Evening star., 1928-05-08

she is. The artist is what he Is. God
made them both, so we are told. and
condemnation would be wholly out Of
place.
But what piece of work here Is!
Economy at its height. The shortest
cut to the end in view. Not line too
many, not single side-stepping toward
inviting and even plausible lure. Here
is a compact of human nature making
Its way through believable circum-
stances and situation. It's externals are
glamorous. seductive. But its tragedy
is Of the clearest of human stuff. / re-
call no other story approaching this in
sheer dramatic content. fitted so power
fully with an exact medium of projec-
tion-save the best OF Mrs. Wharton's
inventions. Ethan Frome."
HIGHLIGHTS OF MANHATTAN.
viii Irwin and z. H. Suydam. The
Century Co.
Where a book contains pictures I
suspect that the majority look at these
before taking up the print itself There
Is lot of the child left In every body
and to this persisting young one the
picture book Is lasting delight. So
here you will doubtless turn your atten-
tion first to Mr.. Suydams sketches OF
some 30-odd 'highlights OF Manhatten. ;"
These are lovely communicable things,
which, quite truthful. nevertheless
soften the hard lines and sharp corners
In which bare truth has the unhappy
fashion OF presenting itself certainly in
life. 1t is. I'm sure. the duty OF art to
offer aSsuagementS TO stark sincerity.
Here, therefore. reality is touched with
fta efsff HE4
melts into a certain charm through the
magic OF properly managed perSpec-
i've: tumble down corners compete tri-
umphantly with raw newneSses-and
the whole becomes kind of enchant-
ment TO the eye for new seeing of the
great city of our pride. 1t Is with such
preparation that one really steps inside
the book, there TO meet Will Irwin, inti-
mate friend, sincere admirer and sort
of inspired guide TO Manhattan.
About everything. so 1t Is said. II in
the eye Of the behoider. In that case.
here Is a behoider who proves his
quality by doing justice to greatly
maligned municipality. New York looks
good 10 VIII Irwin. as 1t should. II
Is In this light that he presents II to
us--that Is, he shows IL from certain
advantage points of view and consider
appreciation that work here. There is
so good a method of disclosure that
simplicity takes the place OF the ordi-
nary confusion that attends seeing
New York" The city opens up mere
historically-~fTomt the Battery, point of
approach, with the first OF the aliens TO
set foot there, with certain relics of
kneir occupancy still to be seen and
placed In the old life OF the place
Then the succeeding waves Of foreign
settlement give way TO their amalgama-
ton, TO the expansion OF the town far
to the north. each migration. so to
speak, leaving landmarks which here
become part OF the picturesque
pageant OF the growing city. till IL has
reached its worldwide distinction OF
being the birthplace of the skyScrsper.
the home of unique architecture whose
bold beauty Is undeniable, however yio-
iently this may be challenged.
BY way of this companionable and
knowing book you here go about the
city In n mood OF new appreciation. OF
new knowledge Wall Street. Broadway,
the melting pot of the poor on the
East Side and the melting pot of the
rich on the West. Harlem over yonder.
Greenwich right here. Great structures
devoted to commerce, industry. finance,
rival In beauty cathedral, church. uni
versity, library.
tremendous press OF human ae-
uvity, an eibowing rabhle Of streets and
structures, all a hopeless bewilderment
TO the average onlooker here under the
hands OF this pair of artists swing into
order and symmetry and into weird
beauty and a deep significance, A book
10 own for long and leisurely compan-
ionship.
OUR AMERICA; A symphony of the
New World Alice Fay, q, p. Put
nam's Sons
Not Walt Whitman. not Edward
Markham. Yet. clearly. the young
woman who wrote Our America" be-
that within 100 pages gathers up the
United States. not only In lines OF es-
sentlnl fact. but In plauSihly derived
implications of fact as we'll
Heie Is a line of hlStory~~the early
settlement of rock -hound coast" The
native Indian tribes living roundabout
and stretching into the far beyond. the
opening of the West. the Spanish oc-
eupation OF the Southwest, the gold
rush to California then on To the Civil
War and after Here certain heroic
nRufes stand out rom one OF another
OF these points Of pioneer expansion.
Or the poem may embrace the nat
ural pageantry OF the land itself the
Eastern seahoard. the Central plain,
great rivers. snow-topped mountains,
painted canyons, glacial lakes, steam
Inc geyaefS, These. all together, are
mArahaled like tramping armies, With
hands and banners, Inspiring all Is the
vision OF America as q land OF promise
The whole Is conceived In spirit of
high patriotism. II Is projected In
songs OF praise, As matter of technle
the medium Ia free verse, authentic
blank verse, rhymed measures OF lyric
quality, Each Is chosen for It's special
htneAs Al this point or at that ane for
the most effective portrayal at this pio-
t,lfe, 0r view, OF reflection, or fact The
author moves from one OF thcSe totms
10 another with equal ease and with,