Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
REVIEWS OF THE LATE BOOKS
Life of Sir Martin Frobisher, Written by William McFee
The Chesapeake and Potomac Countrywide
Mysteries of Japan.

appearances are considered here-racial
formers and their respective philoso-
phies, wars and rumors of war, the COM
mon ways of life separating the lowly
people from their rulers, the arts of
painting and sculpture and architecture,
the scenery, education, industry and
commercial these and more find
place in this big volume Of experience
and impression.
1t is deeply interesting. Too big,
maybe. Well, all right, 1t is too big.
But open 1t up and begin to go along
with these two, so alert, so interested
In every single thing that comes to
sight-especially is the "Oku-san" quite
carried away with it all. The "Foto-
san" appears to be bit more reserved,
but, then, he Is an educator and this
makes for reticencies and dignities.
I'm sure that the lady wrote the most
of this book, so free and spontaneous
and delighted with Japan. AS said,
just begin here. You'll not stop at
once, not till something else calls with
an imperative snap to 1t. You'll return
TO the reading as soon as possible for 1t
country OF deep interest to the rest of
the world. It is, moreover, an artful
blend of the basic things of japanese
life with the thousand and one ele
ments that give the country so clear a
delight to the rest of the world.
SEEING EGYPT AND THE HOLY
LAND. BY E. M. Newman, author
of Seeing Italy," etc. Illustrated.
New York: Funk e. Wagnalls Co.
HERE is opportunity to hold fast that
IL which as lecture is likely to pass
too swiftly out of mind. For here is
that combination of picture and de-
scription that constitutes the famous
travel talks of Mr.. Newman. Cairo, the
Pyramids of Gizeh, Luxor and Karnak.
Then Palestine, heart of the Holy Land,
rich for all the world in its associa-
tons with the life of Jesus-these are
among the points in this book Of picture
and accompanying word. BY houseboat
down the Nile. by camel across the des-
ert, the stopping places are as numer-
Gus as are the characteristic touches OF
native life that invite the everready
camera of this tndefatigable picture
maker. You have heard this book. no
doubt, and have seen 1t. Yet, here 1t
is in a longer tarrying than mere men,
DRY secures for 1t in the original lee
ture and screen. The three are CAL
culated to supplement and strengthen
one another. To such end this book will
serve an excellent purpose for the many
readers Of travel reports and records.
\ ~ X
FORGOTTEN LADIES. BY Richard
son Wright, author of "Hawkers and
Walkers in Early America" etc.
Illustrated. Philadelphia: J. B. Lip
pincott Co.
ILLUSTRATED by old prints and
L cartoons, here are certain forgotten
ladies whom this author, In chivalrous
mood, seeks to bring back into the open
ways of current life. Listen a minute
to the titles of a few Of the chapters
and to the explanatory lines that ac-
company them. That will be enough to
stir curiosity and desire toward this
lively and captivating revival, reanima-
ton. Here they are, some Of them:
THE Chaste Amazon, Deborah Samp-
son In Trousers Bleeds for Her Country
and Shows Us Conditions the Revolu-
tionary Veteran Found When He Re
turned from the War" Another, "The
Damosel of the Slate Pencil" which In
elaboration turns out to be the story
of an amazing lie that starts riots and
fires and ends up in tremendous COM
motion OF political frenzy. The damo-
sells other name was Maria Monk.
There Is here, too, princess down New
Orleans way, "a savage maid out of
the Court Of Louis XIV, moving toward
a romantic destiny. And so they come,
nine OF them, Americans all. who, un-
der the inspiration of Richardson
Wright's companionship. exercise their
arts OF Requirement in the very sparkle
and sheen Of life itself-the life of the
moment. And, indeed, they comport
themselves much as the women round
about do-setting their caps for the
gallantS with more or less Of subtlety
and art, bedecking themselves in the
frivolities Of the moment, playing the
game Of Egeria to this or that male
notable, reaching, half-heartedly, to-
ward q new freedom" and a 'larger
hfe." Not different, you see, In any
essential. Yes, they do seem different.
One has to admit that. That, however,
is due to the fact that Richardson
Wright has taken them in hand. He
could do the same with the Charming
and notable women of the present If he
only would. Maybe he viii, a hundred
years from now.
X X ~
THIS WAY OUT. BY Philip Littell.
New York: Coward McCann, Inc.
THERE is noticeable movement these
days among novelists back toward
Eden and Adam. Whether or not these
are In retreat before the confusing COM
pick Of modern life one cannot say.
Whether or not the movement is part
OF the familiar tendency to test old
SanctitieS bV new scientific .hyr0fi1eseS
one cannot tell. Nor Is this important.
Enough to know that q goodly number
Of the artists in fiction are on their
way rearward. And some very good
fictive stuff, too, has come from such
retreat. To deal with one man and one
woman and one snake must offer an
inducement that does not exist in a
bedlam Of these three. This Way Out"
is q sample of the exodus from the
present into the past It Is a good
story, its metes and bounds set in a
fair degree Of consistency by the theme
itself. It proceeds by way Of genial
irony, q long way this side the satirical
farce that might be expected from the
subject, not only expected but actually
come upon more than once. So, the
Of competent structure and
q sensitively intelligent seizure Of the
true content of the matter turns the
trick for Philip Littell. author of = This
Way Out" and, at the same time, pro-
vides an hour Of good, Smiling enter
tainment for the rest OF US. The gist
Of this diversion rises out OF the I'M
plication that Adam and Eve and the
snake behave, within their own sphere
Of time and interest, pretty much as
we ourselves do behave with our own