Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-24
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
BOLIVAR: The Liberaotr. Michel Vau-
caire. Translated by Margaret Reed.
Hougl1ton MINI Co.
/. C.. M.

|
BOLIVAR: The Liberaotr. Michel vau-
caire. Translated by Margaret Reed.
Houghton MINI Co.
But a question of time when the two
continents OF the Western Hemisphere
should come together. Their place.
were other reasons. Yet the process of
union has been q slow one. Origins are
deep-seated influences In the life of
nation, family, individual. So, as mat.
ter OF course, the lower continent homed
across the sea to its Latin forbears for
direction and pattern. The upper one,
in an equal instinct, crossed to its
Nordic ancestors for the shaping
measures OF existence. Then came the
Exploration. discovery, trade, business
enterprise, the requirement Of each for
the. natural esource of the other.
Travel set In from north to south and
back again. Art-literature and music
drifted northward. Then, only a few
years ago, there came into active being
the Pan-American Union, formal recog-
milton OF h common need for an in
strument of association in trade and
commerce, in diplomatic intercourse
equitable for all, in friendly accommo-
cations for a wide variety of questions
Inc demands. The Pan-American Is
the active Observation-Disclosures. intelli-
gent, persuasive, convincing-of oficial
intercourse between the two continents.
1t Is in large measure by the energy
and initiative of this union that there
has grown up In the United States a
general interest in all important
aspects Of the great continent to the
south. History, biography. novels, music.
are the most common means Of meeting
such interest.
In hand Is one Of the responses to
such an awakening concern. Biography
that reads like romantic adventure.
Here Is the story Of Simon Bolivar.
ON the 9th of August, 1915, Bolivar
: entered Caracas" I'm the market place
the notables Of the town welcomed
of 'Libertador.'" But that is we'll along
] in the career of this heroic native of
South America. Quite 80 years old
{ when this honor came to him. Before
that he had frothed and fumed over the
yoke Of Spain upon South America
A young elegant of high birth, preach
ing equality and freedom as. at that
time, many another youth was doing
under the stir Of revolutionary France.
| With France and Spain at war under
| the lead of Napoleon, this seemed to be
the day of all days for South America
to step free from the manifest tyranny
Of the mother country. So Bolivar be-
took himself home again to his native
| Caracas. Michel Vaucaire here tells OF
his achievements as leader in the war
Of liberation. High courage. impetuous
action. guided by clear vision and
/ prompt decision-thsse are the qualities
of Bolivar. And it is Upon these that
NJ. Vsucsire defines the moments OF
| critical rebellion by way of which the
Liberator secured independence for q
large part of South America. The man
ner of the story fits the man behind 1t.
A swift story, impulsive in its advance.
dramatic in its moments of triumph or
defeat. A picturesque story. No other
sort would do at all for this particular
hero. Almost spectacular. because Boil
var himself wa certainly that, the
record makes a quite perfect tally with
the individuality Of "El Libertador.'
Finely competent artistry. An engross-
ing chapter of the earlier South Ameri-
can history by wsy Of one OF its most
commanding heroes and adventurers
X 4 4 x
A MAN FOR A. THAT. Story of Rob-
ert Burns. Charles Finger. The
Stratford Co.
Two characteristics set this story Of
Y D'iIlIS Out 1IOAlI "a AkAiRNAASSA AoASSS
of current publications. One is the oc-
casion that produced it. The other is
the essence and name OF he story
itself. The first of these is applicable
to more than this single author. II
points upon the day when you, and l.
woke up from dreary routine text book
literature to find standing in h way
a shock of reality. a thrill OF JOY, a
sincerity of promise, a friendliness OF
,.a1a4@AA f~n~, a ndVfain mind nj cnU1n
certain poet. We are Ole that we must
be born again" I don't know what
that means unless it be that our feet
are to be set in new and beautiful
paths along which happy folks are
making their way in pleasant activities
of fellowship-paths on which the sun
shines in an ineffable radiance, paths
that open out into long vistas OF rare
loneliness. Discovering a poet seems TO
me to be in the nature of a new birth.
This is what happened to the writer
Of this book upon his. discovery OF
4 Burns, the Scotsman. To be sure, he
had come upon him before-at school,
where Burns was treated with scant at
tention by timid schoolmasters. The
genius of Burns conceded, there re-
manned h larger matter-the loose
ness of the mans life. Short shrift
for the fellow. and put him in hiding
ILC1C 1C 0NAOAh5o $4,000
self, Charles Finger one day came
upon Burns-met him face to face
out in a field, both lettering along.
They began to talk, as wayfarers will.
They found themselves to be OF one
mind. Oh, no., not along the n that
YOU are thinking-rather they proved
to be of the school Of rebels and reVo-
lutionists! To his surprise, Finger found
Burns to be more than a mere libertine,
enerossed in adding to the count Of
unfathered children for the country
side roundabout. He sang for his new
companion some Of his highest and
most stirring of songs in behalf of the
poor and down-trodden, in defiance OF
potentates and powers. 1t was from
this point of understanding and sym
pathy that the writer tells us the story
of Robert Burns, as Robert Burns mas
proved to be to him. An easy, I'M
conventional account, much after the
pattern of the talk itself on that day
when he and the poet met. A COM
plete account withal, but with another
side Of the man turned outward; the
side of the patriot, singing in the
! enormous commonwealth of poverty,
in the vast domain Of the groundlings
of the earth. Paying due attention to
the outline OF fact concerning the poet;
Mr.. Finger, by way OF his individual
approach, succeeds in giving a new pic
ture, a fresh Interpretation of the clear
genius that was Robert Burns. Many
OF the Burns poems stand here as evil
dence-once in o while as alibi in rec
spect to common rumor. New points
OF view are invaluable in a case like
this. And to these MIR. Finger has paid
a fair and wholesome attention. A fine
venture and an equally fine outcome.
\ Il X
YOU CAN'T PRINT THAT. George
Seldes. Payson & Clarke.