Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-16
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
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TAFT AND ROOSEVELT: The Init
mate Letters of Archie Butt, Mill
tary Aide. Two Volumes. New
York: Doubleday, Doran & Co.
Letters stand, beyond dispute, as the
most intimate and communicable
means of literary disclosure. So posi-
lively conceded is this that many a
time the formal facts of knowledge
have been cast in sets of correspond
ence to secure its valuable imme-
diacy of approach, its open door to
reader comprehension. To make let
tiers the ideal instrument of convey
ance, however, they must invariably
fTiendliness. Designed primarily. also.
for the use Of those only to whom they
are addressed. Then. If the personal
experiences back Of them are Substan-
tial wide OF application, general in ap-
peal, such letters become valuable,
take on broad relationships, become
true illuminants OF many otherwise OBJ
scured matters Of general moment and
interest
1t is exactly these conditions and
qualities that place these volumes of
intimate letters where they so clearly
belong-in the hands Of readers every
where for a better Unlocking upon two
great men who successfully held the
presidency Of our republican govern
nert. To both Of them Archie Butt
held the ofdcial relation of military
aide. To both of them he paid the
homage Of true admiration and friend
ship. even though they themselves lost
their own fine mutual fealty under the
strain Of political exigency. 1t is easy
to gather something Of the lovable and
loyal quality Of Archie Butt from this
fact of steedfastness toward both. FIRE.
quent illusions are made by him, in
Dassing, to the situation which calls
.nnumerable times upon his true
friendship for both, though the de-
mands of official service set him of,
now on this side and now on that. II
is wholesome experience for any one
to read here of this young fellows up
standing. bipartisan admiration for
both of his chiefs and leaders.
AS matter of course, these letters back
home to Dear Clara" and My Dear
Sister" are made up of the lighter side
Of life in the White House. That is
one OF their high points of interest.
For, to the rank and file of Americans.
The White House" Is the center of
all creation. And so it is in reality.
His House without question. One
to which, some time in his life, he must
make pilgrimage. And that is as it
should be. And he is doing it, too. be-
yond question. You should see him.
Now any one can find out from the
papers what the oficial head of the
Nation and his official family are do
ing Everybody can read there about
domestic and foreign concerns--tariffs
at home and treaties abroad, about the
whole complicated political to-do. But
1t is almost impossible to find out about
the real family in the White House.
To get q look-in upon the man and
his wife. the father and his children,
the breakfasts and the dinners, the
company that comes and what is done
with it, save for Archie Butt telling it
to Dear Clara" Never in the world
could we have seen President Taft
waltzing, all by himself, with "incredi-
BILE lightnesS" and Uncle Joe" Cam
non capering to a photograph in an
interlude to their ponderous political
consultation-eXcept for Archie Butt
enjoying 1t tremendously
Yet, along the way of this letter
writing and quite splendiferouS-l looking
young man there are many wayside
recordings of political significance.
Trouble with oyster Bay" becomes
gradually something Of litany Of lam
entation on the part of the equable and
peace Glowing Taft. The twin refrain
of sadness to this one is that he. Taft,
could not be the new Chief Justice of
the United States Supreme Court But,
Of course, one can't be that and Presi.
dent. too-certainly not. Politicians
Plague Taft Continually" is the por-
tentous and disappearing heading of
one letter to Dear Clara" And we
agree in an equal disapproval. Many
a political secret comes out in confiden-
tial moments with Archie. Taft tells
him what made Roosevelt mad, and
then furious and then aggresSively hos
tile. Then follow the ms and outs, the
ups and downs Of the cleavage of the
two old friends. Taft and Roosevelt.
up to the open declaration of war and
the candidacy Of Roosevelt for the
presidency. And the election of Wood
row Wilson, Roosevelt's plain achieve
ment. oh, there's a lot of politics in
these letters to Clara! Inside politics,
I mean. Don't miss it. This is history
! from the inside, where, as matter of
ancient fact and record, all history Is
made. It is doubtful II real and true
game that elected Wilson can be prop
erly evaluated without this simple
seemingly inconsequential series Of let
tiers back home by Archie Butt. In
this respect, this political inside re-
spect, the book is a revelation. Dis
jointed. as letters would be, yet gath
cred and correlated, Taft and Roose-
welt" is an invaluable political docu
ment, an essential chapter in the his
tory of our Government.
OF inestimable value these letters
Political from many point of intimate
knowledge social from many a point of
| domestic association, friendly and loyal
in the highest degree, Archie Butts
letters are due to take a deservedly
high place in the world Of American
history and letters.
And now let us walk down to that
! simply beautiful memorial in Potomac
Park, Just south OF the White House
only a fountain for the birds OF the
neighborhood. A memorial to Archie
Butt, gallant gentleman, chivalrouS
hero, great mani
QUEEN ANNE'S LACE. Frances Par
kinson Keyes. Horace Liveright
An author setting his story against
the backdrop OF washington social and
official life, pockets advantage, even
before taking pen In hand, for the
II. in addition, the writer has partaken
of that life, share and share alike,
has contributed to 1t besides-why.
then, the winnings are assured, the
venture Is a success. For, say what the
world-weary may about certain savors
of provincialism still lingering round
about, here is the administrative and
executive center of very great coun-
try. beautiful city, also, promising
more of artistic distinction and charm.
more Of intellectual lure. However,
this is something else. For here is
romance with Washington as a back
ground. It's author. one of the way
wise, wife of Senator of the United
States.
Queen Anne's Lace" begins at the
end Begins with a finely impressive