Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-28


Illustrated New York: Harper and
Brothers.
Nv WIEN AMERICA WAS
- n I Young" opens a way for
NV the exercise Of a practice
both useful and interest.
ing. True, "eyes front"
is the proper attitude Of progress.
And the future. to be sure. is the only
remaining work field of man. Yet an
occasional looking backward serves
more than one good end. II re.
emphasizes the continuity or all
growth. 1t reminds one that each or
the splendid achievements OF the
present is sourced in some simple ne
cessity or desire of the past. 1t pro
jects the future in accordance with
the general spirit and purpose OF that
past. 1t discourages erratic depar-
lures from the principles that nave
sustained the growth Of this country.
1t tends to bring caution and modesty
to prophets and seers. 1t brings en-
couragement and is likely to temper
pride. Quite apart also from the use
fulness Of this casting back into the
years of our beginnings. 1t proves TO
be an adventure of many a surprising
turn and fulfillnlent.
Going back to colonial days, this
author sets within them group or
the important interests which, be.
ginning then, struggled and grew
along with the times till today they
serve to knit this great country TO-
gether in the bonds of common In
stitutions and common pursuits. The
newspaper and the school are the
paramount influences of the present.
Therefore, early in this book the
author takes his reader to visit the
colonial editor and the colonial school
master. And with him the reader
goes ajourneying over narrow trails
and rutty roads, gathering glimpses
of colonial houses along the way and
stopping here and there for touches
of the home life Of that day. He
even adventures as far as the "capi-
tai In the woods''-a wild and foolish
and impossible project, that capital.
to the wise men of colonial foresight.
There were pirates in those days.
And here is thrilling chapter or
privateer turned pirate and OF natural
born buccaneers besides. A tragic
chapter tells of the slaughter of our
forests that has been going on now
Tor about 300 years-and with yet no
really effectual measures In operation
for making the only restitution that
can be made in this respect. Indeed,
one of the striking impressions LETT
here Is that in many vital matters
this has been a most prod1gal nation,
whose liabilities so carelessly assumed
will tax the substance of many on
coming generations.
This is not a story book. Mr. Faris
deal Is scrupulously with substantiated
facts throughout, gathering these
from documents and reports OF the
lit 4l. HI CT
But even official reports do some
times take on the appeal of romance
and adventure. They do here. They
open up many an intimate view of
the beginnings of that which is today
the boast of the present as its eX-
elusive possession. For instance, in
Two Centuries of the Post Office"
there is, among much else or keen
interest. the nucleus of our twentieth
century parcel post. And so 1t is In
every line of consideration, that con-
slant linking up between colonial In
terests and enterprises and their
modern successors. None or the OLD
activities appears to have fallen by
the way. unless piracy be counted as
really extinct.
A thoroughly authenticated study,
projected with the effect Of a story,
on a subject of prime Importance to
studious and generally intelligent
Americans.
GIFTS OF SHEBA. By W. l..
George, author of The Second
Blooming" etc. New York: G. p.
Putnams Sons.
A ND the two were made one. This
~ is. therefore. q record of the eX-
pertinent of matrimony based upon
| the ew-fashioned theory of perfect
equality between the two. At least
this is the theory held by the young
wife. In actually, no husband evcI
entertains this theory. however ac'
quiescent he may appear at the begin
nings of the new bondage. And he il
right. since there can be no such
thing as perfect equality between any
| two persons. between any two sets
of conditions. However. equality II
| the blazoned foundation of this ad
venture In marriage. Therefore. the
| novel is q W. L. George study of {
woman who is pioneering for her kin6
| in the field of freedom while her ma
ture is, in secret and to her horror
hugging the chains by which nature
holds her to the business OF keeping
the world going.
l
| outside to this story-no more thar
| might be projected by any average
well.to-do Mr.. and Mrs. Smith oil
| Jones or Brown. 1t is, instead, ar
| uncanny exposure of the deeply hid
den impulses and urges that lie, usual
| " unknown and unsupported, within
| the hearts of all women since these
are dedicated primarily to the contin
uation of human life upon the earth
| JTpon this fundamental design are
| CNerlaid and interviewer maze o.
confused and warning feelings and
needs that work toward the surface
in a bewilderment of contradictions
and denials. The author forced this
disclosure into the story form with
which he was familiar and skillful
In essence. however, it Is a matter 70,
the laboratory and the clinic. Here Is
the gesture Of the investigator. not OF
the romancer. AS to it's truth, let the
women decide. AS to it's purpose, that
clearly is of scientific cast As to Its
effect, there will be none outside the
! ranks of readers and the critics. ar
academic effect alone.
4 4
COUSIN JANE. BY Harry Leor
! Wilson. author of Merton of the
| Movies" etc. New York: Cosmo
politan Book Corporation.
| 4 HUGE fortune of the California
"A brand made. The same fortune
lost. leaving high and dry a palace
| fitted in size and primary intent t.
house a regiment, or royalty, or any
other big demand upon it's spacious
hospitality. In the dry old mansion
the ebbed fortune had left three hui
man relics of the flush old days. 1t i.
| to this house. to these relics. that the
little girl from school. Cousin Jane
| comes to live. For James fortune
also has gone with the rest. The
| story, a long one, engages Itself