Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-17
IDA GILBERT MYERS.

II INSTITUTIONAL IOTmallly, 10 1ScSSN
for entrance to this schooi-
merely the ability to read. Then, daily,
et door and curb and stand, there
awaits this reader the activities OF the
earth around. Indeed, the private ana
personal behaviors Of the planet ItSen
are made matters OF record also WIEN
these are of malefic effect upon the
human element. A..
The daily lesson Sheet, spreads the
great sum Of all enterprise for every
mans examination and study. worries
and governments, war and peace, politics
and finance, industry and commerce,
religion, the arts, philanthropy, crime
all here In recurrent accountings OF the
visions and dreams, of the Nightmares
and awakenings, that beset peoples and
individuals wherever these are to be
found A mighty agency OF informal IN
struction, the press-practical supple
ing, probably more potent than these.
However, this is another matter. The
prime point here in respect to the news
paper is that to 1t must be accorded the
distinction of being the most efhcient
and adequate school for developing the
art of writing. Here is an institution
that functions day by day, with the
certainty and regularity Of the sun It
self Time Is It's hardest task-rnaster.
sembled, to be organized and projected
in reality, not only Of the special fact
itself but in an actuality of color and
tempo and impact. No leisure here for
recasts, for new polishings, for added
tir1ts and shades. The necessity is to
seize the matter hard, to hold 1t fast,
to deliver 1t in racing action against
the clock. An amazing school, this. And
its graduates, all over the world, are
I'd a. .Iak. T1A~
among the best of the f1ovelists, short
story writer's, critics, essayists, publicists,
economists, biographers, are those who
were trained in the newspaper school.
An interesting trail to pursue, and 1t Is
true trail as you will find. Here Is a
clear case in point:
THE BOOK OF POE: Tales, Criticisms,
Poems. Edited by Addison Hubbard,
dean of the College Of Liberal Arts,
University of North Carolina. In
PRODUCTION by Hervey Allen. author
of "Israfel" New York: Double
day, Doran g. Co.
EDGAR ALLEN POE was, at the out
- set, a newspaper man. Much like
any other young fellow of that tribe
he went out to find news, to shape 1t
events, books to be reviewed, poem
now and then to be run off-sorne-
thing like this was the order of his
reportorial days. But with such tasks
there developed certain theories of
writing in his mind-a philosophy Of
literary structure, theory of compo-
sition, a science Of criticism. Gradu-
ally Poe came to be an editor and q
journalist. A critic of ingenuity and
substance emerged. A surprising writer
of mystery tales put In his appearance.
The poet himself was already in the
open. Much of the work of that pc
Rod was scattered, as newspaper print
ings are sure to be. Some Of it was
forgotten, rlislaid, uncovered. And
by such losses, or delays. the man him
self was, in a measure, hidden away
from full measure Of either appraisal
or appreciation. THE Book Of Poe"
Is aimed at the correction Of this mis-
fortune. Search and research have
brought to light large body of the
Poe output in those days of current
writing Much that is new appears
here. And that which is familiar is
here presented In its true context of
time and achievement. This Is the
prime value Of the book in hand.
Another decided point of value rises
from the fact that here Poe, developing
his theory. say, of criticism. becomes
concrete, takes the actual matter IN
hand. illustrating his thought by way
of this poem or that story. Both
Longfellow and Tennyson are, in their
poems. called to account here in DEM
onstrations of their true genius or, on
the other hand, In proof of certain
failures to make good in the inSpira-
ton aura with which poSterity has pro-
vided them. These are true object
lessons. the positive thing in hand
real, and as a rule, convincing.
Here are the two outstanding values
of THE Book of Poe" Its inclusive
gathering up of many hitherto un-
known parts of Poe's work. It's con-
crete treatment by the poet himself
of the various literary theories either
developed by him or accepted and en-
phaSized by him. Poe Is even yet mis-
understood, The man himself has been
hard to separate from his minor
errancies. Any man Is that, since err
raneies are so much dearer to human
curiosity than Is the ingram Of any
degree of excellence or possible genius
1t seems to me that this admirably
American genius, who has contributed
richly to American letters, will be of
deep interest and value to students
and to readers. That it will be, in
clear measure also, sort Of shining
light now and then to young fellow
who, by the newspaper road, is moving
along toward the supreme art Of ex-
precision by way of words, useful words
and words of magic as well.
At any rate, here is more complete
outlook upon Poe. more intelligent
offering of the man-since 1t gives Poe
himsef-than has ever yet been made.
II X
ISLES OF ROMANCE. BY George
Allan England. Illustrated. New
York: Century Co.
ANY spot, isle or mainland, sea or
"A shore, spells. romance to writer
like this one. For he himself is 70,
mance-young, luSty, seeking and
dreaming-from the moment when he
leaps into this adventure till 1t Is ended
and he is casting about in heart and
spirit for another out-faring of glamour
and promise. Even before one decides
to go along with him, that one has ad-
nitted the special beauty and implica-
ton of the island over the mainland.
So. not much in the way indueement
is needed to complete the getting ready.
No great distances involved here, no
unusual hardships. So, II you are
looking for endurance tests to make
record of, don't come along with us.
Just down Caribbean way, where pirates
have made enchantment of the islands.
and then up to the st. Lawrence where
cooler. and chaster, islands invite to
acquaintance and friendliness. How
ever, It is the man himself who turns
the trick of unalloyed enjoyment here.
Speaking zest-why, Gusto is that
mans real name And within this
flood of genuine partaking we explore
the Dry Tortugas-that scared us so
beautifully under the stories of our
grandfather-and Sable Island and
Isle of Pines, and then on up to the
North and Anticosti. Listen to George
England himself for a minute: These