Evening star., 1925-02-08

THE SLAVE SHIP. BY Mary John
( ston, author of 1872 etc. Bos-
ton: Little, Brown & Co.
" HE first chapter of Miss John
ston's new novel serves to re-
mind us again that in colonial
Virginia slavery was not con-
fined to the black man. 1t re-
minds us, too, of the more general
and more remote fact that men have
been bought and sold whenever and
wherever war has on the one hand
marched to victory and on the other
hand fallen in defeat The story in
hand, however, is, primarily an ac-
count of David Scott sold as a politi-
cal prisoner for Jacobite activities
against the throne in 1745. To be
slave was not in the blood of David
scott. So, after one or two fruitless
attempts he finally made his escape,
finding refuge on a ship in the harbor.
BY good luck the captain of the Janet
turned out to be sort of cousin to
David Scott By reason of this the
boy was concealed and protected and
given work. Now, David did not
know that the Janet was slave
ship, bringing cargoes of men to
the colony. But so it was and much
of the story goes into the effect of
this fact upon David Through this
development of David himself by way
of the business in which he is en-
gagged there rise vivid pictures of
these sailings to and fro between
the buying and the selling of those
black people; pictures of the ex-
periences in Africa. of the out sail
ings and the homecomings. Indeed,
so vivid is this work that the effect
upon reader is the effect of a par
taking in the bad business. not of
passive onlooking. Two issues of
this romance are of startling clarity
and force. One is that of the slave
trade itself, The other is that of the
effect of this business upon the char
acter of David Scott Hatred. revul
sion, endurance. acceptance-this is the
usual road of commerce with any
eyil thing. But, at bottom, there is
the sturdy freedom-loving David
Scott to be reckoned with ultimately
And, by virtue of the authors fidelity
10 this character, the story marches
straight to its inevitable end. No, 1t
does not take a turn at the last
moment 1t forges straight ahead
\ remarkably clear picture of the
period. A mastery artistry in deal
ing with a human heart. Everybody
should read this surprising story.
SENENTY-FIVE YEARS OF WHITE
HOUSE GOSSIP: From Washing
ton to Lincoln. BY Edna NJ. Col
man Illustrations from photo
graphs New York: Doubleday,
Page < Co.
We hate to admit it-that personali-
ties are much more interesting than is
the basic substance of character or the
momentous march of history. But it is
true-and quite logical that il should
be true. For we are absorbed daily. and
through all the days. with the sum of
little things; with cares about food and
shelter, about sleep and recreation and
dress-all these the passing demands of
the moment We are all alike in this
consuming preoccupation with purely
personal interests. Therefore that his
toric character becomes most real. most
alive, to us when we permitted to
see 1t through the close range of per-
Sonal activities rather than through the
thin perspective of historic service
Books of history gossip" are rapidly
increasing in number. This is hopeful
for these are the true vitalizers of his
tory, bringing far things near and cleo
trifying the mere shades of men and
women into human beings of immediate
contact and effect. Here is book of
this kind Within its three quarter
century span are grouped innumerable
perSonageS in whom a general interest
and curiosity are keen and open. 1t is
solely by the use of this personal ap-
proach and method that the author de-
livers over to readers these notable
figures of our own national past. Anec-
dotes, scenes, episodes, high moments.
passing incidents-one and another of
these-serve admirably this purpose of
revitalizing the past. The author, fol-
lowing each administration in its order,
has with infinite pains and keen SYM
pathy and deep discernment gathered
out of each of these such facts of per-
sonality as contribute markedly to the
effect of actuality and nearness. You
will find innumerable sidelights here
upon the character of one and another
of our White House celebrities. lllumi-
nations these, that serve not only to re-
ernbody the individual but that serve
as well to re-create history itself in the
freshness of its forma ton. Ones pleas
ure in the book is increased also
through the confidence inspired by the
interchangeable research and the wise
selections that so obviously went into
its making.
ELSIE AND THE CHILD; and other
stories. BY Arnold Bennett, au-
thor of "Riceyman Steps etc.
New York: George II. Doran Co.
Thirteen short stories by Arnold
thirteen situations, all drawn from
the every day affairs of everyday
people. Each follows some common
human trait, or custom, or IdioSyn-
Grassy even, in its actual footprints OF
common human wayfaring. Everything
has already been said about Mr.. Ben
nett's particular brand of realism.
And here it is, perfect in its way-a
way that follows the level roads with
never longing eye toward the dizzy
ing heights of romantic adventure.
Interesting about these realists, who
differ in their selections and methods
and effects as widely as they differ,
in turn, from the out-and-out ro-
manccrS. =
THE LOCKED BOOK. BY Frank l..
tPackard, author of The Miracle
Man" etc. New York: George II.
Doran Co.
The adventure opens with roaring
sea fight off the coast of Malaysia,
where native pirates attack a Wara-
tan, killing "old man Wayne, mas