Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12

~ ture stands out inconspicuous. Not
culture, to be sure in its classic
connotation, nor even in agreement
with any norm set on the hither side OF the
classic tradition. Yet, everywhere the world Is
humming with activities whose goal is wider
knowledge better understanding, keener appre-
citation truer Interpretation, mind and heart
more open to beauty in nature beauty in
human life even though 1t be a frustrated and
thwarted life OF the human. The man tribe
is growing its soul.
Today we. the commonalty, struggling
with the alphabet CT that which in some long
future will approach the mellow reality of cul-
ture. Art is the prime medium OF that goal
Music, the drama, painting, sculpture archl-
lecture, literature, all these are in the service
of culture All these are being picked at by
us and paved over without knowledge, without
anything the ardor of greatly desiring to
know. Clubs, leagues, rings, SororitieS, frater-
mites, every whatnot OF association harborS
thousands whose depths of ignorance are almost
glorified by the great urgency Of their zeal to
know, to open themselves toward this realm OF
beauty and satisfaction to the human mind
and heart. Growing SOUL we, the common
atty. Even pretenSe is brought to serve in the
hope that this will in time become reality
Playing at love of art in grand music, or high
poetry or epic drama or divine sculpture or
sublime architecture-just making believe. And,
some time the true love for all this will, maybe,
deluge the soul with the rare usufructs of cul-
ture itself.
Long beginning to very short book notice.
But here is a survey of art in its content and
meaning that is addressed, not to the COM
monaIty, but to the man Of culture himself or
to one well on the way to that delectable goal.
More than 200 authorities are cited here in
proof of the authors thoroughneSS of investi-
cation or in support of his own original re-
search These provide as wen a course of read
ing for those qualified to pursue it.
In this Interpretation Of the meaning Of art
history iS hrOuphf n Phii0cOYhv
psychology of both interpretive and pragmatic
brand Is art essence or is it merely form?
In either case what is its place in the scheme
of human development? How has the art con-
cept changed from age to age and why did
these changes come? Practically for use today,
here is a guide toward good art, away from
the spurious and bad. A scholarly and bril-
liant incentive for the some leagues along
the way toward cultural sense of art. A book
for the lesser one to study book of hope
and promise for the average but desiring one
to look toward for some tomorrow of his adj
vance along this shining road OF art compre-
hension Of its appreciation, Of love for it.
LENIN; GOD OF THE GODDESS By Ferdi-
nand Ossendowski, author of Beasts, Men
and Gods" New York: z. P. Dutton & Co.
A MASTERY work A terrible story. The
career Of Lenin. It's background the driv-
ing power Of 100, 900 900 peasants ensIaved by
utter poverty and ignorance and hatred This
british host to be set free, Socalized commu-
nized. That which had been shaping for CEN
turtles, Lenin was to destroy and make over in
his own lifetime. Not possible except for a
mightier god than little Vladimir UIyanov. But
this is the story. Not so much the story Of q
mans ambition and of amazing persistence and
ingenuity In its pursuit Rather the record Of
some msensate force set to action along mocha
n17ed lines that 1t could neither divert nor re-
tard nor shut Off
commanding study OF character is this
dramatic projection of Lenin. Not much diff
ferent as boy from those around him. But in
that little difference-reServes, reticencies
keeping to himself not playful like other boys
there lay the beginnings of the man who
without resting following IN q cold unhurnan
passion vision that projected only destruction.
oh, yes, after the ruin there was to be a new
creation, fine and fair--that, too, q dream. In
exile, in danger, under suspicion and hatred
at home-yet this machine did not pause in any
one Of its set and ordained activities That is
not till some greater power than Lenin or any
perfected automaton Of action inteTposed. Then
the machine stopped. Then Le1iin became q
dead man, with dead mans impotency.
great story. Not so much that as embodied
set Of facts at whose center living man has
MS small day and his early nightfan. Probably
no other part Of the world Is, Just now and to-
morrow, more interesting, more momentous
than Russia We are indifferent Russia IS
not 50 near. Not 50 far either and the mere
monstrous mass of that human resistance to old
orders and tested ways Is fearsome thing
Beside that it is of absorbing and possessive
interest as mere progression Of human material.
1t is that which We once were They viii be-
come what we are. And we then will have
reached-How wonderful A tremendous drama
History Yes, but read this before it gets to be
history, all locked up In neglected books OF
dead stuff
THE WINDING LANE. BY Philip Gibbs, au-
thor Of The Day After Tomorrow" ETC.
New York: Doubleday, Doran & Co.
ONLY four people really involved in this mat.