Evening star., 1927-05-24
NEW BOOKS @A
AT RANDOM
s.lG~
AElE9
l. G.. NJ.

Impossible to pass up the chance
of travel in Spain. Other countries,
for good reason, may be denied, bun
not this one. Forever looking back
ward upon its great and stormy past,
Spain lies in an enchantment of remi.
niscence, softer lure, yet a stronger
one, than any present can produce.
no matter how stupendous this may
be. Over 1t. age by age, lies a parti-
COlored tapestry OF invasion by Visi-
goth and Roman and Moor. And the
face Of the land seems rent and tor
tured even as the people themselves
have been changed and remade by
these moving hosts of war. The old
vicissitous story is spread upon the
mountains and plains and seacoast as
each victorious invasion resulted in
new settlements, in the establishment
of other customs, in novel modes Of
life imposed upon the old ways, before
it. in its turn gave way under strong
er armies. In both body and spirit
Spain is a land of glamour and inVi-
tation. One goes to it again and
again, ] do. /, myself, have ridden
Rosinante for a mile or twain, tilting
with Don QuiXOte at the misdeeds
of a naughty world. I've trailed the
gypsy paths with Borrow, and dug
into musty dungeons with Irving. I've
lounged through "Old Castilian Days"
and no longer than yesterday, or so
it seems to me, ! climbed the Pyre-
nees with Paul Wilstach, and the day
before that dug into the heart of
Spain with Waldo Frank on a quest
for the soul Of that amazing land.
Understand, these adventures of
mine were all of them by way of
the book route. Much to be said for
this surprising way of travel.
Today I'm off for Spain with George
Wharton Edwards. This is, indeed,
q sumptuous adventure. A genuine
artist, distinguished as such, is the
guide. And, like the others with
whom I've gone a-touring in Spain.
he is, too, WayWise traveller, good
loiterer and loafcr, a companionable
man. He is, besides, much of poet.
Drawn up before me is an equipage,
de luxe, exclusive. / wait at its en-
trance to enjoy the outside beauty OF
it. My book carriage is impressive in
size and shape, in LEAKAGE and print.
Against the black cover spreads a
beautiful golden scroll, close and
netted, out of which shines blaZonry
Of title and national insignia. Inside
the book, l do not read-not at once,
for this is a gallery of pictures-half
a hundred beautiful drawings in color
and monotone, which the artist made
in Spain through a year spent in
travel and work there. Here are
cathedral and wall and gate, tower
and bridge and ancient palace, cloister
and garden and fountain. Soft things,
all of them-reminiscent things that
are however quite alive, speaking in
the silvery green of the olive trees, in
the dull browns of mountain barricade,
in the pale yellow Of the plains and
then, at twilight, shimmering in
miracle of amethyst and gold and jade
and violet. A royal picture book, this
one, worthy even of Spain. A book
to be looked at again and again--a
book to be felt and enjoyed and
cherished.
But the volume is not alone little
art gallery to be taken into priced
individual possession. 1t is, in addi-
ton, q story of travel and work and
with these enough of idling to soak
up the essence of the adventure for a
true and ready transmission. And
we go along the ways and byWayS of
Spain, up and down and round about,
with this artist. We sit in at many
an hour of friendly talk with every
sort and condition of Spaniard. Coun.
try roads-bad roads-and city
streets-not very good-all give up
material to this curious and friendly
stranger. AmusementS attract us, so
does the music at the corners or in
the market p1aces--indeed so does
every change that comes along here,
each bearing some new and interest
ing aspect of the country. Once in a
while the artist stops drawing pictures
a,N1 tnI II>f f~ fn1I III
In these pauses he makes interesting
conjectures and summaries and fore
casts about the political situation of
the country-the government, the
king the agitators and revolutionists.
OF the king. set in bit Of Spanish
history, he has friendly things to say.
A sensible man, a courageous person,
a king interested In the well being of
his people, modern man, astute and
politically wise. And in all this or
something else there is rooted deep
in the heart of the Spanish populace
a feeling for kingship that stirs not
at all under the proddings and urgings
of political discontents. However,
this book is no discussion of either
history or politics or any other thing.
Rather is it an artists portrayal of
Spain in its points Of beauty and
glamour, in it's touches of the COM
mon life of the people. A beautiful
book, competent in it's observations
and opinions, as it is skilled and divin.
ing in its artistry. A book to have
and to hold for it's fine excellence
from every point of view.
X 4 X
DELINEATIONs OF AMERICAN
SCENERY AND CHARACTER.
A
& Co.
Just now Audubon Bird Societies
all over the country are Weakening to
their annual activities. And right here
is John James Audubon himself.
travelling throughout the United
States and talking, not always of
birds, to be sure, but talking of the
innumerable things that he saw in
this country as it looked and behaved
100 years ago. or thereabouts. To
know intimately the naturalist who
has done such service in promoting a
knowledge Of our birds, who has in
spired so general an interest in the
study of them, is an impulse as
natural as l. is worthy. Here readers
have the opportunity to get close to
the simplicity and LONELINESS and
warmth of the great Audubon. Along
'he ways VI tHe ploHeer anu tHe au-
Venturer he takes one, along the
paths of the United States, hard to
find, hard and dangerous to travel,
where now highways spread in lines
of swift and easy communication.
Picked up along the way, so to speak,
sketches, incidents, observations,
anecdotes, crowd these pages in an
effect that is remarkably vivid. One
sees these lone trails, one partakes in
these adventures with man and beast
and impossible rivers, swamps and
forests. Among many, many short
sketches here one stands out distinct
ly at the present moment. Audubon
tells of a Mississippi flood-tells of our
Mississippi liood as matter of fact
Certainly, the face of the country now
is radically different from what it was
then. Great cities, wide farming lands, |