Evening star., 1932-04-26
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
I. G.. NJ.

1AuSlOI1, eVC. NeH 1OIk. hdI PEI
& Brothers.
War is the subject Of this discussion
Norman Angel has no other theme
War, its causes, its effects, its futility
the necessity for its abolition If tht
world is to survive. Such the body o1
this mans concern, no matter from
how remote an angle of approach he
may present 1t, nor from what varied
lines Of argument he may support anC
maintain it.
The prime purpose Of this study a:
apart from the half-dozen others that
have preceded it is to simplify its con-
tent to the practical uses of John Smith
and his wife Mary. 1t is to iberate
war from the involutions of statecraft
from the cryptic terms of diplomacy
from the generally bewildering per.
formances of international conclaves
1t is to strip it to the bare bones si
fact, to turn it out upon the street fol
the common man to examine in the
simple terms of his own part in it
The part Of John Smith and Mary, his
wife. For, after all, it is John who
does the dying when war comes, Mary
who does the true sorrowing. Straight
talking and no embroidered pretenses
are to be allowed here.
Mr.. Angel says, without the least fear
of dispute, that history, economics, psy-
chology, philosophy, and the rest OF
learning, have become so tied up in
then own abstruce and complicated
phraseology as to be of no use, save
only to the deeply erudite. A mystif-
cation to the commonalty and, in effect
no concern to the average.
Yet, this business of going to war Is
-
of the common man. And so. this
book is reach toward the street Level
from which the ranks are drawn when
the call comes.
Now war Is one of the great CO.
operative enterprises. Selling this truth
or half-truth, Mr.. AngelPs mind turns
to the modern triumph of health over
disease, Of science over superstition
Here he sees an Illuminating analogy
Here gives sharp reminder that not TIL
the people themselves began, even
dlmly, to know the nature of disease
to know that cleanliness and certain
preventive habits against 1t were the
only safeguards to health and life, only
then when the people joined practice
and habit to such knowledge were the
achievements Of modern science for the
health Of the people of their present
force and their promise for the years
to come
In the early days, before science in
tervened, every man might be a carrier
Of pestilence. Only when he learned
the truth of this and trained himself
in accordance with that fact of intelli-
gent union for the safety of all did
health begin to make headway against
disease
Mr.. Angel transfers this notion OF
solidarity for health, spreading from
immediate contacts to the fartbest
reach, to the growing understanding
and solidarity of peoples against the
deadly disease of war. Neighborhoods
unite in all sorts of measures for the
common veal. Counties and States
comDlne in equal purpose and measure.
Inc Federal Union is but a larger unit
IN the general concord Of enlightened
and beneflcent government. The first
real menace to such common equity of
design Is when the long -fostered notion
OF nationalism" comes to the front
Under the specious name of patriot
ISM international rivalries arise, ha-
treds grow, and, in sovereign States.
war becomes a common means of tenn
porary settlement.
There is no trouble at all for .Jobn
and Mary Smith to understand. 50 far
Iney know the amities of neighborhood
NE, OF State unity, of national we'll
oelng And yet, when the borders be-
gin 70 enlarge to consideration, ssy
oI europe, as union of states, a fed
etatlon OF industrial effort, of reason
anie traoe relations, of common enioy-
ment OF the great achievements of each
Ia science, art, hterature-why, then,
grumble, a little, about the Hun or the
Dago or Froggy or imperious John Bull
When, as a matter of fact. an ac-
quaintance with any and all of these
reveals nothing more dangerous than
Sne friend across the lawn or the neigh
DOT over the way. John Smith and
MARY are not wholly free, not vet, from
the lnf1uence Of Jingoism. And II is
exciting to feel that their country could
lick the world. But why should the
world be licked! Why should people in
nlgh places, though still ignorant de-
spite the lift of them, why should thew
quote, ana misquote, wornout wisdom of
other days! For example, why distort
tne warning against "entangling alli-
snces made by Washington for an un-
Ialr use OF the admonition today? II
was ialr warning then when the Colo
easily nave been "entangled" past the
nope OF United States. And there are
many OF these sinister activities against
Gne understanding and good name of
Jonn Smith and Mary Smith. And
IheSe perVerters Of straight thinking are
among the arch enemies of the country
ano OF the world Since, after all n is
Jonn Smith who bulks tremendonsIv
here. e''oouSiy
Here, the sketchiest sort of reference
10 thlS man of great political wisdom
oi true World-mindedness It seems to
me, however, that Mr.. AngelPs aim at
GHls point is to set out, primarily. the
oaslc social rules, principles if vou
please, that direct and control COM
munities toward peaceful and decent
st ana productive living. Then to expand
St eius SET OF principles to larger units
countries of Europe. All. essan+ieii liz
and at bottom, the same. All destinaS
1or the same issue. Therefore. whv not
reach the inevitable outcome thronob
the orderly progression Of life. withn,1t
aCaVlStlc recourse to international CON
nlct! why not choose life rather thor
TO decide Tor world destructionI
\ X
LEE OF VIRGINIA: A Bfopranbr
William E. Brooks. Illustratad -
dlanapolis; The Bobbs- Merrill Co
REVIEWED BY w. G. HANFoRD.
In this most impersonal biopranbv
Brooks presents the military EXPLOITS
OF Lee coupled with the cause and efS
Iect OF the various influences that were
brought to bear upon the man and his
campaigns. Little space is devoted r.. TO
his civil and personal life. w
1t is impossible for a biogranher of
Lee to follow his campaipns v,th
candor and accuracy without bringing
to light the faults and blunders of the
great leader Brooks does not spare his
subject In this respect. In fairness
however, he looks beyond these mis-,
takes and shortcomings to seek the
underlying causes for them.
At no period of the war did Lee
enjoy the complete confidence and sun
port Of Jefferson Davis. Thus we And
that in moments of great stress on the
field Lee was often given to indecision
and uncertainty Of p,ovar,on4 r. -.