Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-02
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
~ G. M.


Charles Wharton Stork. Little,
/ Brown ~ Co.
Years OF living In China gave rise to
this volume Of wide-spreading informa-
ton upon that country and its people.
The primary purpose of the long resi-
dence In the Orient was that of
geological research and of contributing
aid at the request of the Chinese gov
eminent in organizing an institution
devoted to the promotion Of studies In
science. Such enterprise involved, as
matter Of course, exploration of the
country for the sake of locating its
mines and charting them, of testing
them for extent and content and quality,
for their workability and their promise
to the Industrial future of the Far East.
The volume in hand has relatively
little TO do with mine hunting and
treatment. Such is not its purpose.
Rather is 1t record of general OBJ
Servations made in addition to the duties
OF the particular enterprise in hand.
Along the way 1t would seem that
innumerable points Of value and inter-
est clamored so persistently for word
Of their own that DR.. Anderson, yield
ing. gathered up these insistent de-
mands as q sort of by-product of the
main issue. The whole constitutes, in
the authors approach to his readers,
"a description Of my impressions and
thoughts during ii years In the service
OF the Chinese state. realized that
opportunity was offered me to fulfill a
debt OF gratitude to the great and vener-
able people, among whom felt as II in
a second native land"
The effect of the book, both as a
whole and line by line, Is that of in
timacy, nearness, Of an actual partak-
ing OF the adventure by the reader him.
self. This impression comes, in large
part, from the straight and level outlook
OF this Swedish scholar, from his clear
sympathy also with these working
armies OF plodding people as in an In
finitely patient industry they win scanty
Sustenance from the tiny plots of soil.
There is no looking down on the part
OF this observer. Instead. there is the
straight look across in the true bond of
human fellowship. Such is the spirit
that animates the entire book, carrying
1t over into the enthusiastic acceptance
OF the reader. So, we step out joyously
here with DR.. Anderson, along indiffer-
ent roads, by the waterways, up into
the mountain sections, across into des-
ert areas. And always we are stopping.
This is that kind Of journey, stopping to
see the farmers at their toll or, in little
villages. the craftsmen at their work in
metal or clay or silks, while carriers
Dart mere and there on their own par
tlcular business bent. And at intervals
there are significant pauses for a gath
ering up of innumerable kindred points
into graphic and picturesque wholes. 1t
Is at such moment that there are spread
before the reader the temples of China
with all that these. great and small,
connote in the lives of the people.
Again, at such pause the civil life of
one district or another is portrayed.
The daily habit Is. unyaryingly, set out
In these larger pictures by some simple
incident Of inclusive meaning that typ
Ines the people as whole. Here is.
too, the story, told chiefly by way of in
cident and picture, Of the encroachment
OF the West upon these Orientals.
changing their lives, confusing their
views. disturbing their contentment and
breeding gradually hostility against the
foreign devils" Here are incidents
bearing upon the work of the mission
airy. And. of in the desert. is sketched
view Of "the living Middle Ages"
where life moves exactly as it did more
than 1000 years ago. Coming toward
the present there are vital moments of
revolution and a fallen dynasty. accom-
panied by the confused and bewildered
march toward the nationalism that
sprang into activity through the general
upheaval OF the year 1926. Here are IN
cidents. pictures, impressions. gathered
seemingly at random in the days work.
and then combined and co-ordinated
into wide views of the Chinese people
views that are projected in a spirit Of af-
lection and understanding and appre-
citation. A vivid book that leads one to
the very heart of Chinese life, where the
people are found to be, barring super
OF the world. 1t Is beautifully friendly
gesture toward a great people on the
part OF DR.. Anderson, who loves and
admires China.
THE FAR EAST: A Political and
Diplomatic History. Payson j.
Treat. Phi. D. Harper g. Bros.
"The Far East" is designed to pro-
vide a text book for special students
OF the subject and for those also who,
outside this class, desire capable di-
rection In their reading along any con-
siderable line. To meet such purpose
this book is a fully tested, carefully
authenticated study by an author of
quite special equipment in both scholar
ship and teaching experience The
study is inclusive Of all matters bear
ing vitality upon 1t. It is orderly In
arrangement. 1t Is supported by a
photography designed to invite to fur
Their research and by notes of expla-
and Japan are the countries brought
under scrutiny here. Both Of these are
first set out in their natural outlines
and resources, as these up to certain
point. determine the course of advance
for every land. Time and emphasis
in the study of China are given to the
basic institutions, religion and educa-
ton, in the character of each, its in
fuence, its effect. In. the trade era
that begins with the overland and over
sea competition of Western Europe for
the products of China these funda-
mentals Of religion and education play.
in the long run, an important and
most significant part. For the mis-
sionary as well as the trader took an
early hand in the business Of med
ding and interference. These, both,
bred resentment and, finally, hatred to-,
ward the foreigner. From this period
of disorder leading upon warfare the
cent years when peaceful accommo-
dations were striven for under the
Vaccinations of modern diplomacy.
The problems of this new era are
succintly stated. These are problems
that are yet in process Of solution.
In the study of Japan the author
takes practically the same course, save
that the situation itself differs from
that of the older civilization of the
Chinese. This historical outline in
cludes the dual government set up by
Japan. It examines the early foreign
intercourse of this country and its sub
sequent exclusion Of the foreigner with
the effect of such policy. After the
Of Japan to trade by America
the record moves out into a critical ex-
animation of Japan after its re-eptry
into world affairs Its changes in gov
eminent are weighed in the balance Of
other contemporary civilizations. Its
v,ors ora oifaj ~, fheir reSIiits and its