Evening star., 1933-10-25
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
Margayss Cerm0nd.
BEAVER, KINGS AND CABINS. BY
Constance Lindsay Skinner. With
illustrations by w. Langdon kim.
New York: The Macmillan Co

ox1ht tCEt, EA4NNf0 hNO OA6lN6. by
Constance Lindsay Skinner. With
illustrations by w. Langdon kim.
New York: The Macmillan Co.
Every industry In which man is en-
gagged has its background of romance
and adventure. II the histories of all
OF the trades and industries, business
enterprises and professions could be
traced TO their origins and set down in
readable volumes for the edihcation of
and amazing collection of literature
would present an almost limitless array
OF fascinating tales Of the economic de-
velopment Of a civilized nation. Tragedy
as well as triumph would be found in all
OF them. There would be some in which
ugllness would predOminate, and others
which would be classed among the pic
turesque. But no matter in what cate
CORY the nature of their subjects might
cause them to be placed, each one of
them would be found to have its own
particular kind of romance and ad-
venture.
This volume deals with one of the
Oldest and one of the most romantic
industries of the entire North American
continent. 1t Is an authentic history
OF the fur trade, written by a woman
VINO was born on q fur-trading post in
the wilds OF British Columbia, and whose
childhood was spent among the fur
traders and Indians of the surrounding
country. But aside from its historic
value and interest, It Is O fascinating
ana picturesque narrative OF the VOYAGES
and wars. the political intrigues among
european nations and the hardy ad :
venturers who sought claims in the new
hA
because some member of an expedition
seeking gold came into possession Of the
SOFT and silky pelt Of comparatively
small animal.
In the early part Of her story Miss
Skinner says:
The great Empire Builder of this
continent has never received the credit
Que him. Like many of those famous
ones who have flung far the outlines
OF dominion, he is truly social q home
and community builder, a HOMOGENEOUS
husband; and he has planted these
ideals OF his in all the likely creeks of
North America. His name is Beaver.
He founded Canada. He was a
powerful influence in coloninng the
Atlantic Seaboard OF These States, and
ne was leader in the successive great
movements for their westward expan-
sion. He sustained the early explorers.
he capta1ned century of intermittent
warfare between French and English
on this continent"
It Is rather startling to learn that the
codf1sh was actually responsible for the
introduction OF beaver to the white man.
IL Is sale TO reckon that not more than
handful OF people have ever given
thought to the origin Of the fur trade
beyond the fact that the FIRST trading
was done by the American Indians,
FIRST place among fur-bearing animals
was given to beaver by the Indians be-
cause OF the combina ton of snug
warmth, velvet softness and a skin SO
strong that 1t cannot be torn and can
be cut only with a very sharp blade.
From her vast store Of knowledge con-
cernlng the early history of the North
American Continent. 1t is Miss SINNERS
oelief that the first white man to re-
ceive fur from an Indian was a dry
cod Usher, whose shiny, keen knife at
t[acteo q native and caused him to
oner beaver pelt in trade for it.
Miss SINNERS history begins with the
discovery Of the st. Lawrence River by
Cartier In 1884, and carries her nara !.
tive from the early French cod fishers
on the banks Of Newfoundland through
the entire romantic and adventurous
development Of the industry to its status
IN the present day. Her material has
been drawn from early and little known
records. and this story of the close re-
iationship between the unsuspecting
beaver. the kings Of mighty nations and
the cabins OF those who have developed
one OF the largest industries in the
world is the most comprehensive and
picturesque narrative on this subject
that has yet been written.
The true historian is one who can
make live again the events of the long
dead past and this accomplished author
has splendidly succeeded In this
achievement. The volume is consider
ably more than a chronicle of large
industry. 1t Is also a vivid account OF
the early settlement and the century,
by-century growth of the great North
American Continent.
|. Miss Skinner Is already widely known
as a poet, novelist and historian. Her
writings have been translated into Rus
sian. French, Spanish and German, and
are very popular in those countries. At
an age when girls who live in cities are
In high school this young miss was cor
respondent for two newspapers in Brit
ish Columbia and one in Seattle. Also
she had succeeded in securing publica-
ton In an eastern magazine the story of
an exploring trip on which she accom-
panied her father through little known
mountain district She has been a
newspaper reporter in Los Angeles and
Chicago. and she Is q Fellow Of the
Royal Geographical Society and the
American Geographical Society.
The illustrations Of Mr.. kim are very
unusual and attractive.