Evening star., 1926-10-02
THE LIBRARY TABLE
By the BOokLorer.

It is not often that we find sympa-
thetic criticism and attempt at inter-
probation of Christian Science by one
who is not an adherent of that falth.
That however, is what we nave III
"Christian Science: An Examination
of the Religion of Health" by the late
Sir William Barrett. Left unfinished
at the authors death, this little book
has been completed by his sister. Rosa
NJ. Barrett who points out that most
books on Christian Science are "either
hotly for or against its teachings, but
that this aims to be q diSpasSlonate
examination of the subject from a
definitely Christian point OF view. Inc
authors are warm in their tributes 10
the influence of the faith: IF Chris
tian Scientists can at all times keep
serene, sunny. embarrassed and con
tented, most of us could learn from
them with advantage. They
are a rebuke and a model to most pro-
Tossing Christians" They also quote
with approval from William James,
who called Christian Science the re-
ligion of healthy -mindedness.
After discussing the philosophical.
religious and therapeutic aspects or
Christian. Science, Mrs. Eddy's life
story, her relations with =. p. Qutmby,
the literature and growth of Christian
Science, the authors make comparisons
with mind healing. faith healing and
suggestive treatment, and In a fnal
chapter attempt an explanation OF
Christian Science. They concede that
cures. often of a very remarkable
character, are effected. The marvel
GUS improvement In the general health
of persons who have become adher-
ents of this faith is unquestionable.
They give competent medical author
ity that Christian Science is capable
of improving the symptoms even when
serious anatomical changes are pres
ent.' In trying to find the probable
explanation the authors point out that
the system consists in getting its
adherents to become possessed with
the one idea that all is spirit, and that
spirit cannot suffer. Illogical as is
this conclusion. 1t suffices.' This
process, the authors claim, belongs Ito
the region beneath the threshold of
consciousness--the subliminal region"
that is, the realm of suggestion,
They therefore conclude. 1T is the op-
Grafton of this principle of suggestion
that underlies the cures wrought by
Christian Science, by the mind cure
and by the faith cure"
X X x
Stories of the London slums. some
what highly colored-but who shall
say nnatural?-compose the last
volume of Thomas Burke, who has
already made reputation by his
LimehouSe tales. The title, East of
Mansion House." indicates the section
of London forming the backgrounds.
AS in Mr.. Burke's previous volumes.
the Chinese quarter is 81 center of
especial interest, and one Of the best
stories is "The Dream Of All Lun."
In this the character Of Quong Lee,
introduced in "The Wind and the
Rain," The Song Book of Quong
Lee" and "Limehouse Nights" again
appears as the friend of the homesick
All Lum, dreaming Of his native
China. Other stories are white
Wings" THE Tablets of the House
of Lii 1.-THE Pash." Crash" and
adventure" All are dramatic. full
OF sentiment, even Sentlmentality;
good in character drawing and espe-
cially vivid in atmosphere. Several
are equal to the best in "Limehouse
Nights
An interesting experiment in hiog-
d. c. Somerwell. The author calls
this interpretive study of two rival
political heroes "a biographical
sketch" He does not, claim original
ity for his work. but frankly states
that his material is practically all
drawn from John Morley's great life
of Gladstone and from Moneypenny
and Buckles even more extensive life
of Disrael. The author says that the
I Of = h@
1000 pages of Morley's Gladstone"
with a very distinct impression that
Gladstone was the greatest of Vic
torian statesmen and that Disraeli was
really a rather mischievous politician
But he also confesseS that n reading
Of the Moneypenny and Buckles 5000
pages about Disraeli gives one an
equally distinct impression that Dis
raeli was the greatest of Victorian
statesmen and that Gladstone was
really rather mischievous politician"
Both of these impressions are not in
accord with the sum total of the facts.
hence this book. Clear, shreWd and
entertaining, the author preserves an
even hand, at the same time painting
a sharp contrast, in that Gladstone
always thought of politics in terms of
morals, whereas with Disraeli politi-
cal issues were matters of opinion.
The author says that he concluded
his book, as he started it, with a Genu-
inc admiration-in fact a kind of af-
fection-for both his heroes.
x x X X
Again leaving his favorite Dart
moor, Eden Phillpotts makes a vov-
age to Greece of the ancients in his
two novelettes, "Circes Island" and
1.-THE Girl and the Faun." In the first
story the Greek enchantress, whom
Milton represents as mother OF his
Comus, is revealed in her sinister
island home, surrounded by her trans
formed guests. Among them are a
merchant who has become q spider. a
corsair now tiger and a schoolmas-
ter turned into a kangaroo. OdysseuS
arrives, and, as in orthodox classical
story, reSiStS the magic of Circe. A
fantastic tale of a boy, Amphion, and
a benevolent serpent, Simo, forms the
greater part of the novelette,. "The
Girl and the Faun" tells of the hope
less love of a faun, son of Pan, for a
human shepherdess. The faun petit
tions his father to turn him into a
mortal in order than he may succeed
in his love. Unable to shuttle off his
immortality, he consoles himself by
later falling in love with the grand
daughter of his first love.
x X X
Regrets over incomplete literary
careers are, Of course, always futile.
The destiny which ends q life is mex
orable. Also the wisest prophet can
never tell what would have followed if
life had been prolonged. We feel
fairly sure that Weir of Hermiston"
| would have been Stevenson's best
work if it had been completed. but we
have no evidence that Shelley and
Keats would have written greater