Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-03

that before he is the man of learning
and research. The test of the book
in its immediate effect is that this is
not book at ala far journey in
stead to another family of our own
people, of our own country.
NAPOLEON'S LEGION. BY w
Francklyn Paris. New York: Funk
& Wagnalls Co.
TOWARD the end of this book is an
account of the American Society
OF the French Legion of Honor" and
this is followed by Americas roster of
membership therein. The high point
OF the volume to many readers. who
will find deep interest in the list of
Americans so lonored and the causes
for such signal distinction. A long
list, including, not warriors alone but
men useful in peaceful walks as we'll
inventors, scholars. philanthropists, ar
lists, financiers. and others. 1t is this
point of inclusiveness that brings the
average student to the vital matter
that of the origin of the order, an
origin that indicates Napoleon's gifts
for peace as we'll as for war and con-
quest. Wars over, for the time being.
arrived the moment when not only set
Elements but progress as WEI. rust take
the place Of conquest. Napoleon. wise
TO the human heart, placed full value
not only 3Ic- the impulse that pro-
duced good public service but upon the
emblems as well marking that service
so that its wearer stood proclaimed in
the eyes Of men as figure OF substance
and usefulness. SO. this great man
greater in peace than in war as 1t is
coming to be seen-expanded the order
that he had instituted In honor of brave
military leaders and fighters, to take in
leaders in all important walks of life.
And here. complete, is the story of ma
poleon's Legion"-its rise and growth
and expansion, its effect upon patriot
ism and citizenship. its present outlook
and significance. A very valuable line
of vital history is included here in the
story Of the Legion"
THE MURDERS IN SURREY WOOD
BY John Arnold. New York: E. P
Dutton g. Co.
THE title of this mystery tale an
Il nounces its hopeless handicap
Certainly one murder is as much as
can be hunted out with any degree of
certainty, with any degree of interest to
the innocent bystander. TO be sure. We
seem to be at present engaged in some
thing resembling a carnival. carnival
of crime. And this fact, no doubt, led
the author in spirit of realism to pile
one murder on top of another with a
quite too liberal hand. Now it seems
to me that story of crime must have
interludes of activity that are, in outer
seeming at least, quite removed from
any implications of slaughter or other
ul-doing Moderation, the sparing hand.
the power to soothe and set at
ment OF the author of murder stories
as 1t is essential to every other sort
of practitioner Take any profession
music. medicine. law. whatnot-it must
have It's moments Of easement. for the
sake of the public II not for the sake
of the professionals themselves. AS a
structure, as something built-founda-
ton. framework, filling and finish-as
technical fabrication. this story Is
not so bad. Just a single murder, duly
melted and committed. just plausible
amount of false pursuit to be remedieC
and corrected, just clear line of pur.
pose making its way through a les:
dense jungle of circumstance of incpt
and indirect connotation-all this would
have helped the story. and would have
reused the interest and admiration OF
readers. II were John Arnold I'd take
scythe and mower, root digger and
stump exterminator, to clear the ground
somewhat. and then I'd make a real
mystery tale-one that doesn't look
quite 50 much like the slaughterings OF
live stock corral.
IN a recent issue of the Boston Tran
script news item headed, "A Roose-
welt Record" states that three bird
lists of President Roosevelt had brought
at public sale $525. One of these was
made by him In the Adirondacks, one
at oyster Bay, and one in Washington,
D. c. The last was made for Birds
of Washington and Vicinity" written
by L. w. Maynard.
Birds of Washington and Vicinity"
is now out of print, but the Roosevelt
list of the birds of Washington and
roundabout has been reprinted by Mrs.
Maynard and Is now in the city book
shops, ready for the Spring study of
birds Of this locality. 1t Is long list,
more than 80 species represented by it..
Doubtless this list is incomplete.
nave seen OCnerS lnaL nave lOrBOLJen,
says Mr.. Roosevelt in a note to Mrs.
Maynard. He notes the birds that nest
on the White House grounds. OF the
sparrow hawk he wrote. "A pair spent
the last two Winters here; they fed on
sparrows-largely. thank Heaven, on
English sparrows."
Planning q new edition of the Wash
ington bird book, Mrs. Maynard asked
Mr.. Roosevelt for list of the birds
seen by him around the White House
Certainly" was his cordial reply. II
will do better than that. will make
you list of all the birds I remember
to have seen in and around the city"
Adding. you'd better send me a re-
minder may forget" then smilingly,
Send the reminder to Mrs Roosevelt,
or it might get into the waste basket"
The Roosevelt list was dated March
~, 1908. 1t was not used until the
next year, when the President had left
Washington. One bird in the list was
unknown to Mrs. Maynard by its name
there, SO she wrote to Mr.. Roosevelt
asking him IL 1t had another name
The reply, written from the Outlook
Office, came the day he sailed for At
RIGA: Eyes. the bush sparrow Is the
field SnarrnW -