Evening star., 1924-05-11
WITH CONGRESS AND CABINET.
BY William c.. Redfield. New
York: Doubleday, Page & Co.

n upon the exceptional oppor-
tunities of it's author-a
successful business man, deeply en-
crossed in all the aspects of modern
business efficiency and expansion.
This man, for a good reason, came
to Congress. From Congress he
passed into the cabinet of Woodrow
Wilson as its Secretary of Commerce
William Redfield Inevitably the
mental attitude of Mr. Redfield to-
ward Congress was that of the
trained business man-bent to the
mastery of facts in their exact con-
tent, in both their specific and rela-
tive values, in their bearing upon
other facts contributing to the gov
ernment business. In a word, here
was a business man looking upon
Congress as a prime part of the gov
erning board in a vast business con-
Germ. 1t will be worth good deal
to you to know-Since you yourself
make the Congress-just what Mr.
Redfield did discover in respect to
the business efficiency of the Con-
gresS. AS Secretary of Commerce
Mr.. Redfield again applied the busi-
ness mans test to the requirements
of his department. First, he was
deeply impressed with the vast scope
of the government business as this
is indicated and measured by the
single executive department under
his direction. Again. he appraised
the business qualifications of gov
ernment to transact it's own Stupen
dous matters. The whole is set out
frankly. but always in spirit of
good will. There is no rancor here.
lust a wide and air-minded over
looking of the practical conduct OF
the government from the business
mans point of view. Beside this open
disclosure of situation that indus
try on the outside would find intoler-
able, Mr.. Redfield gives most interest
ing passing views on the work of a
cabinet. upon the characteristics OF
his own associates within this body.
He gives, also, warm tribute to the
personality and character of his chief,
Woodrow Wilson. A book of clear in
formation, fair views and interesting
matter-a delightful and useful book
THE BOOK OF PORTO RICO. Edited
by L. Fernandez Garcia, 3. Sc, M.
d. Coeditors, Francis W. Hoad-
ley and Eugenio Astol. San Juan:
FL Libro AZul Publishing Com
pany.
A host OF collaborators were re-
comprehensive survey of Porto Rico.
Each contributor, working in his own
special field. gathered from it sue
cinct and authoritative summary OF
the content of that field in it's funda-
mental and influential features. To-
gether these contributions round out
the great body of information con-
tanned in this book. The natural fea-
lures and resources of Porto Rico, its
history and it's government are ex-
lAI ), fnIt a \ ~
the occupations and industries of the
island are traced. Commerce and
finance follow in "A clear and concise
exposition Social conditions and
public service. expressed in education,
religion, sanitation, are described. A
section is given over to study of
Porto Rican women. The arts and
sciences are discussed broadly. as are
also the various associations devoted
10 the cause of general social prog
ress. The book is in the nature of
monument 10 Porto Rican progress.
to the public spirit of Porto Ricans.
AS an example of bookmaking, it is
handsome, dignified. admiral! Hun
dreds of illustrations add not only
to the message of the text itself. but
10 the beauty of the book as well.
Spanish and English texts face each
other, page by page, throughout the
work. An invaluable book of refer
ence upon all matters pertaining to
Porto Rico. Too much credit cannot
he accorded to those who have pro-
duced so valuable and so beautiful a
work.
WRITTEN IN FRIENDSHIP: A Book
of "Reminiscences. BY Gerald
Cumberland, author of Set Down
in Malice. New York: Bren-
tano'S.
"Set Down in Malice, an earlier
group of critical essays. and Writ
ten in Friendship" are exactly the
same in spirit and purpose. Neither
malice" nor Friendship" is in either
case the animating impulse of pro-
lection. Mere captional catch words
these. In both cases Mr.. Cumber-
land is looking at current literature
straight and talking about it in the
same direct way. Backed by a good
knowledge of writing and writers.
independent in his thinking, possess
ed of an appraiSing mind. clear
sight and insight. all touched off with
an exceptional vigor of expression,
this critic in these essays sizes up
some of our well known authors and
some that are not so we'll and widely
known. If you do not already know
Mr.. Cumberland, this is the way he
does it: You can't begin to under
stand Bernard Shaw till you realize
that he is both a Puritan and
prophet. Puritans have never been
witty; prophets, though wise and
even willy, are invariably pompous
and frequently dull. But because
living few people see the
Puritan prophet beneath the skin of
the farceur. He is that most tedious
writes to make us good But what
reformer! He mocks, he beguiles,
he excites; he lights gorgeous fire.
works only to Jeer at you for admir-
ing them; he seduces you to pro-
longed laughter and then shows you.
ruthlessly and delightedly, that what
YOU are laughing at is-yourself."
Such is the manner of this critic.
Read what he has to say about Gill
bert Chesterton. Well, read what he
has to say about the rest OF the
writers called together here.
THE SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR. By
Annie S. Peck, M. A, F. r. G. s.,
of America" Illustrated. New
York George H. Doran Company.
Here is a chance to go to South
America with guaranty of a full re-
turn for the time spent-whether the
time go into an actual making of
the voyage or into study of the
guide in hand. Miss Peck is known
plorer of South America. She is ac-
cepted as authority on South Ameri-
can mountains. And this book is a
review of personal experience and
achievement in the neighboring con-
tinent-a country which it is the bus
mess of North Americans to know
much more about than at present
they really do. The book is an or
derly projection. One knows at every
point where he is and where he is
going next. This effect is due, in
part, to it's. logical orderliness, and,
in other part, to the fact that the
guide is free from the clutter of con-
fusing and useless details. Pictures,
many of them, objectify some of the
most remarkable of South American
scenery. A map-that indispensable
adjunct to any guide book-is| here,
conveniently placed. By way of this