Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-02
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
I. G. M.

ouis. Chicago: The A N. Marquis
CO.
Yesterday. September 1, who's Who
in America" had birthday party The
prime feature of the celebration was
the issue of its sixteenth biennial edition
of that familiar volume of Geographic
fact for which this publication has be-
come so we'll known and in so much Of
general demand.
This edition makes big volume.
Two thousand six hundred and twenty
large octave pages, full cloth binding.
A good specimen of substantial book
making. The price is $875.
For ready reference along many
lines who's Who in America" takes
place in the company of cyclopedia, die
tionary, atlas. Business houses, banks,
newspaper departments, both editorial
and reportorial; professional othces, H.
braries, schools, social welfare admins
trative centers and Government bureaus
name some of the avenues by way Of
which this work makes innumerable
contacts and renders service of practical
value Its bid for wide consideration
is that it provides authentic, concise
and directly available Geographic infor-
nation on the achievements and stand
ing of American men and Women-ln
whatever part of the world they may
activity as they have elected to serve.
1t started 80 years ago and more
in 1899 to be exact-this adventure OF
who's Who in America" Started In an
idea-a fugitive one at first no DOUBT
as is every departure from the usual
and conventional AS was Ford'S notion
of horSeless carriage or Langley'S wild
dream of ships sailing the air, or IN
Vulnerable other visions OF lesser in
ventions and devices for general conVen-
fence and use A bit of plain utility,
this who's Who" would be, SO its in
ventor must have thought. A book of
reliable fact about those who have
stepped ahead of their class in various
lines of achievement. Not that this
was to be roster of sheer greatness,
of clear genius. Not at all that. Rather
a brief summary of distinction in any
considerable degree on the part OF men
and women of America.
And so away back in 1899 Who's
Who" got on its way. A little book
then of only about 800 pages, where
now it bulks to more than three times
that number. Looks much like sue
cessful adventure. Since that beginning
the biennial edition has regularly APP
peared. In the interim the book is
busy as the bee with new sketches and
old ones sent to their sources for cor
rection ard general revision, with de-
Lotions for one cause or another, with
reorganization in the interest OF a
snugger packing, with charts and graphs
for striking and useful summaries along
lines of clear significance and imme-
date concern.
For instance, the new issue carries
a study of education as direct equip
ment of those listed here. Twenty
college graduates give at least sugges-
tive value to education as force IN
lines of modern achievement. Impor-
tant sociological factors, as we'll as that
of higher education, are summarized
here in graphs of immediate seizure and
momentouS implication.
At this point it is important to note
that like everything else, who's Who"
is growing. Fields of achievement are
expanding, are changing. That which
a few years ago was outstanding and
notable has moved aside to make way
for a larger conception of the subStan-
tial and of a longer permanence. who's
Who" is rejecting that change, is plac-
ing stress upon the new order. So that,
in general quality, there is clear adj
vance upon the early editions, whose
business it was to reflect a different
day from the present one. Interesting,
this, and very proper. Markedly true,
too, as only a short study of the book
10 years ago and roundabout makes
openly clear. Twenty-nine thousand
seven hundred and four notable, living
Americans find place in this volume,
representatives of vastly larger num-
Der of moderns who are taking hold of
life Justify and successfully under the
new and infinitely complex order of ex-
istence. Primary Who's Who is bent
upon direct usefulness, upon practical
assistance to the business and social
world. incidentally, it is deeply inter-
esting as a reservoir of fact-personal
intimate fact and its innumerable en-
crossing implications.
FRENCH ENGLISH CONVERSATION
FOF TRAVELLERS. BY F. F. Bovet.
GERMAN = ENGLISH CONVERSE
TON FOR TRAVELLERS. BY F. F..
Bovet. Revised by J. Heron Lepper,
B. A. New York: Funk g. Wag-
nails Co.
Generally speaking, our minds have
nowadays gone into retirement while
our bodies are whirled dizzily through
space Going somewhere is the modern
besetment. Travel is the passion of the
hour. Automobile and fast liner and
airship have become the common agents
of daily life. No time for study of the
far places upon which every one is bent.
What the color of the skies. the patterns
of the earth spread by hill and noun
tain, lake and rushing river meadow
and plain, nobody knows. What the
quality of the people-their work, their
dress, their Speech--nobody cares. Just
to go there, to travel, to feel the back
ward rush of space, to sense the swift
changes waiting along the way-all this
is the vital point. All this is to
travel. Arrived, what then2 The mind
of the traveller, laid away in lavender
for so long, is quite unready. Strange
speech, bewildering jargons Of unin-
telligibility, the journey half gone to
smash through the lax laziness of the
untutored mind. Not quite so bad as
that--yet it would be were 1t not for
kindly Providence that has heart for
the linguistic dullard so far away from
home and his easy native way with
words.
such Providence has made for you. In
this particular case it is no more than
two books. Little books to slip into
side pocket or purse. Above all, not to
be packed away into those places
where nothing ever is found. Flexible
books, soft leather for coat, to slide
cozily in beside the cigarette case OF
other minuteby-mtnute need. Good
paper OF the fine and durable sort.
Print, clear and instantly readable.
With these books you may dare Paris
or Berlin France or Germany, with at
least the promise of scaling in fair shape
that terrible barrier of an unknown
tongue.
Not a dictionary. Nothing like that.
Instead, a manual of talk, common talk
such as Is bound to rise at every turn
upon every sort of pressing topic. Take
the trials of the cllStomhouse, for in
stance. Take the cafe with its what
eat eat. and how. Take the shops and