Evening star., 1924-07-20

have belonged to some philosophic
sage. Question and no answer. This is
the formula. But back of the formula
is a very earnest spirit making much
of itself. An egotist, maybe. Every
body is an egotist, so no special con-
demnation lies in that, even if it be
true. The supreme impression is that
of sincerity in the pursuit OF him
self of his own soul And it is this
deep and honest probing that gives
the story its universal application.
1t is your story. 1t is mine, in its
essential facts of the secret and inner
life. When you have read it and mar
veled over it. and pitied the boy and
pitied yourself because of the deep
truth of it all, then you Will be ready
to read Papini's Life of Christ for
that Life" is the answer to Papini's $
quest and questionings by way OF
THE Failure"
THE GREAT CAPITALS; An His
foricnI Geography. BY Vaughan
Cornish, d. Sc. New York: George
II. Doran Company.
An interesting historical study, this,
by way of which the author brings
out the fact that certain constant
common factors have determined tne
rise and growth of the great capital
cities, the head cities of ancient and
modern times In effect this is les
son in geography to show that the
headquarters of any country estao-
fishes itself in the midst OF an area
of great natural richness, or that 1t
stands at some advantageous point
on the common highway along which
these rich areas send their products.
Sometimes, in early days, these points
were strongholdS. More likely, even
then, they were as they are now,
storehouses on the one hand. or
points of concentration and distribu-
tion on the other. The author demon
StrateS the soundness of this theory
by study of great capitals. The
Washington and the commercial cap
ital of the United States, New York.
London and Paris also illustrate this
fact in modern times. The author
goes back to ancient capitals OF
China and India, coming toward the
present by a study of the European
countries. The study is interesting,
not only because it represents intel
ligent and expert investigation, cul-
minating in an orderly and enter
tanning setting out of the facts de-
rived from this investigation, but it
is deeply interesting because it sat
isfieS the common instinct and desire
to find reasons under outer manifes-
tations. to be able to see cause and
effect in appearances. to be able to
see and realize the logic Of events
Here. applied to the worlds great
cities. this method spreads splendid
panorama of world capitals from
fresh and substantial point of view.
JOHNDOVER. BY Margaret Cameron,
author of "Tangles." etc. New
York: Harper and Brothers.
His name was not Johndover. But
that was the name by which for
years he had been known in Santa
its way. Thirty years before. back
in New England, this man had been
convicted Of murder-wrongfully
and sent to prison, from which he
escaped. Taking ship from New
Pacific Coast in time to join the rush
of the 'forty-niners" to the gold
fields of California. The mining ad-
venture over, Johndover had lived on
the heights above Santa Barbara a
and admired by the small world
about him. At the opening of this
story a young man from the east
has come to Santa Barbara, a pass
heightened by reason Of the charms
of Judith Kent, young woman OF
bewildering behaviors and undeniable
loveliness. The story turns upon the
meeting of Johndover and this young
man of Puritan conscience and un-
wavering respect for the law.
Something about the looks of john
dover sends the recollectionS of the
young easterner back to New Eng
land to a long-forgotten episode in
the history of his old home. In fact,
the story becomes the hunting of
j Johndover at the hands of this law
respecting young man. The compli-
cations arise out of his growing af-
fection for Judith Kent who loves
Johndover as if she were his daugh-
ter. The story, on the one hand
deals with this undercurrent of feel
ing between the two men-a subtle
and menacing situation. On the
other, it deals with the pursuit Of
Judith Kent, most tantalizing and
fascinating of young women. The