Evening star., 1928-06-02

and farming.
Although this Is a column of informal
comment on books and not one in
which books are definitely reviewed, yet
some readers have asked the Booklover
for advice In book reviewing. To all such
IL Is suggested that they read Book
Reviewing" by Wayne Gard. director
OF courses in journalism OF Grinnell
College. which Is one OF the BorZoi
Handbooks Of Journalism, new series
OF handy and instructive manuals. The
author points out that hand In hand
with the great increase in the number
Of books published there has been a
multiplication OF journals devoted ex-
clusively or largely to books and depart
ments In magazines and newspapers,
containing book news and reviews. But
he also says that. although there are
no less than 23l American newspapers
regularly giving space TO the reviewing
Of current books, there has been no
corresponding increase In the number
OF qualified reviewers. This book Is In
tended to help the novice reviewer and
the prospective reviewer and Ii contains
many helpful suggestions 10 that end.
Many OF these suggestions are in the
form OF quotations from the experience
and opinions OF successful reviewers.
The viewpoint OF the London Spectator,
expressed over and over in very similar
language in other extracts quoted, Is
that the essential of a satisfactory
book review Is that 1t should tell what
the book is about and express clear
cut expert opinion on it." The author
warns against the oveYfiowing of super
latives in praising mediocre books. For
example, one critic found during one
recent year reviews had named 1877
novels as 1.-The best of the year." of
which some were pronounced the best
OF the decade and even OF the century,
Another warning is against the over
flowing OF adjectives, such as vivid"
poignant" compelling" etc. My own
pet detestation Is just now the word
"coiorful." Mr.. Cards book reprints
number OF specimen reviews OF various
types and contains lists OF magazines
and OF newspapers Tin cities above l0O.-
900 population) regularly publishing
book reviews.
Those who enjoyed the Life and
Letters OF Walter II. Page" published
I'm 1922, viii not be averse to reading
The Training OF an American: the
Earlier Life and Letters OF Walter II.
rage, 1913" also edited by Burton
j. Hendrick. The preparation OF Walter
Page for his fine contribution to the
World War, as told through these let
ters, is only slightly less interesting than
the story Of his work as Ambassador to
England during the trying period when
the United states was attempting 10
remain neutral TO do justice TO all the
warning powers and TO preserve her own
self-respect.
One who accepts the reasoning of Don
G. SeitZ I'm his book THE Also Rams "
would almost believe that our greatest
statesmen were those who failed to be
Presidents. That some OF the eandi~
dates who missed making the presi-
Dental goal" we're greater than some OF
those who arrived Is generally adj
mitted, but with regard To others mem
toned by Mr.. Seit2 there may be some
doubt. Some OF the also rams" are
william IL. Crawford. Daniel Webster,
Stephen A. Douglas, Aaron Burr, Henry
Clay. John C. Calhoun, Glen. Winfield
Scott, w. II. Seward and w. j. Bryan.
The mythical parents of the at least
semi mythical King Arthur we're made
the subject OF q novel by Warwick
Deeping about 20 years ago, luther
and fsraine" has now been republished.
In IL Mr.. Deeplng idealiaes the char.
actrrs ot Mallory. instead OF ridlculing
them as is the fashion Of John Ers.kine.
uther Pendragon Ii an almost blameless
knight and Igraine IL loyal woman,
Merlin Ia Il plotter, at first OF mischief,
later of peace making Dramatic fights
against pagan invaders, reAcues Of
beautiful maidens and noble sacrifices
by chivalrous knights are the basis Of
lha niok