Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-26

the novel 1tSelI Ill pupllC ldFoi
i You recall that, not so long ago.
life" made the dullest OF
reading. Even clear genius could hardly
carry on under such treatment. Inva-
riabiy there was the monotonous time
form,,la-birth. childhood. education
more or less. a career OF sorts, marry
ing. begetting. burying. Oh. dreary
business throughout!
Then on a lucky day some writer,
more likely group OF these, SAID
Lets throw over this dull rigmarolc.
Let's do with these actual men about
whom we are going to write just what
the novelist does with his made-up
man. Well make hero OF each OF
them, setting him down in the midst OF
his own drama he its deriving source
OF action. quality. color. outcome.
This, roughly speaking, Is what they
did. thus gaining over the novel the
point of fact as against that OF fiction:
The new movement accounts IN gooo
measure for the wide and growing pop
ularity of the biography. Not entirely.
though.
Within the past few ycars-say, since
the World Wharf.-The common taste in
heroes has changed. as fashions In
other matters shift. The biographer
has been as keen to sense this new
drift as he has been active to meet 1t.
People generally at the present time
have turned away from war, no matter
how speciously it may be advocated.
The world Is so full of a number of
things. of better things. SO the people
say, that there is neither time nor rea-
son for killing off wicked nations, espe-
cially since the sins OF yesterday may
become the virtues OF tomorrow Sci
ence Is making a brand-new world.
Creation, not destruction. Is the center
Of present interest. The new heroes
ale builders. explorers of industrial in
tent, men whose vision embraces work,
human amelioration. an earned happi-
ness. These are the ones about whom
people nowadays want to read. These
are the ones who give body and spirit
to the new biography. since these de-
fine the hopes of the world. These
have changed the fashion in heroes.
The general Is fading out OF the pic
ture Caparisoned steeds no longer
caracole under the gorgeous and impas-
Sive man on horseback. In his place
are other men. otherwise absorbed
These are building roads and railroads.
canals and bridges: these are exploring
the world for materials of industry:
these are co-ordinating scattered units
into great corporations: these are seiz-
ing the vision of a more useful educa-
ton Men who arc doing the world S
work. This kind of hero. bending TO
the constructive enterprises OF the pres
cnt, coupled with new conception OF
the true intent and spirit OF biography,
constitute the two elements that have
re-Created this form Of writing. pushing
it TO the forefront OF general interest.
x X
VISCOUNT LEVERHULME BY his
Son. Boston; Houghton. Mitilin Co,
over in the west OF England stands
the model village OF Port Sunlight
This is a workingman's village. 1t Is
model in the sense that its design
contributes to the comfort of the work
men living in 1t, that it ministers TO
the sense OF beauty that every one pos
scsSes. that 1t promotes the general
health and wcll-being OF its men.
women and children. Port Sunlight
was built with soap. Yes. / know.
There Is a way among certain people OF
smiling at such origin as this. But.
when YOU stop 10 think Of II. could
there be anything more worth while.
more poetic, even. than this cleansing
agency as the sign. and the substance,
OF a great business that engages count
less people III work that docs not fail,
that provides wages which do not
lapse. that ercircleS the world IN an
activity Of unqualified merit.
This is the story Of y great industry.
Sunlight Soap" 1t is even more
pointedly the story OF the man who
created that industry. leading 1t out OF
the obscurity o: small beginnings up to
its present scope and power. Since a
man Is greater than any. or all. OF his
work. this is properly the story OF the
Levers. father and son. by way Of whom
this gigantic enterprise came into be-
ing Outstanding figures. these. through
out the business world, Work OF the
experimental sor; sets this record on It's
way. Soon. however. the idea or eX-
pansion makes its appearance and De-
comes reality IN explorations that reach
almost throughout the world, THESE
for the purpose OF establishing ne"
plants and securing trade expansions
A strenuous workadav story OF enor-
nous scope and equal success. OF ad-.
ventures many and various, Beyond
this period is that OF Viscount Lever
hulme himself. useful man III politics
and other forms OF public life, All IN
terestinS. The high point OF general
concern however. Is that dealing with
the philosophy of business developed
BY this man and made TO stand as the
sole arbiter OF his business life, While
the whole record Is one OF Splenc!o
movement. OF absorbing interest, II Is
LcvcrhulmeS philosophy OF business
proved and matured. that offers 10 any
business man or woman not ONLY q
guide hut an inspiration rs we'll one
Of the outstanding books "NtSce0n'
Lcverhulmc." whether the reader Is
looking for definite help or Is, instead,
seeking a period Of fascination III the
company ~ a man whose personality.
and powers. and achievements, are OF
the most stirring kind and scope,
A NEW ENGLAND BOYHOOD, BY
Edward Everett, Hale. Fcreword by
Edwin n. Mead Illustrated, Bo$-
ton: Little. Brown s. Co,
MIR. MEADS foreword 20 this ne"
edition OF "A New England BOY
hood" serves 10 set the story down In
the present. where 1t So clearly belongs
by virtue OF its spirit, Of boyhood as
we'll as by reason Of the Older New
England life that II pictures 80 WILDLY
So, under his good ofticeS, the book
takes Its place with ITS actual CO.
tcmporares, the books for boys written
by Mark Twain, HoWclls. Aldrieh, Cof-
fin. Trowbridge Warner and Louisa
Alcotts Little Men" This, MIR Mead
says is the only noteworthy BOOK
about Boston Royhood" What did II
mean"~~Mr Mead talking TO be born
In ls92F 1t meant that James Montoe,
was President OF the United states.
And he goes on to point out the great
men living at that time Thomas JET