Evening star., 1925-01-04

THESE EVENTFUL YEARS; The
Twentieth Century in the Making.
As Told by Many Of it's Makers.
Illustrated. New York. Encyclo
pedia Britannica Inc.
- WO big volumes go into the
production of this "Twenu-,
eth Century in the Making"
p The Immediate purpose OF
the publication is, we are
EOld, to call a halt" And this halt
has, In turn, for its purpose a STEM
ming OF the tide OF propaganda on
! every topic under the sun, in order
that the essential subjects OF the
period may be presented In the calm
certainty of truth rather than In the
rurbid uncertainty of an .overcharged
GTnpagandist zeal Many writer's
have ributed to this survey of
dispasSionate intent. Each was
chosen, not only for the quality of
his special knowledge. but for un-
biased reactions OF his mental ma
cninery. To name any half dozen
Of these contributors would furnish
fuIl guaranty for the scope and au-
rhority of the entire survey. Here Is
The World War centering the first
o years of the new century. Upon
his theme men chosen for their
Commanding positions or for their
special knowledge have written. Fol-
lowing this theme are chapters COW
ering the outstanding effects of the
war--among them allied debts, taxa
Jion, social unrest. labor. and capital
\ series of chapters deals with the
principal countries of the world as
each has maintained itself since the
World War, as each looks forward
into a future Of it's own. Science, in
Tention, the effects Of these upon in
dustry and upon every other world
.,Ctivity. are treated in modern, for
wdrd-look!ng fashion. These chap
ters are signed, each author standing
apon his own responsibility. The
v hole stands as a competent world
survey. surprising point or vantage
rom which to estimate the values Of
he present and their logical effects
upon the immediate future. An I'M
uosing amount OF fact. OF knowledge,
IS here presented in a relatively small
compass. An invaluable book for ref
,-euoe and for 4 general grasp of
world facts and world relationships.
WALTER II. PAGES CHRISTMAS
LETTER TO HIS GRANDSON.
New York: Doubleday, Page & Co.
In an Introductory note to this lit
tie book Burton ]. Hendrick tells us
that it as one of Walter II. Pages
most charming customs 70
write letters to his relatives and inti-
mate friends at Christmas time SO,
in pursuance of this custom, what
more is to be expected than that he
should include among these relatives
snd intimate friends the grandson
to whom this surprising letter is ad-
dressed:
London, Christmas, 1915.
Sir: (ThiS. the opening of the let
ter) For your first Christmas, l have
the honor to send you my most af-
fectiopate greetings; and, in wishing
you all good health, take the liberty
humbly to indicate some of the favors
Of fortune that I am pleased to think
] enjoy in common with you. First
| hear with pleasure that you are
quite content with yourself-not be-
cause of a rea asoned conviction of
your own worth, which would be mere
s,anity and unworthy of you, but by
reason Of philosophic disposition.
it is TOO early for YOU TO bother over
problems of self imrrovement-as for
ne, it is too late; wherefore, we are
alike in the calm Of our self-Con-
tent. What others may think or say
about us is subject of the smallest
concern to US. Therefore. they gem
orally speak well of US; for there is
little satisfaction in speaking i'll of
raen who care nothing for your. opin-
ion G? them. Then, too. We are con-
tent TO be whore We happen to be---a
fact that we did not order in the be-
ginning and need not now concern
ourselves about" SO the letter goes
on in this nlood--so whimsical and
yet so wise, so playful and yet SO pro-
found, 50 altogether charming as to
stand among the inspiring bits Of
literature for grandsons-even those
who have reached years long past
r.. = -
ter is addressed.
BIiRBACkA. Fly Selma Lagerlof, au-
thor of The Outcast," etc.
Translated from the Swedish by
Telnla Swanston Howard. New
York: Doubleday, Page & Go.
In both a mood and a manner Of
beautiful simplicity, Selma Lagerlof.
here in the story Of Marbacka, the
home of the Lagerlofs, draws a series
II pictures covering her own life
from little girl to grown woman. And
hot her life alone, but that OF the
other members of her family as well.
She does more than this. even. For
she opens the doors of Marbacka to
each one who reads this clearly sim
cere and uupretentious story OF her
{ wn life in the old home. One par
takes o. the beauty and toy of that
home. One gets into intimate touch
a.. with this one and that one making UP
he big and pleasant household one
sees Narbacka--the house itself, the.
swedish landscape around it: the oc-'
cupations of each of its several oc-
cupants. And besides JOY in the de-
tails Of this recital and in its spirit as
:: whole, there is a distinct delight In
The crystal quality of tho work itself.
in it's power OF perfect reflection; in
its beauty as literature, coupled with
Us obvious fidelity to the beloved
subject in hand.
THE SHIRT OF FLAME. By
Falide Edib. Illustrated. New
York: DHfield & Co.
This novel is by q Turkish woman
OF distinction. The first graduate
from the American School for Girls
At Constantinople, she later became
ti-nown as the first writer of Turk
iSh novel 1.-The novel as a literary
form being unknown in Turkish lit
erature." An interesting introduction
to the novel in hand by Florence
Billings gives the main features In
b. life Of Halide Edib. The Shirt
uf Flame" is a story Of patriotism,
OF natural ardor Of striving for ones
ideals of country. This flood OF Spir-
itual out-rcaching for ones land Is
carried on the lesser tide Of love
story, one that is developed as an
Incident of the last war in Asia Mi
nor between the Turks on the one
hand and Greeks on the other. n
passionate and competent romance
imbued with the spirit of modern
Turkey. Indeed, interesting as the
story is of itself. one realizes that
It is but the medium of something
larger than the vicissitudes of per
sonal love no matter how compelling