Evening star., 1926-04-17
By the BookLOUer.


greatest value and condemned as
scandalous Misrepresentation. Col.
House himself has become the subject
of innumerable character sketches,
from thumb-n nail sketches to many
columned articles. The silent, Office
stunning private citizen. the sphinx
Of the Wilson administration. has re-
Vealed himself and has become the
most talked of man Of the moment.
The things that are said about him
have a wide range. He Is almost
historical scholar because of his
sense of the scientific historical
spirit; he is a traitor to the friend
who confided in him his dearest in
terests-the interests of the Nation;
he is the self asserted father of every
thing of importance accomplished by
the Wilson administration: he is the
political theorist who, himself con-
cealed, has loved to work out his
theories through others. With all
these various estimates, some one
should by this time have pointed out
that as a secondary characteristic he
is also the Saint-Simon Of the twen-
tieth century-not a Saint-Simon Of
the salon and the court but a Saint
Simon of the dinner table. the club
house, the hotel corridor, the private
office.
In the pages of this modern Saint
Simon all the personages of the VIII
son administration pass in review and
are commented upon, admiringly or
disapprovingly, benevolently or causti.
cally, with an eye to their elimination
or to their future usefulness. After
his first meeting with Woodrow VII
son he wrote TO his brotherinlaw:
He Is not the biggest man l have
ever met. but he is one of the pleas
antest and I would rather play with
him than any prospective candidate
/ have seen. From what had heard.
] was afraid that he had to have his
hats made to order; but / saw not
the slightest evidence OF it." Bryan
is spoken Of as "a really fine man,
full of democratic simplicity, earnest.
patriotic and of a fervently religious
nature; and Mrs. Bryan is "the salt
of the EARTH" having "all the poise
and good common sense which is lack
ing in her distinguished husband"
OF Won Tirpitz he says in May Of 1914,
HE evidenced a decided dislike for
the British--a dislike that almost
amounted to hatred" That dislike
was nearly ready to manifest itself
in war. Col. Houses impressions
of the Kaiser, In June of 1914. were
mixed-"I found that he had all the
versatility of Roosevelt with some
thing more of charm, something less
of force" Equally interesting are
the comments Of Benjamin Ide
Wheeler on the Kaiser. made to Col.
House before his 1914 peace trip to
Germany. Again there is a COM
parison with Roosevelt He con.
siders them very alike. particularly
in regard to memory and impulsive-
ness, but they are dissimilar inasmuch
as the Kaiser has a religious turn of
mind and Is more cultured in his man
ners." Ambassador Page and Sir Ed
ward Grey appear as almost faultless
In Col. Houses papers. Both did
everything humanity possible to pre-
vent the World War. and when their
efforts were unavailing both played
their parts with unwavering courage
and clearness Of judgment. OF course,
President Wilson is the central figure
of the Intimate Papers and toward
him. in spite of various specific
always one Of admiration.
The second novel written by Sheila
kaye-Smith. published in England in
1909, has recently been published in
America. "Starbrace' is a historical
romance of the eighteenth century.
and estate, has the disadvantage OF
a low-class mother. This heredity
crops out in various undesirable ways
and is responsible for his joining a
band of highwaymen, among whom
he has a degrading and dangerous
career. Compared with Sheila Kaye.
Smiths later novels-'Green Apple
Harvest" Sussex Gorse," Joanna
Golden" and The George and the
Crown''-"Starbrace seems very
weak and imp1ature. The author her.
self says of it in her introduction
that it was written 80 long ago and
by some one who seems almost a
different person from myself"
4 x & 4
A summary of the principal tenets
in the philosophy of William James
has been published in inexpensive
form in the Modern Library, with an
introduction by Horace NJ. Kallen.
The philosophy of William James,
growing from his own experiences
and study Of life. as we'll as from the
reflections of q scholar, has always
had q much wider appeal for practical
humanity than have the PHILOSOPHERS
Of rore purely theoretical thinkers.
AS n young man William James was
a victim of such deep despondency
that it almost reached melancholia.
He writes. II take it that no man is
educated who has never dallied with
the thought of suicide" That his con.
temptation of suicide was more fire.
quent and more serious than mere
"dallying" there Is abundant evidence
From his early despairing view of life
he saved himself by evolving n philos.
ophy which Is a mixture of fundamen-
tai idealism and a consistent regard
for the concrete and the practical. 1t
is a philosophy of hope and courage
which. nevertheless, never attempts
to deny or escape from inevitable re-
alities. His attitude of balance be-
tween the ideal and the real is illus.
trated by his investigations in the
field of psychical research. Though
for years profoundly interested in the
subject and pursuing evidence with
eagerness. he never reached definite
conclusions. He recorded the phenom.
ena which came within his knowledge,
put never felt sure or their signifl-
cance.
!; x !. X
Thomas Mann, one Of the leading
twentieth century German writer's of
fiction, in his novel. Royal High
ness" interprets the psychology Of q
prince whose real loneliness Of soul
is often hedged about and concealed
by the pomp and ceremony Of his Of.
AT.
always on parade; he has no time or
opportunity for a real personal life.
He opens bazaars, addresses organiza.
ton meetings, lays corner stones, rides
in professions and smiles continually
at crowds. He always poses so as to
conceal his withered left hand. His
courtship and marriage to the daugh.
ter of an American millionaire are
conducted by crown officials before
the view of an approving populace
while the two young people acquiesce