Evening star., 1923-10-27
The Library Table
EY THE BoOKLovER

4
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Mixed 1, races and: resultant mixed
ideals form the theme Of Katherine
Fullerton Gerould's "Conauistador."
Wharton Cameron, the son OF his
Scotch-American father, the chief
figure of the story, 10 a Puritanical
agnostic in his philosophy and an
idealist in his emotional life. He can
not bring himself 70 marry without
love. even though all the peculiar
circumstances Of an unexpected posi-
tion demand that he should have q
wife. So, because the one woman
he can love 10 unattainable, he def
nitely eliminates marriage from his
plans. But, as Pablo Gutierrez, the
son of his Mexican-spanish mother
and the adopted son Of his uncle, the
old .conQuistador. Den Fernando. he
is a very different sort of person. In
this character he returns to formal
adherence to the Catholic religion of
his mother. because unless religion
Is maintained the poems run after
politics and go distraught with windy
modern notions. without religion
the hacienda would not hold three
months"-and Don Pablo is now
Mexican estate OF Santa Eulalia and
has all the pride of ownership in
herited from a long line Of Spanish
ancestors: AZ Pablo. Gutierrez, also
he must have an heir. with or with
out marriage. So he, takes as his
mistress Manuelita. the most beauti-
full Of the half-caste Spanish h-Indian
girls about his hacienda, without
love, without even infatuation. but
with the intention. frankly avowed.
later legitimatize as his heir The
old conquistador. Don Fernando, on
his death bed. has said to his adopted
son and heir: But a man cannot
die childless and leave Santa Eulalia
forlorn. Better one of these girls
Of the hacienda. do not marry her.
Legitimatize your son, rather. before
you die"
The conversation between Pablo
Gutierrez and the old priest, Don
Miguel, when the former reveals his
the mother of his son, is one of the
most subtle and artistic pieces Of
character analysis in very subtle
and artistic book.
MY son, you would not live in
SIM" the priest asked.
Did you put that question to Don
Fernando? j am not in the confess
sional now, Don Miguel. ] am speak
ing to the only friend I have in the
world-ca ballero to caballero.
You shall give me whatever penance
you gave my uncle when i shall con-
fess my sin to you. But now-to-
night want only a friends ear"
you have made up your mind, Don
Pablo" the priest replied courteously,
and you are not in the confessional,
We are sitting in your own room
over glass of cognac. If 1t makes
you happier to tell me these things
tell me. But do not ask advice of
me about your intended sim"
Pablo bent forward. I'm your heart
Of hearts. Don Miguel. you know
that, before God. 1 serve only Santa
Eulalia and my uncle's wish.
keep an oakland not for my own
". For your own sake. Pablo"
Don Miguel said gently. Il was not
always a priest" But what he meant
he did not say.
"Conquistador" a study of dual per-
sonality, but TO the student of litera-
ture 1t is above all piece of fiction
art
Historic Gardens of Virginia"
compiled by the James River Garden
Club and edited by Edith Tunis Sale,
is a book which will be of great in
terest to many Washingtonians who
have Virginia homes or who visit
such homes. The book contains over
200 illustrations. many In color, and
A plans of gardens. The custom
Of country homes and gardens was
byought by virginians from England.
Mpny Virginia homes were designed
to be country seats. to descend from
one generation TO another, and many
were OF a stateliness and cost which
could scarcely be afforded by their
owners. Thomas Jefferson ruined
himself by building Monticello, on a
mountain top. whore lawns and gar
dens were also developed. The gar
dens described in the book include
all types In all observation-disclosures
along the James river sa the n,eI 1oIk Rive pixer
valleys. Four gardens of Presidents
are among those described and
pictured-Washington's, Jefferson's,
Madison,s;;, Monroe,s. Others are
Of the Byrds. Shirley Of the Carters,
Tuckahoe Of the Randolphs, and
Mount Airy Of the Tayloes,.
The essential difference between
the mentality of the civilized man
and that Of the primitive man is
emphasized by Prof. Lucien Levy
Bruhl in his book. Primitive Men
tality." By the use of many descrip-
tions and anecdotes from writer's in
many languages the author attempts
to prove that the savage has an en-
tirely unscientific mind and therefore
invariably attributes all occurrences
to supernatural influences. From this
arises belief in magic, good and bad
Eepirfts, charms. incantations. fetishes
ahs ahs aistinesion GSs betWeen ps good and % evil
is not that usual in civilized societies.
Good results from the use Of the
magic which Ia the common custom
tndividuai magic for personal ends.
This discrimination might seem to
some evolutionary sociologists to in
dicate the beginning OF ideas Of
socialism versus individualism. In
fact, the chief criticism to be made
of the. book is perhaps the. author has
estimated as inherent differences be-
tween primitive and civilized men,
talities what are only different stages
in development. -.
.-as,, s..,,f,. ~ e%-...l
Mary Johnstons new book, "Croa-
tam" Is announcedsfor immediate pub
lication. 1t Is another romance of the
early days in the settlement Of Vir-
ginia-the same period as that which
furnishes the background of Prison
ers of Hope" and 'To Have and to
Hold" In the Life and Letters of
Walter H. Page" by Burton. j. Hen
drick, is told the story, of the serial
publication Of ITO; Have and to Hold
In the Atlantic Monthly. when Page
was its editor. Page had been much
interested in Miss Johnston's first
MPriSanars of Hona b q