Evening star., 1924-02-10
Reviews of New Books
THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA 3


- any particular event or period
is faced by fresh obligation,
fresh opportunity. His is 4
new perspective-not greatly in
creased, maybe, but possessing, never
theless, some corrective realignment
and, just possibly, some strongly in
huential element. OF this he Is to
make good use. New sources of in
formation may have opened up-rec-
ords reports, direct testimony-the
silent contribution of the historic
field itself. These. too, must be traced
and made to yield their contribution
to the exact truth of the matter. The
opportunity opens for redramatizing
the event in accordance with the new
knowledge and the new decisions of
the changed perspective. More and
more, too, must history be touched
into life under the hand of the COM
petent wrlter-the interesting and
stimulating medium of the event or
period projected. Many histories of
the civil war have been written. This.
without question, the most moInentous
event in the history of the United
states. Yet, beyond a general notion
OF the war. and that a haZy notion,
the average man cannot reach. There
ts a place for another history of this
great turning point in our national
lfe-and possibly room for many
more The TWO volumes on the civil
war that we have in hand are, first
of all, interesting. That is important.
If they were not they would not he
read, no matter how inclusive and
exact the facts might be. 1t is d
clean-cut picture of the war, out of
which one is able to gather it's tell
ing movements and effectS-free you
see, from clutter of unrelated de-
taiiS-big in seizure and portrayal
~ IS human story. presenting In the
flesh such men as potently animated
the war. 1t is story with a living
hackground-the American people, ti-
vided for the moment, but to be
understood even in this division. An
;tll-around useful study for the Amer
lean youth, a dramatic story for the
reader interested in the affairs per-
tanning to this crucial hour of our
national life.
TALES OF TRAVEL. BY the Mar
guess CurZon of Kedleston New
York: George II. Doran Company.
Not travel book. though this
writer has been and is a great
traveller. Rather does one find here
odd moments of memory brought to
pfcture-striking, dramatic, illumi-
mating moments, filled with strange
drauGhts from far corners of the
preston made by these tales is that,
Throughout, there is on the part of
the writer definite reach for ac-
curacy of fact. for exactitude of
ment evokes historic event or Scien-
tific phenomenon or the recital of
some dramatic or otherwise interest
Ing event. The stories range from
the sacred Mohammedan city OF
keirwan. across the Karnak, where
the ColoSsi Of Thebes stand, one Of
them projecting the famed voice Of
Memnon." Then on through the sing
ing sands OF the desert, to which this
writer gives a rather complete con-
sideration in respect to the scientific
source and cause of the curious
sounds that SO long were held in
more or less pous superstition.
There are stories of lower Africa, in
cluding pictures of the great falls Of
the Zambesi. Over in Asia there are
many contact points of absorbing in
terest as parts Of this travellers per-
sonal experience Orientals of re-
nown appear before US, interesting
customs of the less advertised sort
come under consideration. The whole
is an intensely interesting projection
that, apart from it's clear immediate
appeal to ones love of the pictur-
esque and the strikingly unfamiliar.
serves as well the excellent purpose
of rescuing from the swift changes
OF the present many things that have
existence. A fascinating group of
studies whose charm lies partly in
the themes and partly in the COM
municability of the writer.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF THE
NOM OE DOCTRINE. BY David
\. Thomas, Phi. d. New York: The
Macmillan Company
One is here provided with means
for Loo. ing back over century span
upon the practical workings of a
policy that has, to marked extent
shaped and directed the foreign pol
Icy III the United States. A clean
cut, compact, orderly survey of the
Monroe Doctrine. an instrument def
initely calculated to avoid entan Cling
alliances, to close many avenues OF
discord. to serve. generally, the in.
situation of hundred years ago
when the monarchical principle was
both aggressive and threatening, the
Monroe Doctrine is presented. first.
as policy, even an expedient. for
against dangerous encroachments and
approaches. In an objective and con-
crete development the author here
presents the adaptibility of this in
strument to the uses for which it
was created, emphasizes the elastic
ity with which it has expanded to
cover the increasing complexities of
certain lines of international con-
tact. projects 1t into future Of even
greater usefulness as promoter of
international amity. Not yet doc
trine' in the exact meaning of this
term, it stands, nevertheless, as a
workable theory that may take its
place among the principles AMI tenets
of international relationships. A
most useful book for students. An
invaluable book for any one interested
in the political history, and promise.
OF the United States in its foreign
relations.
BLACK, WHITE AND BRINDLED. BY
Eden Phillpotts. author of "Eudo-
cia,' etc. New York: The Mac
milan Company
1t gives one a little shock of sur
prise to meet Eden Phillpotts outside
OF DeVon-away across to the West
Indian Barbados. at that. lmmedi-
stepping to the fore to find out what
this Devon man will do so far away
from home. Certainly. he does it.
Picks up the places and people alive
and sets them down in words and
phrases and stories that have the
same convincing appeal, the same
honest artistry that all the work of
this 5ss;f writer sean has ,s You see he took
bados. That done. the outcome was
certain: The first of these stories is
one of mystery. Who killed the
three men-so widely separated in
tween midnight and dawn of single
night? The straight method of solv-
ing this mystery. its convincing reach
down to the real sources of the crime,
the unassailable arsument-these set
this story of crime detection in
class by itself. And along with this
prime interest there goes the same
fidelity ty. to the natural setting and to
already contributed so largely to the
high place of this author. To white