Evening star., 1927-05-01
IDA GILBERT MYERS.

New York: Harper & Bros.
HnN March IA, 1S91"--Salvatore
~ Cortesi talking-''11 Italians
were lynched in New Orleans. The
Tribuna, which was then the best
paper in Italy, asked me TO go to
America to report the New Orleans
development" With such introduc-
ton, the author leaps into his story of
journalism and its fine sequence of
friendships. Pausing for a moment in
his ardent reminiscent course, Mr..
Cortesi says: II hope the readers of
these recollections will not consider
that 1 blow my own trumpet too
l. ldly, for as a matter of fact the
journalistic successes l relate were
not to be attributed to any personal
merit of mine, but TO the splendid
news organization of which l have
been a member, one of the best in thu
world--the Associated Press. This
tribute requires mention, since it COW
ers one of the three outstanding merits
of the book as a whole. Here is mani
fest a rarely.appreciative spirit toward
the opportunity that America offered
the young journalist from another
country, coupled with the instructive
Latin desire to express sentiments or
gratitude and graCe-an attitude that,
for our own sake, must be recognized.
Again, the story points, indirectly but
infiuentially. upon journalism as a
profession, thereby standing here IN
the capacity of message and ipsplra'
ton to the thousands of young men
who are turning toward this field Oh
advantage in a tremendously nnpor-
tant period of public affairs. Yet
again. and here most Of all, the book
q a. l. yDI fsnn
whatever his calling or station, loves
intimate approaches and revealing
sidelights upon the great and the near
great. Right here the practiced news
paper man shine in a high, selectiVe
power. His people are OF world size
and pattern, figuring in events OF
equal substance and import. lnterna'
tional politics are projected. wherein
popes and kings and presidents take
part. International juridical delibera-
tions are sketched around some pivotal
world event, and in these famous
Judges and jurists, publicists and
diplomats are the actors.
An Italian, this writer counts ART
music and drama--in his list oil
friendships. So here we come upon
Mascagni, Puccini, Leoncavallo with
their great exponents and interpre
ters. Salvini in his very person
comes out of the drama to meet u.s.
and Sarah Bernhardt, gifted genius
and heroic woman. Caruso, loVable
and great, but not to be understood
fully away from Naples, his breath
of life, appears, singing, along TINS
way. Here are but few in a long,
long line of ages-Theodore
Roosevelt. William Taft, J. Pierpont
a a
all effective, all deeply interesting at
these moments of contact with a
Journalist whose vitality and charm
are surpassed only by the depth OF
his appreciation applied to the calling
of journalism and to the true signifi-
canoe of the press in every aspect
Of public life. A beautiful and serv.
iceable book that bears no relationship
whatever to the familiar 'recolleC-
tons" that are no weightier than
the froth Of plain gossip.
NAPOLEON: The Man of Destiny.
BY Emil Ludwig. Translated by
Eden and Cedar Paul Boni and
Liveright.
THIS author reverses the usual or.
general rule the biographer works
with the outside of his subject, with his
attitude and actions and achievements,
This one, to the contrary, works from
within. In effect he turns Napoleon
inside out, letting the nature of the
man from birth to death explain his
career. Every ambition of the Corsi-
can, every achievement, every disas.
ter, is rooted in the blood and temper
ament of the islander, working out
chiefly from such source to the climax
and cataclysm of his life. From this
approach and this continuation one
follows along here not only with a
better understanding of this man of
destiny than ever before but with an
absorption of interest in him that
never was felt before. More stirring
than any novel could be, this study
has nevertheless all the qualities of
the novel plus the reality of a great
character of history besides. The au.
thor is a genius of sympathetic appre-
citation, of poetic imagination, of his
toric accuracy. of dramatic sense of
proportion. Out of these qualities
working in single blend of inspiration
emerges this splendid drama, novel.
history-what you will-but, in any
choice, there emerges this vital EN-
bodiment of a human being who
played tremendous part in the his.
tory of the world.
THE NEW BOOK OF AMERICAN
SHIPS. BY Capt. Orton p. Jack.
son, u. S. N, and Col. Frank r.
Evans. U. s. M. c. New York:
Frederick A. Stokes Co.
livery sort of American shin man.
ages to find place in this story,
from merchantmen and yacht up to
liner and lightship, and then on to
destroyer and superdreadnaught More
than this, the shipyards where yes.
sells are a-building crowd into the
story. Besides, there are projected
here famous battles by sea, and. in
deed, about every sort of activity that
is af1oat. Clearly, this is book of
useful information. However, this
fact should not dampen the ardor of
your approach, for there is plenty of
play to relieve the tension and to
satisfy those who love the sea for
adventures of the unmartial order
For instance, here is the account of
American yachting for pleasure and
competitive sports; here is the fire.
quent hazard Of the heroes of the
Coast Guard set down in vivid drama.
Seven great sea fights stand out here,
and other sea tragedies as we'll. In
lighter vein is the report on sea ath-
letics, and lighter still is a story of
the pets that form part of the sea
mans life. The United States Naval
Academy has honored place in this
historic outlook, and so. in fact, does
about everything else bearing at all
upon this expansive subject. The
story ends with airships and their