os
born gives credit on the title page of
his book. The reconstruction of the
busts of the Ape Man of Java, Pitt
tol no
"Old Man Of Cro- -Magnon" of course
attract the most attention. but only a
little more than the remarkable sculp
lures, drawings and even paintings in
color found on the walls of deep un
derground caverns. In view of the re-
stricted lighting facilities of those re-
mote years, they are truly marvellous.
4
If the reader is now interested in
the subject of prehistoric man, but
finds that DR.. Osborn's book proves a
little too stiff reading. L suggest that
he try the recently published and
more simple book, Everyday Life in
the Old Stone Age" written and Illus
trated by Marjorie and c. H 3. Quen-
nell. This popular picture of primi
tive times is clear and vivid and is
based on the latest investigations. 1t
Is well worth
Sir Walter SCOTT once said with re-
gard to Jane Austen's novels:
The big bow-wow strain / can do
myself like any now going. but the
exquisite touch which renders ordi-
nary commonplace things and char
acters interesting. from the truth of
the description and the sentiment. is
denied to me-" In spite OF Scott's
tribute. Jane Austen's devotees (and
Howells declared that they formed a
cult) have always been more numer-
GUS among women than among men.
Perhaps the reason for this is that
Jane Austen herself was so com
pletely feminine according to the
ideas Of her time; so feminine that she
used to hide her manuscript when
sidered "womanly" to write, and, al
though she lived through many i'm
portant historical events among
them the war of 1912. never made the
slightest allusion In any of her novels
to any public event. So it will prob
than TO men that several Juvenile
fragments of this truly great realist
have just been published for the first
time Love and Friendship" is the
title given to the stories. which are
full Of the spirit of youth and more
novels.
The Latin quarter with its comedies
and tragedies Of the artistic life and
Of love has been celebrated by many
writers of poetry. drama and fiction.
In recent years Leonard Merrick is
one Of the foremost authors to depict
the life Of the famous quarter in
novels and short stories. In 1921 was
published his volume Of stories, "A
Chair on the Boulevard" and in the
last months of 1922 another VOL
ume, ITO Tell You the Truth"
One of the most appealing tales
in this last volume Is that of the
middle-aged comedian who has never
vso1 won the the success ,s he desired but a
at the theater just after receiving the
war Office notice of his only sons
death at the front; and then plays a
longer and more difficult part when
for two weeks he acts before his
lief that the war is ended and her son
on his way home uninjured.
X 4
Frank Swinnerton in his latest
novel, THE Three Lovers" expresses
his opinion OF the inalienable right
of the Britisher. of whatever class,
to a cold breakfast Patricia Quin,
a beautiful but poor maiden who
lives in two dingy rooms, might be
expected to have cold breakfast, but
she Is no worse off in that respect,
says Mr.. Swinnerton, than those who
can afford large establishments.
"Breakfast was another blow for