Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03

Cor tho information of readers both general
and academic in cast. In running Co nlleIl1
such is the certain future Oh MY G"P0A A000
In the World War"
If is the TODAY of this great personal record
s,owever that SO deeply imprssseS the American
people The World War is still present present
i'm regrets and sorrows, present in memories
roionant end ineradicable. 1t Is OF To-Day ana
yesterday and the day before that thousands
will read from this chronicle in an aculty OF
personal part king, in true collaboration with
Gen Pershng by way of their own experiences
In that time when the wide world went mao;
The serial publication of this account mas
hroved to be a great gift to the huge body OF
newspaper readers. Every day, Whatever else
came along and in whatever gulse, there was
unfailingly the half hour of frank and free
disclosure from this big American, SO little
concernad with personal effects and so deeply
engrossed in delivering facts and more 1acCS
as these came to the front with the opening OF
zach new situation. Getting acquainted WIN
John Pershing, all of us, by way OF the serlal
story coming to know the leader OF the A. E. r.
over there No single reading In bulk OF the
two heavy volumes, now open to the pubic
could have given to us the intimacy OF friend
Illness the weatherproof character of confidence
engendered in us these regular and shorter
press offerings have done. Now we are ready
for study. for time to be well spent over the
long story
For the book itself is new at hand Two
sizable Volumes done up by the professional
skill of the book craftsman, in substantially OF
build in distinction. of type and arrangement,
OF decoration and binding These all commen-
surate from the artists standpoint with the
special and permanent Importance of the study
as whole.
The substance of this book produces OF its
own accord in the bare statement of facts first
the soldier, John Pershing. Here is courage
not famboyant Certainly not Rather, a
.Johnny-o the-spot courage. Discipline, not
only to a certain mode of life, but to mental
attitudes as well. Silence along with an I'M
questioning subordination to authority.
prompt man. quick in both mental and bodily
responses. man of sagacity, set to hear and
see and act for the thousands dependent upon
him. Such personal emanations drift out from
Ghs book of their own accord, quite apart from
the mere record itself. A trained man. this one,
rising step by step through every grade OF pro-
fesSional advancement.
Out of the story come certain fundamental
facts which, combined stand as sort OF theme
OF thesis upon which these Experiences" rest
IFcr permanency Of effect. The first Of these,
brought out by innumerable items OF proof, is
the unpreparedness OF America for war. Con-
crete evidence Of this stands on many pages OF
this book The next presents picture OF the
american leader waiting for troops and equip
ment but meanwhile preparing by way OF
remarkable general Staf the effective frame
work for military service when finally the
actual American fighters do arrive. Another
high point in the record is the persistence with
which Gen. Pershing held the American troops
together against great pressure to amalgamate
them with French and English units PerSh1ng
knew the value Of kinShip, the kinship of blood
and place and modes Of action. He knew that
thesssstood at the foundation Of high morale, OF
valiant fighting. That was what he knew, and
that, too, was the sole basis Of that which an
English critic has called the Pershing vanity.
Nobody vain here, except the critic, who would
have acted indubitably upon the reason which
he has assigned to another. I think 1t Is the
same man who questioned the proprtety OF Per-
shing'5 open disclosure Of our military unpre-
paredness, right in the face Of a perfectly good
President. official Commander in Chief Of the
Army in time of war. Well, Pershing was right,
Being soldier OF long experience, he knew the
extent of this wellnigh fatal lack. Presidents
come and go. No one Of them can be expected
to master any single special branch Of govern
ment in his brief four or eight years. Probably
Presidents differ from kings in manySparticulars
and therefore are not sensitive TO the release
of pure ceremony when vital matters are urg
ing open disclosure and prompt action.
However-here is a great book for our delib-
crate reading. Here also Is great man and
soldier for US to honor because of his plain and
unpretentious service in our behalf, in behalf Of
the world as well.
THE RECOVERY OF MYSELF. BY Marian
King. New Haven: Yale University Press
7 THINK that you, having read this story, will
agree with me. Here is q Of welnigh
phenomenal courage. To tell Of ones own
lapse in any direction Is unheard Of, or almost
that. Ready and often eager to relate the
errancies OF others, we become cryptic and
Sphinxike and even lying about any snudge
upon our own immaculate posturings and pre-
tensions. But here is q young woman who
went astray in q certain direction. Went quite
uncalculatingy astray when, under pressure OF
work she began the occasional indulgence in a
harmless-appearing drug that did. for the time
being, dismiss WEAKNESS, invite special 1ucidity
of thought; that did weave delightful patterns
to the stories whose writing was her occupa-
ton. Well, 1t grew. The habit grew, as these