Evening star., 1927-09-17
THE LIBRARY TABLE
By the BooklOrer.

Dedicated to f. G. Wells. and
obviously owing debt to the Outline
of History" is Lewis Brownies book
This Believing World" which he de-
scribes as "a simple account of the
great religions of mankind" The
work is divided into eight books.
called, respectively, 'How 1t All Be
gan" How Religion Developed in the
Ancient World What Happened In
India" What Happened in China.
What Happened in Persia" What
Happened in Israel. What Hap
pened in Europe" and What Happen
ed in Arabia" The basis OF re-
ligion among primitive men is seen to
ha fear. In the beginning there was
fear, and fear was in the heart Of
man and fear controlled man. AS
civilization progressed, religions Of
crude animism were replaced by more
idea alistic and spiritual types. often
polythestic and finally monotheistic,
with Christia nifty and Mohammed-
anism.
Book four of This Believing
World" What Happened in China .
is Of especial interest in connection
with what is happening in China to-
day. There are three religions in
China -Confucanism. Taoism and
Buddhism. ConfuCius. Kung-fu-tZe in
Chinese, living in the sixth century
T. c.. the century of Jeremiah and
Ezekiel in Israel. was not the founder.
of a religion. lie was devoted to the
ancient philosophy and ancestor wor-
shin of China and spent his lie In
editing the sacred writings and insist
ing on their authority. his highest
contribution was in the field OF ethics,
and his proverbs are quoted-and IN
the breach, at least. obSerVed-stlll II
TODAY" The founder of Taoism, Lao
TIE. born about 500 B.C.. was quite
different. unlike Confucius, Lao.Tze
could not blandly take the world for
granted, but had to know first who
was granting it, and how and why
His religion is one of passivity. nj
hilism and complete union with Tao.
the Supreme Spirit. "a something un-
differentiated and yet perfect. which
existed before heaven and earth ever
came into being" Buddhism was not
native to China, but was imported
there from India, some time in the sec
ond century Be. The new Buddhism
seems to have had an Irresistible lure
for the people Of China and today
shares with Taoism the allegiance Of
the masses,
Hans Brinker: or the Silver
Skates" has ever since 1865 been one
of the most popular and approved OF
chldren's books. When Mary Mapes
Dodge wrote it she had already pub
lished "lrvington Stories" her first
stories for children. and her publishers
had asked for more tales of the same
fxx,, hsad N
idea of "Hans Brinker" simmering in
her mind, and started out to make it
magazine serial story in response to
the publishers demand. but it grew in
her hands beyond the magazine limits
and became a book. The publisher
was not especially pleased, but took it
because Mrs. Dodge had nothing else
on hand and because he counted on
the popularity of "lrvington Stories
to sell it. 1t Immediately fascinated
both children and parents, and has
sold we'll during all the years since.
When she wrote it Mrs Dodge had
never been in Holland. She had read
with absorbed interest Motley's "Rise
of the Dutch Republic" and the
thought came to her that story of
sturdy Dutch children, which should
weave in as much Dutch history as
the story would carry. would bs an in
teresting thing to write. and would be
helpful TO children. She gathered ma
terial for the story during eight
years. drew upon libraries for books
on Dutch history and customs, col
lected clippings. questioned travellers
from Holland and finally submitted her
story for criticism to two Holiander
friends in New York. Hans Brinker"
was successful not only in the United
States, but also in many foreign coun-
tries, where it went in translations.
Some years after it's first publication
Mrs. Dodge was travelling in Holland
and a Dutch bookseller offered a
Dutch translation of the book to one
OF her party. saying that it was con-
sidered one of the best children s
books.
Among the practitioners of the
idea" novel Virginia Wolf. who is
a daughter of Sir Leslie Stephen, may
be called one of the best or one of
the least tiresome, according to ones
feeling about the type Of fiction she
affects. She has one outstanding
merit which appeals to readers who
prefer more action and fewer ideas:
her novels are all fairly short. Many
who have not the perseverance of DR..
Joseph Collins and could not possibly
read through James Joyce's ULYSSES, -"
even IL it were easily obtainable. have
read Virginia VOLTS Mrs. galloway"
with degree of pleasure in its artis-
tic subtlety. Mrs. VOLTS latest novel,
''To the Lighthouse. is true to ad-
vanCed standards Of the Idea" novel
Events are nothing: thought is every
thing. The first part. The Window" E"
covers two-thirds Of the book, in
which much thinking and talking is
done before window. In the third
part. THE Lighthouse the long
postponed visit to the lighthouse Is
actually accomplished. much as
Browning's "Chide Roland to the
Dark Tower Came" 1t is only in the
second part. Time Passes" that
seemingly important things happen
and their record is compressed into
tabloids and accorded scant space in
the pages Of thoughts For example:
Mr. Ramsay. stumbling along a pas
sage one dark morning. stretched his
arms out. but Mrs. Ramsay having
died rather suddenly the night be.
lore, his arms. though stretched out,
remained empty" Also: "A shell ex-
ploded. Twenty or 80 young men
were blown up in France, among them
Andrew Ramsay, whose death, merci-
tully, was instantaneous"
X X X
Leonard Huxley, son of Thomas
Huxley. apostle of scientific material
ism and cotempOrary of Charles Dar-
win, is the author of recent biog-
raphy, Charles Darwin" Darwin
was born on the same day as Abra-
ham Lincoln, February II, 1SO9--a
great day for both science and polti-
cal history Darwin's grandfather,
Erasmus Darwin. and his father.
Robert Darwin, were both successful
physicians. His mother was the
daughter of Josiah Wedgwood, creator
of Wedswood pottery. General read
ing. studying birds, shooting and put