Evening star., 1927-12-06
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
I. C.. NJ.
THE STORY OF CHEMISTRY.
Floyd L. Darrow. The Bobbs- -Mer-

rill Co.
Science is learning to talk as the
man in the street talks. Science. be-
sides, is waking not only to its own
intense drama. but waking also to the
sense that this drama is of a kind to
excite tremendous public interest At
its present stage of advance along
these lines, the time is almost at hand
when science. in picture and story.
VIII be running neck-and-neck race
for popularity with wars, murders,
bootlegging and other gangster activi.
ties and. with that special brand of
outlawry which. in the name of civ
ing my own life," is bidding fair to
knock old social safeties into the now
classic cooked hat. And what finely
wholesome triumph it will he when
science wins this race. as it is sure to
do! When that coming time finally
arrives in force, then science in a
thousand wonders of everyday life
will be open to all. No longer the
exclusive pocket piece of the pure re-
searcher and, as such, complete abra.
cadebra to the commonaty Then the
possession of all in certain WAYS. it
will prove to be the most exciting and
rewarding path of pursuit in many
directions. Then it will take it's place.
the prime moving force in education,
in proper correspondence to it's clear
supremacy outside this narrower field.
Then the newspaper, the picture
house and the school will stand to.
gether equal partners in the business
of general education. Authors and
publishers are contributing with com.
potency and enthusiasm to such out.
come. They are helping grandly to
open the world of science to the aver
age run of man. SO today. as never
before, books rich in adventures into
the natural world. rich in its miracles
of exact truth applied to thousand
familiar phases of life, are marching
into the open with banners flying in
greeting to all.
In this procession is '"The Story of
Chemistry" perhaps the most aston.
ishing and dazzling venture that sci
ence has as yet revealed in so many
lines of definite usefulness. The story
DeSlns, as any serious and important
story should, with "Once upon time"
Back 1t goes in a search for the an
cestry of chemistry, for the great
great grandfather that sourced it's be-
ing and set it upon its way. 1t turns
out that alchemy-the now despised
agent of mystic, impostor. dreamer
is the legitimate parent of this science.
1t appears also that the Adam of mod
ern chemistry, its first father, and
rather as well Of the chemist himself.
is the Old Man of the Crucible. the
alchemist. questing happiness for the
world through power to transmute all
baser metals to gold, thereby making
potential Midas of every man. To
laugh at now. this alchemist. Never
theless. out of his groupings and err
rancies rose the spirit of true re-
search. eliminating long after in the
great modern science that is yet only
In Its hrst years of achievement.
The story moves swiftly over into
the field of substantial effort and at.
tainment. Great names marshal here
Elements are discovered Compounds
are analyzed into their parts and
proportions. Underlying principles
come to light. Controlling laws are
formulated. New syntheses are made
in bewildering variety and output.
Another tremendous stride brings the
fabulous adventure into the present
Atoms, electrons, protons become at
least intelligib1e to the average reader
-intelligible and TO degree up-
roofing. Absorbing and fascinating
nevertheless.
The partnership of chemistry and
agriculture Is spread out in it's grow.
ing Importance and significance to the
consumers of the world Chemistry in
it's relation to disease opens a wide
door upon general concern and indi-
5vidual responsibility. It's bearing upon
industry makes of that plain subject
vision of romance itself. So for
ward the amazing chronicle moves
rapid sweep of drama. simple, terse
engrossing-through the domain of
modern life. It's most versatile and pro-
ductive material factor.
Toward the end of the story Mr..
Darrow faces the matter directly upon
Americas part in the future of prac-
tical chemistry where so much for
human we]l.being remains to be done
so much in the way of further re-
search and development. calling for
money in great sums, calling also for
native aptitude and special training
on the part of workers in this field
Such a turning toward this country is.
however. merely as plain statement
of the facts and in no sense a move in
the direction of preachment.
You will do we'll to read late chap
ter of this book first. Chemistry in
the Days Work" Interest is the kew
note of all efforts. This chapter will
certainly stir keen interest Moreover
$50 the. schOOlmen say--interest rises
first to meet the near and tangible
thing. This is chapter of inn
mediacies Of familiar things. From it,
tremendously keyed by it's revealings.
you will race backward 10 it's begin
nings for an account of the whole
amazing business great majority
of books should be read backward.
s- xf< .,,t.ia oh.
ever way you do. you will find engross-
ment stimulation. and instruction in a
story whose vital content is so ade-
quately and authentically and dra-
matically set down here. Great story
compact of the progress of science in
the hands of modern life.
n x X
AN UNMARRIED FATHER. Floyd
Dell. George II. Doran Co.
Let's laugh a bit. As one moves
along through this comedy the laugh
ter, however, proves not to be of the
spontaneous and uproarious sort.
Comic in title-comic. maybe, in pur-
pose. Rather deep.running matter.
though, in its effect. To meet the
purposes of a perfectly legitimate
study of the human. Floyd Dell equips
a father with the sort of parental af
lection that from time out of mind
has been ascribed to mothers alone.
To clarity the situation for definite
and plausible study the author takes
over a case of illegltimacy. The roles
are exchanged here-the mother plays
the mans part, the father assumes
that of the mother. In her accepted
role the mother walks off. just as men
do under the circumstance of unlawful
fatherhood. leaving both progeny and
mother in very bad way indeed.
This girl wants to be an artist, is
going to be one. too; wants to live her
own life and. least of all. wants to
mother a baby of accidental and love-
less origin. So. the baby falls to the
care of one of those convenient institu-