Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-26
by SARAH Q. BOWERMAN
The Matter Of Recovery and Fiat Money.
Several Nezo No7els for the Early
Winter Bookshelf

cedure" gives important sociological conclusions
important to the law-abiding tax-paying citi-
zen, as well as to the criminal and the po-
tentially criminal. The need for reform in the
local jail systems of the country is pointed out.
JONATHAN BISHOP. By Herbert German.
New York: Farrar & Rinehart.
1T IS logical development that Mr. German
] should turn his story telling gift so long
used to advantage in biography, and brought
to a climax in his brilliant biographies of Du-
mas (''The Incredible Marquis') and Mary
Stuart ("The Scottish Queen), to the writ
ing Of fiction. Jonathan Bishop" novel OF
the Franco russian War, the siege of Paris
and the Commune, suggests war painting Of
MeiSsonier or Detaille, or Vernet. Like those
painters Mr.. German has stretched large cam
vas. But beside it he has placed a smaller one,
perhaps similar to one of Boucher, on which he
has depicted the brief infatuation of young JON
athan Bishop OF Cambridge Mass, for Nine.
Zinh the beautiful, equivocal Dutch woman.
IAN agent of the undeclared court espionage
system 1t was her duty to suck secrets from
men who imagined themselves to be clever dip
lomats. She was a cocodette" The final sur
render Of Denyse Zinh to the fanatical Gaul-
tier de Saint-Just. dictator of the Commune,
and his cold and judicial separation of passion
for the woman and passion for the cause pro-
vide one Of the high dramatic moments of the
narrative. Jonathan who has first met Saint.
Just in Hyde Park, also falls under his spell
and is released only when the Commune makes
its last stand in the cemetery Of Pere la Chaise,
and is defeated by MacMahon's government
forces. The character of Saint Just is obviously
drawn from that of Louis Antoine de Saint
just president of the Convention during the
French Revolution, who guillotined in 1904
Jonathan Bishop" is novel with historical
background. rather than historical novel. Mr..
German takes the same liberties with history as
did his literary ancestor, Dumas. The events
of the story take place between July Is, 1870,
and May %, 1871. At the beginning there is
an extravagant costume ball at the court Of
Napoleon III and the Empress Eugene. Then
there is the affair of the vacant throne Of
Spain, for which Germany destines her Prince
Leopold, followed by the insult to the French
Ambassador at the Court Of Prussia and the
declaration of war by Napoleon. The French
troops depart from Paris, news comes Of their
defeat Napoleon and Marshall MacMahon are
held by the enemy Eugene makes romantic
escape, recalling the flight Of Louis XVI and
Marie Antonette to Varennes: Paris is be-
sieged, the war is ended by disastrous treaty.
Then comes the turmoil of the Commune, rev.
olution following upon war like sequential
disease, and q second siege Of Paris. Through
all these turbulent scenes Jonathan Bishop Of
Boston moves with elated excitement, believing
that he is discovering the meaning Of life and
witnessing the advancement of human freedom.
Mr.. German has written both stirring and
thoughtful narrative of a period Of war, unrest,
and temporary chaos-a narrative with especial
significance for us today.
THE LADIES. BY Stanley Hopkins New York:
Harper & Bros.
THE Virginia village Of THE Ladies'" Is SO
wildly pictured by Mrs. Hopkins, who was
born in Stanton, that We can see the struggling
main street, with the old wooden Flood house
at the end, can accompany Capt. Flood (who
almost believes he has been an officer in the
Navy as he picks his way among the fallen
nuts to his chair under the walnut tree and,
II we are victims Of hay fever, shall begin to
sneeze among the rank weeds of the Flood
back yard This Is Mrs. Hopkins first published
novel, but its workmanship is SO mature as to
suggest years Of experience Tt is, like
of Ellen Glasgow's novels story Of ingrow1ng
lives. Sophie Hack, brought with her mother
from Norfolk to live in the two-roomed Office
the captains lot, because did not think
it appropriate that his n1other-in-law
sister-in-law should keep a boarding house,
finds herself with nothing to do and no in
terests and becomes queer" and more queer"