Evening star., 1925-01-25
THE LITTLE FRENCH GIRL. BY
Anne Douglas Sedgwick, author of
"Adrienne Toner etc. Boston:
IInnnrhAnn AHihiin (n,nnanr

Anne Douglas Sedgwick, author oi
"Adrienne Toner etc. Boston
Houghton, Miffiin Company.
a%HE reading of books as ar
occupation IS, in a sense
much like meeting people
IL either through the accident
of social contact or by way of
the purposes of business intercourse. In
both cases impressions come speedily
The quality of this one, the lack OF
quality in that one, registers prompt
ly-on the one hand for further pur-
suit, on the other for the earliest
possible dismissal. The Little
French Girl" Is clearly case fol
further pursuit Within three pages
of II one begins to settle into the
satisfactions that finely calculated
work, that a superbly executed de-
sign, induces in so happy a, degree
The purpose here Is to portray 8
young girls life up to the point where
she lays off the role of girlhood fol-
that of wifehood. All OF these pre-
ceding years, in any ones girlhood
contribute directly to this first impor-
tant individual change. Backgrounds
are most important in this situation
but in America this fact is not SO
clearly recognized. So. this author
moves over into France where back
grounds really become foregrounds
in the momentous matter of matri-
mony. The young French girl has a
mother who IS beautiful and charm
ing, but as impetuous and free as a
mountain torrent-a de-classed wom-
an, in whom men of intellect and
power find delight and companion
ship. But-marriage-tha is differ
ent in this land of traditional respect
for the family. 1t is in this atmos-
phere, it is in this situation, that the
beautiful and innocent and unrealiz-
ing French girl is brought upon the
subject of her own future. In the
solution Of this problem use is made
OF the different outlook OF the Anglo
Saxon-English and American-upon
this background of marriage. Yet
even here. one feels that the tradition
holds, even though it is not so clearly
sensed and SO openly obeyed as it is
among the French. Even IN England
the romance of the little French girl
is threatened, and in one instance
destroyed, by the mothers black
mark against the immaculate life OF
the girl. A great story, both in pur-
pose and in fulfillment, one, too,
whose implication covers truthfully
much more than the fortunes of THE
Little French Girl"
sAFE G. L RDIN q CHILDREN'S
NERVES. BY James J. Walsh,
MD, ana John A. Foote, MD.
Philadelphia: ]. 3. Lippincott Co
Education is nowadays understood
in part at least, to be both a con-
tinuous and a cooperative process
No longer is il the occupation of a
few scant hours of the day al the
hands of the teacher alone. Rather
does 1t go on all day, all the days,
with parent and teacher, doctor and
nurse directly engaged upon its prob
lens in a partnership of interest and
effort. To this partnership is added
in a secondary sense, many of the
social forces of a day keenly alive
TO the purposes and content of educa- :
ton itself
Again, in this new and wonderful
day, the best Of medical knowledge and
ingenuity and skill is bent upon fore
Stalling disease, upon preventing it.
Again, the time passed out with our
grandmothers when nerves" were a
notion which these sturdy forebears
OF ours looked upon with disdain.
Today nerves are things, as muscles
are, as bones are. with a composition
and nature and functioning OF their
own. Things 10 be recognized and
protected and deferred to with in
telligence and respect.
Upon this foundation the book in
hand is built. 1t is designed as a
handbook for the new partnership
of education. 1t is meant for the
daily use of teachers and parents, of
doctors and nurses. It's subject is the
normal child-not, primarily, for the
one much below or the one much
above the general run. Its special
outlook upon this child is the ner-
vous system with which it deals here
simply and practically, Identifying il
AS a part of the whole child, a part
10 be understood and reckoned with
as an important means of subsequent
normality and well-being. With this
Is its point of attack 1t deals with
foods and recreation, with sleep and
play-these all as elements in d
healthy nervous system. 1t is spe-
cislly helpful on habits and habit
making. In spirit of plain and sane
psychology II deals with fears and
breads and dislikes-that brood Of
evil things capable of rendering a
whole life relatively unhappy and in
efficient. II is a very concrete study
actual children, actual conditions and
facts, actual remedies and under
standings. Just what 1t claims to be.
this is an admirable handbook for
lllG pain uses OI tOuCdllOll-
OUR PRESIDENTS. BY James Nor
gan. New York: The Macmillan
Company.
Here is moving picture worth
While. Across the screen our %
Presidents move in succession, each
the center of a scene-or at the
most two-that projects the outstand-
ing facts of his administrative serv-
i've. sketched against the back ground
of his birth and early life, and the
events leading to his achievement
of the presidency. The whole is then
interpreted as a part of the political
history of this country, as a part OF
its general progress toward the pres
ent. This admirable work of con-
densation around each, and all, of
these central figures portrays our
political history as a living and con-
tinuous line of life itself, quickly
responsive to the changes of it's en-
vironment. an adaptable and efficient
medium of our political faith ex-
pressed in the terms Of these men
of the presidency. A very desira bic
book for the purpose OF n passing
illumination upon the facts of his
tory that are less open in their dis
closures, that arc less personal and
objective in their contact.
KEEPING; THE PEACE. BY Gouver-
neur Morris, author OF THE Wild
Goose" etc. New York: Charles
Scribner'S Sons.
We women are going to deny the
substance of this book, with sin
gle voice." as the orators say. And
that voice is going to carry upon 1t
the rough edges of anger. We are
going to condemn the author for a
half knowledge more mischievous
than stark ignorance itself. We are
going to despise him because-well,
just because. Broadly, this is the
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