Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-21
THEiLIBRARY TABLE

America" by James Truslow Adams
gives the story of the development Of
our country, with emphasis on the
heroic or epic quality and the growth
of American ideals. The author ex-
presses his aim as trying to discover
''how the ordinary American, under
which category most Of us would come
has become what he is today in out
look, character and opinion. Ine
prologue has two parts: Prom Time
fnmemorial," which tells. Of the very
earliest discoveries on the American
continent, chiefly by Spaniards, and OF
the pressure against the native In
dians; and THE Return of QuetZa1-
coatl." which tells of the coming OF
Cortes to Mexico and his identified
ton tv the Indians with the White
Cod. who had, according to Aztec
tradition, disappeared over the sea- tc
the East. The theme of the prologue
seems TO be the early Spanish influence
in America.
The chapters have romantic titles
Men of Destiny" Is devoted to the
English coloniSts and the principles
they brought with them. "a Civfliza-
ton Established" shows how English
ClVuIEaClOn CIluuuPAcu AZ OHO @,S
World. America Secedes From the
Empire" treats the American Revolu-
ton as q secession movement. THE
Nation@ Finds Itself" analyses the Jay
treaty, at the close Of the Revolution
and the Constitution. America Sc
cedes From the Old World" traces the
growth bof national independence
through the period of the extension 81
frontiers through the Lewis and Clark
and other expeditions, the Louisiana
Purchase and the War of 1872. "The
Sun Rises In the West" covers the
movement of population westward, the
growth of industry and inventions and
new methods of transportation. The
North Begins to Hustle" tells Of the de-
velopment of factory industry in the
North and growing antagontsm be-
tween North and South. Manifest
Destiny Lays a Golden Egg" has FOL
It's theme the growth of money-greed
with the gold rush, the increasing
domination of the banks, the occupa-
ton Of Western lands and the an
nexations following the Mexican War
Brothers Blood" discusses causes ano
results Of the Civil War. 1.-THE End Of
the Frontier" shows how the Civil
War ended the pioneer period. Ham
lin Garland. IN his series Of Middle
Border books, comes to many OF the
same conclusions. THE Flag Outrunf
the Constitution" is a crowded chap
ter, as American life had become
crowded: immigration, tariffs decline
of farm prosperity, panics, strikes, free
silver, Imperialism had all become
problems, and the Spanish American
War had forced America into the
Orient. 1.-THE Age of the Dinosaurs
symbolizes the huge corporations as
prehistoric dinosaurs and discusses the
War and the influence Of Roosevelt
Taft and Wilson. America RevisitS
the Old World" is, Of course, the cap
ton for the World War.
II Is In his epilcgue that James Trls-
low Adams elucidates his philosophy Of
what American life should be and it'
failures. and shortcomings. He says
I'VE lave seen the rise of our owr
Nation from q handful of starving
Englishnen in Virginia to q people Q.
10000, 900 made up of all the races o.
the world. The frontier rs al.
ways retreating before us and s-udine
It's influence back among us in raAuen'
waves until almost yesterday. ..
While thus occupied with material ccn-
quest and upbuilding, We did not who'll.
lose the vision of something nobler. Il
we hastened after the pot of gold, VIZ
also saw the rainbow itself, and fell
that 1t promised, as Of old, a hope fol
mankind In the realm Of thought WI
have been practical ana adaptive rather
than original and theoretical, although
IL may Be noted that today we stand
pre- eminent In astronomy. /. II
the intangible realm Of character thert
is no other country that can show II
the past century or more two men o.
greater nobility than washington ant
Lincoln. There are other land
In which life Is easier, more stimu'
lAting, more charming than in raw
America, for America Is still raw anC
unnecessarily so. The barbarian care
lessneSS Of the motoring millions, thu
Uttered roadSides, the use Of our mos
beautiful scenery for the advertising o.
products which should be boycotted fol
that very reason, are but symptoms o.
our slipping down from civilized stand.
ards Of life, as are also our lawlessnes:
and corruption, with the cynical disre'
gard Of them by the public. Blu
there has been also the American
dream, that dream Of q land In which
life should be better and richer anC
fuller for every man, with opportunity
for each according to his ability o.
achievement. 1t has been great
epic and a great dream. What, now, Of
the future? There Is no reason why
wealth, which Is q social product
should not be more eQuitably controlled
and distributed IN the interests of So
ciety. The very foundation o.
richer life for all Is that all, in varying
degrees shall be capable Of wanting Il
share in 1t"
To most readers the present day ir
fiction is more interesting than the
thirteenth century, but after reading
the last novel Of Sigrid Undset, THE
Wild Orchid" many readers will fee
that Her best field Is the thirteenth
century, which she made so alive ir
her trilogy "Kristin Lavransdatter" and
her tetralogy "The Master of Hestvi-
ken" This is not to say that 1.-THE
Wild orchid Is not an interesting
study Of contemporary Norwegian life
but 1t Is merely interesting. It is to be
followed by sequel, to be called THE
Burning Bush" The central character
Paul Selmer, Is the son of parents
divorced when he was IA, and this fac:
influences his youth and young man.
hood unfavorably. His mother, Julie
Selmer, q woman of advanced ideas
rejects conventions. yet holds strict
principles of honor. She is perhaps
somewhat photographed. The grow
ing appeal of Catholicism for Paul
Also reflects Madame Undset's personal
feeling. This novel ends with the out
break Of the World War, and in the
last scene Paul's frivolous, materialfstic
little wife Is frantically boarding all
the food and household supplies she
can gather, while Paul severely re-
nroaches her. We are certain that in
the sequel Paul and Bjorg will separate
(they must, or be completely miserable)
and that Paul will flnd peace and the
solution of the problems which have
tormented his youth in the Catholic
Church. Julie Selmer is q middle-aged
woman, far happier living alone in her
country cottage and going daily to Oslo
a.. lanr hiisinAss than she ever was when