Evening star., 1933-12-17

AMILTON'S life was so dramatic, so
much example of rise to the
heights from the depths, that he is
a tempting subject for biographers.
When Gertrude Atherton first
thought of his literary possibilities.
she tells us in her Adventures of a Novelist, sne
felt that she had discovered valuable mine
and proceeded to write her best novel, The
Conqueror" a novel which has almost the
authority of history. Mr.. Bailey has chosen
an appropriate title for his biography Hamil-
ton was indeed Colossus of his time, an
original genius, the valued support of his chle1,
George Washington, the builder OF fnanclal
system, invincble fighter for an arlstocratlc
form of government, bad man to have 1or
IAN enemy versatile, gifted, volatile. far deeper
than he seemed on the surface. The writings
nof Hamilton himself have been Mr.. Baleys
best source but he has good photography of
other sources documentary and secondary.
From his birth on the island of Nevis in the
West Indies, to Rachael Lavine and James
Hamilton. who because of the unwelcome ex-
istence of Rachaels husband, were unable to
marry to the fatal day of "Weehawken at
seven," Alexander Hamitons life must surely
have been under the guidance of the planets
Mercury and Mars, with Venus occasionally
assisting. Early struggle for an education and
to set his feet upon the first steps of career
did not in any degree age him or lessen his
flaming spirit. Before he was 18 he was writ
ing political pamphlets. and when he was 19
he was captain of artillery in the American
Army His brilliant career is followed by his
biographer, with discrimination and due en-
phasis on the events of most lasting signif-
icance but throughout the personality OF
Hamilton is Of primary concern.
HONEST JOHN ADAMS. BY Gilbert Chinard
Boston: Little Brown & Co.
nBERr CHNARD'S biography of Jeffer-
y fI,a kaUp nta iS
Americanism, as opposed to the popular at
tribution to him of strong French smypathies,
is a scholarly work, of the best of the
Jefferson biographies. This biography OF Jen-
ersons friend and enemy, whose death day was
the same as Jefferson's. July A. 1926, Is as 1alr
and as interesting the earlier work Inc
title is well chosen, for the honesty OF the
Adams family, of which John Adams was the
first DISTINGUISHED member, has become an
axiom American history. John Adams was
egotistical, not easy to get along with, aggres-
sive a nurser of grievances, as James Iruslow
Adams has shown in his Adams Family and
as Prof Chinard develops throughout this
portrait study EmT'h haSis is laid on the anoma-
.lo,ls fact that John Adams, son of farmer
himself farmer of Braintree, Mass was
HTFoprietor. signed the Declaration of In
dependence from Great Britain, but had no
intention of allowing the new country OF the
United states to be 1usd by the asnt;cai al
In foreign relations he was an lsolatlonlst, a
thorough American. In politics, he Scorned
to advance himself by any means except t1. nus
services to his country That was probably
the reason why he was not reelected TO the
presidency The personal character and de-
velopment Of John Adams, from his early Gays
as a revolutionary patriot to his retired old
age at Quincy, are followed oy Frol. Cnharu
with careful regard for authentic RECORDS ana
with balanced Interpretation.
THE TWO FRANKLINS. Fathers of American
Democracy BY Bernard Fay. Boston:
Little, Brown Co.
THERE is certain suitability in the writing
by French historian of the biography of
BENJAMIN Franklin, who spent such an i'm
portant part of his life gentleman of
France, popular in general, society, spoiled by
the ladies, as well as able in diplomacy. This
is the second time that NJ Fay has written OF
of Modern Times" published in 1929 is by
many critics considered the best of the biog-
raphies of Poor Richard" "The Two Frank
Inns" introduces Benjamin Franklin Bache,
grandson Of the great Franklin, son OF his
daughter Sarah. The grandfather comes into
this story only in relation to his grandson.
BENNY Bache the idol of his lonely grass
widow grandmother, first saw his grandfather
.When he was years old and DR.. Franklin dis
embarked at Philadelphia from England, which
had become politically uncomfortable for him.
This was in ITS.
One wonders at first how NJ Fay justif1es his
placing of Benjamin Franklin Bache with his
grandfather as of the fathers of American
democracy, but he explains his thesis If he
does not establish parity In what he calls the
second American revolution. I790-1800, he
finds Benny Bache a leader of liberal thought
During 10 years in Paris with his grandfather,
young Bache absorbed the political and social
philosophy of the rival of Jefferson for the title
of chief philosopher of the Revolutionary period.
He came to believe in the common people as