Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-13
REYIEE.Nl


"H royal octsvo volumes four in
number, representing many years
Of expert research and special treat
~ ment, have just come out into the
open, ready for the use Of students Of
the National Capitals history. In fullneSs Of
consideration, In sheer book bulk. the work
points upon its primary object as a library
reference production. It Is, throughout. PRO-
fusely illustrated with drawings and photo
graphs to objectify further the Illuminating text
itself
The first two volumes concerned with
the history of the city. The other two are
biographical, collection of short and pithy
sketches of hundreds, literally, who, all along
the included reach of 1873 years, have con-
tributed to the genuine substance Of Washing
ton In one another Of the common lines OF
municipal progress. very comprehensive and
cOmpetently projected work of big proportions
The obvious method of production is inter-
eSting. Clearly in preparation, the city was
analyzed for its essential elements of growth
and expansion. These essential parts must then
have been grouped to q co-ordinated and cover
ing view of the whole. Time, for the business
Of writing to begin. Then. from the great
field Of scientists and experts in many lines of
civic enterprise were selected those best quail
fed to re-create in writing the actual birth of
the city, the true story Of its growth up to the
present time. And so, here, one reads Of the
high points of municipal life-government in
Its changing forms, the relation of the city to
Its Federal stepfather, the general quality Of
ITS occupational character, the various mstitn-
tiOns-the press, business in general, education,
religion, society, social welfare undertakings,
finance and banking, the bar legal, and on
to the sum of city interests and enterprises.
Each topic, placed in the hands Of one grounded
in its nature and workings, steps into this or
ganized unit Of investigation q live thing. i'm
mediate and impressive. Names of many scien-
lists of renown, of many city experts. are met
here in ones deeply interested survey of this
clearly great and useful work. John Clagett
Proctor, editor in chief, native son, deeply way
wise to all the turns and moods of Washing
ton, q writer of many years experience and
deepening affection, Of eKacting service besides.
has marshaled these contributors to his service
in spirit Of high enthusiasm, in an issue of
distinct usefulness. To the professional his
tOrian, Edwin Melvin Williams, Is accredited,
not only q good measure of the writing itself,
but to him, besides is granted the evaluating
and proportioning of the whole to secure the
properly balanced view that the great work
projects To Mr.. Williams is due the fine old
setting of the Capital To him, also pictures
OF the Potomac region, the Indian lore of the
locality the pioneers, the political beginnings.
review of the LEnfant plan of building and
on through other points and periods of clear
. historic significance. Local histories are the
engaging business of this writer. Up in New
York, into New England he goes and
otherwhere, rounding into compact historical
units, priceless in value, the loose and vaguely
defined events that are the heart and soul of
these various regions.
Here is q great piece of work for Washing
ton jewellers and for the students of the Fed
eral City. From the second point of view this
Is indeed most important storehouse Of
knowledge for the Nations students to draw
from In the increasingly eager desire to know
more, and then more, about washington every
Americans city. A special point in the general
interest Is that within this work may be found
the full account of this Federal Citys claim
for some partaking, for some constitutionally
recognized partaking in the affairs Of the Ma
ton for which it forms so impressive so beau
tiful, so well conducted and SO intelligent a
background for the Nations legislative work
shop and periodical abiding place.
THE BOOK OF RHODE ISLAND. BY Rhode
Island Conference Of Business Associations
and the State Bureau of Information
seWHAT cheer, netop CfriendDl This is the
hearty and out-stepping "How dc you
do?" of Rhode Island to the wide world And
with it comes handsome book. turned out in
thoroughgomg competent New England FASH
ion to let the rest Of us know that we really
missed something in not having been mothered
by Little Rhody." However, the loss is not
Treparable, since up there the little common
wealth stands in the fun panoply of its powers
natural and developed, for all to see and
maybe, to share. Sometimes, you know, we
rather sniff at business, especially at big BUSH
ness, and lament our Grass" condition, and
wax violent over this commercial day." this
machine age" To be sure, the 'we," so
0Owncast and lamenting is more than likely
TO be Of the tribe Of the unappreciated How
ever. let us get back to this brisk account of
Rhode Island by group of sturdy workers in
every sort Of enterprise, a little part of the
great army Of doors for which we should all
daily thank whatever powers there be, since
these are contributing to general well-being
never known before in the history of the world.
There ! go again. Now do let us get back to