Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23


the Ruins" etc. New York: Double
day, Doran & Co.
w THAT is t6 coming to pass ds 8
wv largely upon what is goini
on today that Philip Gibb
considers it only the part o.
fair wisdom to gather up the present
in its larger aspects and to make use Of
this as the only dependable promise fol
the next period in human progress
And so in this book Mr.. Gibbs defines
broadly. the greatest of the activities
and influences that are so potently CO.
operating in the creating Of a new
world One by one does he summon
the StupendouS achievements of science
applied to human advance in every de-
partment of human enterprise and eX-
istence. Nothing new. to be sure, about
an accounting of this sort. Nothing
new except that this keen observer and
competent judge simpiif1es his observa-
tons and his corresponding estimates
to the basic simplicity of each subject
that he brings up for examination end
study It is out of such consideration,
SO simple and clear, that the average
reader is helped to throw away all the
cluttering details in which most sub
jects are more or less hidden He Is
helped to clean and straight vision of
the marvelS of the world today. He
sees that the chemist and the physicist,
the man Of science generally, is devot-
ing to human affairs a wealth of dis
covery and application that are abso-
1utely creating a new world. Here is
the dawn of the Air Age" when mar
vels are day by day becoming mere
matters Of course. The outstanding Of
the revelations of science as these be3r
upon our present existence are set down
here in short concise statements which
serve to gather in its best economy
much that We already know as mass
Of unrelated facts. But the purpose of
this book is not to collect facts. Ger
tainiv not It's great purpose is. rather,
to tally the outlook and powers of man,
the average man. with these amazing
instruments which science is discover
ing and fashioning for the average
mans use. And right here is where the
point of the study becomes apparent.
There is clear danger in the situation
OF the present and near future. For
means of mans destruction are being
produced unless man himself makes
something like a corresponding advance
in his own growth and development to-
ward great and greater human powers.
AS matter of fact, man is more or less
static in the midst of so much that is
powerfully dynamic and progressive
This is the point of the study by Mr..
Gibbs, this and certain suggestions, or
opinions, or theories by way of which
our human nature may bestir itself for
the inevitable conflict that must even
tually take place between man and the
forces that he has released In the face
Nf this Soxy i,,et VIA Dc
ing? "BabeS in Toyland" comes near
to describing lis. In the less playful
speech of DR.. Joseph Collins we are, as
a whole, suffering under the malady of
adult infantilism." We are no more
than tremendously entertained-press-
ing buttons, switching in or out, crying
for more wheels and faster ones to spin
under us, stepping on the gas con-
stantly, manipulating steering gear in
cool nonchalance, racing after movies,
clamorlrg for a flight in the air
surely we the commonalty are in the
period Of playtime, juveniles crying for
childish things, while StupendouS
world is in the making to turn upon us,
sooner or later, to know why we have
not grown to its measure by deliberately
putting away childish things. No
greater catastrophe could be conceived
~ PONO VI Alldi1 lllGL VI a WUTlQ
turning in complete destruction upon
the humans that inhabit it, No, moth
ing so dire as this does Mr.. Gibbs
sketch in for our warming. Rather
does he present the indubitable fact
that 1t is time for the human to begin
upon himself for the improvement Of
humanity, for It's safety as we'll. ANY
definite pattern or practical suggestion?
Oh, yes. Jesus Christ. Sympathy. I'M
Outstanding. peace and the pursuits of
peace. A surprising start.
+ X X X
MIRROR OF YOUTH: An Anthology
Of Youth and Out-of-Doors. BY
Marian King. New York: Long
mans, Green & Co.
YOUTH comes singing. It's early
tunes are, like those of tie birds,
no more than natural sounds of sheer
Joy and happy laughter But soon
words creep into the little homemade
melodies. These words are the ancient
lore of childhood garnered throughout
the years. Now here is true song, tune
and words sailing away together. But
IN few years there comes a pause,
silence, as if the caroling children had
come upon an arid one, upon songless
region, destitute of lovely rhyme aud
dancing cadence. That is just what has
happened. Plenty Of songs in the world
to be sure, no end of fine poetry to
stir their hearts. But it is hidden
away in books, or scattered and out o:
hand. Mirror of Youth" is clearly
first aid in such dilemma. Here is a
book Of poetry that is addressed entirely
to youth. Better yet, it is designed
definitely for the use of the young folks
of this immediate and splendid present
1t is meant for the army of aired and
summed and bathed and exercised young
sters who so bless these fine and up
standing days. Here is poetry from
Shakespeare to Sandburg Claimants
for place here need to prove but two
polnts-that their poetry is of the quail
ity and that is fronted s1uarely upon
youth. The book itself, as such, gives
evidence of the authors wide reading
and a worthwhile acquaintance with
poetry. Here, besides, is a clear intell.-
gence, a breadth and certainty of judg-
ment that surmount mere schooling
The fruit of formal schooling, it might
be called. Here. too, is sympathy.
reaching now for the heart and soul Of
youth and again for the pure essence
and content of the poems in hand
Such understanding is, I take it, the
only sympathy worth having. In con-
ception and projection this is mature
work. Yet, the author. or editor, Is a
young woman, young as her readers and
seeming to feel much as they do 50
you see, capable maturity is not always
o matter OF years, rather measure
of the depth and breadth of ones mode
of life, of ones daily living Rightly, 3
Joyous strain supports this book Of
poetry All in all, You can hardly do
better you girl and boy, than to LOOK
at yourselves in this Mirror OF Youth.
X
NEVADA: A Romance OF the West
BY Zane Grey, author of The Rain
bow Rail-" etc. New York: Harper
g. Bros.
LIS name was Jim Lacy, not Ne
vada" But in those days, much