Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-08


man you cannot find. He simply is not think
ing about himself. Here are recollections out
of a specially rich season that might please this
day and time. That, in a word, should be let
out into the open. And, in his own inimitable
way, he does that very thing Recalls an hour
with Henry-James a minute with Ellen Terry,
other hours and other minutes with famous
ones, recalls them for the joy and inspiration
of all Of US. And, as I said at the outset Mr..
Graham Robertson is himself the inspiration.
And I do believe do honestly, that, II we
tried, really tried in his open and friendly
spirit, we too might not be so deeply dull as we
at present are. Frozen assets" Is just about
right in more respects than one. Life Was
Worth Living" is high adventure for readers
who are interested in that kind of existence.
SPECIAL HUNGER. BY George ONeil New
York: Horace Liveright
\A/E, the good ones of the earth, have been
w so busy condemning John Keats from
every imaginable point of attack, that the boys
poetry. the mans genius have been lost en-
tirely In our scramble for public Righteousness
past and present. Said perfection being, in
variably, of our own patternings and imposngs.
But, indeed, such zeal in respect to wiping
Keats out for good and all, is not confined
wholly to this specially blameless age. For Lord
Byron did scurrilous stuff in respect to Keats,
both as human being and as inspired genius.
story Of John Keats. At the outset he &C
cords to this poet an actively increasing APP
probation, decided revival Of interest in the
work Of Keats.
Then. step by step, he follows this sensitive,
haunted impractical, impossible fellow Is he
climbs the road before him, or strays from it,
or violently repudiates it. Adolescence and its
following years, still of the adolescent stripe,
manhood which hardly reaches that height, as
manhood counts in o luSty and robust world
A1Aw
cruel handling of one who has but slight no.
ton Of what 1t is about. He can sing. No
body knows what the songs are about, except
him. Not then. He can love- But what man
ever loved wisely? mean, what poet ever
loved wisely?
The point Of this study is that it is fair
estimate Of Keats by fellow craftsman who
knows, at least, some Of the causes of Keats
suffering and agonies of shrinking. It is q
splendid book. First by virtue of its purpose.
Then splendid by its content and the dramatic
impact OF the whole. Its critical estimate OF this
mans poetry Is an outstanding tribute to it. as
it is, also, valuable to readers as an analytical
outlook upon the art Of poetry. But, it is for
the story, after all, that the most Of us will
read. The true story Of John Keats. And
then and then, what will we do to the young
ster across the street, or down the way, who
worries US all with his obnoxious oddities about
making poetry, or writing stories?
THE YORK ROAD. BY Lizette Woodwork
Reese. author of "a Victorian Village" etc.
Illustrations by Richard Bennett. New
York: Farrar & Rinehart.
A MISCELLANY. Poems, pictures, incidents,
~ old episodes lifted out from lavender-all
this on some morning, some sunny morning,
will lead you of into another following Of the
lighter lines Of Paul Wilstach's trail. Balti-
more and roundabout the roadways leading
thereform, the wayfarers upon them, the shade
Of trees. the scent Of gardens these will
invite you out in a pleasant lettering through
q lovely countryside.
reminiscent book. Old places, old liter
allure, old modes Of life, scattered among them
are little scenes vital and vivid Among them.
TOO are lyrics by the author, such as sing In
quiet tones OF day, or season, of time or place.
distinct pleasure from start to finish,
one that goes along with the weeks and weeks
OF soft Autumn glory, taking full possession Of
Maryland and Virginia and nearby right now.
Delicate, sensitive, Illuminating and enjoyable
OIL RUM RIVER. Revelations of Prohibition
Administrator. BY Col. Ira L. Reeves, Lift.
d., LII. ID. Chicago: Thomas L. Rockwell.
COL REEVES was formerly prohibition adj
- ministrator Of the fourth enforcement dis
trict.
This book is, in effect, report to the public
OF his experiences in that official capacity And
this report Is accompanied by opinions drawn
from Its findings and with recommendations In
respect to the subject of prohibition in general.
A steady progression from bad to worse sums
the content Of the disclosure. The rum bucca-
neerS are no more culpable than the lax laws
ana their laXer enforcement. Open violations