Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31

,,Iocas a question mark after that which for
many years has stood before the world as
announcement authoritstively closed with
period
r2ouqhlv the question stands: What is the
tradition English certainly in origin, that has
in the United States governed the life OF the
FeDubIic?" This profound and deeply Interest,"
ing book is in sum. search for the tradltlon
of American culture. Is it the Puritan traol-
tion so long boosted as the foundation Of the
life and culture of the Union? No. 1t IS not
the Puritan tr tradition. I'VE hope to show that
the answer to the schoobooks and the news
papers which is generally that 1t is the Puritan
tradition, is both supe. fetal and unhlstorlcal"
PurftaniSm has very little to do with marking
our mentality or giving modes and patterns TO
our thought according to this Triter. We hope
to prove that the real type of thought which
has guided the onward march of American
civilization is older, stronger and broader IN
its reach than English Puritanism ever was"
Something to take hold of here. The study
separated into two parts. surveys in the first
one the various forms of dissent that prevailed
in England off and on from the time of Edward
III Part II begins with New England and its
religious tradition, then moves to the same con-
sideration in the colony of Virginia. Sketched
here is the religious interest Of the Revolution
ary years and again revival OF spiritual con-
Germ after the Civil War. All the various sorts
Of dissent from the accepted religious beliefs
Of the New World are set down in analysis and
summary to the end that these, ALL are off,
shoots of that old English tradition of dissent,
TRaked in English soil itself, and not Puritan
movement. This also was but branch from
the same root A book to be studied, whether
In agreement or denial. most convincing and
scholarly Unlocking upon our American culture
and its true origin
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND YEARS OF ART.
nh CO. ~,
ITO write about hobby-any well-defined,
deep-seated durable hobby-is much more
likely to be fruitful in effects than writing upon
the routine business of life possibly could be.
It implies a free choice with its ready enthu-
siasns it's srdors of voluntary pursuit These,
20 necessary for communicable writing, are
usually absent in the debit and credit records
of making g living, or competency.
zone Hundred Thousand Years of Art gives
color to this assumption. In the between whites
Of work incident to family needs and indulg-
ences, Mr. Morris took up the study of pic
lures and then of other art productions, COL
lecting here and there, ways opened for
such elf-indugence. Years, it appears, went
by in this wayside ayocational pleasure Then,
not so many years ago, Mr. Morris decided to
flowing himself, with the big experience, he
hoped above all else to be able to pour into the
Story something of his own zest of enjoyment.
And here is the story Here, too, is much OF
the fervor of the original undertaking Sedu-
IousIy has the author held himself away from
ponderous implications of learning mvest1ga-
zion research and other such weighty stuff.
JoyousIy does he set out on the long back
ward trail of 100000 years 1t may be twice
or three times that-but never mind! He is
hunting that long-gone time when primitive
man-for the moment fed sheltered and mated
turned, through the deepest of his instincts,
10 give expression to such brief bodily and
emotional well-beng, Any rude tool would do.
ANY rough surface would suffice And there,
Scrawled and meaningless save TO the artist,
was ne himself projected. And there art began.
A hundred thousand years is long journey
TO go. No time to pause for this new artists
story about himself Swiftly the author ad-
vances. He gathers great periods Of art, one
giving way to another under the impulse OF an
ever-expanding and ever-changing civiliza-
ton
Under cover Of something like $4,000 years
we are shown in great movements the art of
Egypt, Greece, Rome, against a background of
the neoli.hic art of Europe An interesting
glimpse of primitive American art is given at
this point. And then the day Of Christian
painting daWns Over the shoulder a glimpse
of China and Japan artistry is caught. Renais-
Sance ART IN Europe sets the next stage IN TINS
advance upon the present The author meets
US today with a study of modern sculpture and
architecture. Architecture, the greatest and
most significant of the arts So say. The
author does not specify in this direction. Then
follows consideration of the home, inside and
out. Domestic architecture as it stands at the
present lime and with it the study of interior
decoration.
A long journey-intcresting and Illuminating
from stalrt to finish. Informed widely and
deeply to the basic facts, Mr.. Morris has a
remarkably well organized view of the subject.
But apart from such knowledge and such good
Structure, the outstanding quality of the study
is the spirit that animates It, robust and COM