Evening star., 1933-08-13

-
-Jousney to the western Islands OF Scotland
for example, Is a much more interesting book
for travellers to take to the Highlands Of Scot
land than most Of the hastily put together de-
scripAipe books about that country; and the al
h1xy of his philosophical romance Rasseias
can be applied to almost every one today. Susan
Rrxieg6 novel, Marriage" best-seHer OF 1918,
woald probably appeal to some readers rather
move than the novels OF Sinclair Lewis. William
Goduin's Caleb Williams" lags behind no mod
ern netion in mystery, horror. crime and detee-
tiun, and Horace Walpoles Castle Of Otrant0
cuupaRes favorably with modern wild adventure
tales Marlnwe's 'Tamhurlaine" could not take
the nice Of any recent Broadway tlagi-conedy,
bat Il depicts Savagery equal to that in ONefHs
~Hnpssor Jones" and satism Of different type
but . baneful as that in Mourning Becomes
HeetA>" Robert Greene of Shakespeares period
vTute an autobiographical confession as reveal
he - any scandal biography Of 1888 The pub
fishers announce that the reissue of DR.. Charles
AGackavs book ON Popular Delusions," first
published in 1841 is entirely due to Mr. Baruch.
who mentioned the book in q press interview
y one which had saved him millions of dol
lars" In his foreword, Mr.. Baruch explains
his meaning which should be read in full, but
briefly is that without due recognition Of
crowd thinking (Which often seems crowd-mad-
Dessa our theories cf "-"--"---~ ''o --'''"' to
be desired"
The author CT -. .~-.-- - -s Ct an
greatly interested in moral epidemics," delu-
lions, manias which act whole social groups
much as they do on individuals. but with more
devastating results. He here attempts to show.
by narratives Of remarkable examples, "how
easily the masses have been led astray, and
how initiative and gregarieus men are, even in
taeir infatuations and crimes" When the see
ond edition of his book appeared in 1882 cer-
tain passages concerning religious matters were
dcieted. The present reprint edition follows
the 1852 version, but the publishers have is
sued a separate pamphlet containing the de-
leted material, with page and line references
to the present book, so that the complete text
of the original edition is reprinted The first
chapter describes one Of the greatest financial
manias of history, the Mississippi Scheme and
its author John Law, a Scotsman, a banker
controller general of the finances of France
in l72O Historians have long speculated to
whether he was madman, a knave or sef-de-
ceved At any rate he did not calculate upon
the avaricious frenzy of a whole nation"
The South Sea Bubble, originated by Harley
Earl Of Oxford was begun in III by the forma-
ton Of the South Sea Co., for the purpose OF
restoring the public credit. It ended by nearly
destroying It. Again the people went mad, this
tirne the English fnstead Of the French The
South Sea Co made 13, 80 ,o0e pounds BY the
NATIONAL delusjon The TuHpousani4 began in
1859, when Conrad Gesnr first saw tunp m
garden st Augsburg Germany The OWNER
hid secured his bulbs from q friend IN Con-
ztantinople Tulip bulbs were soon much sought
after by the rich, especially IN Germany sud
Holland, and gambling began in connection with
them The stock -iobbers ever on the alert
for new speculation dealt largely in tulips
making use Of all the means they so well knew
how to employ to cause fluctuations in prices"
OF course the crash came, with heavy losses for
those who had large stocks of tulips on hand
Dr. Mackay also writes Of THE AIchenists," in
cIuding such famous ones IS Avicenna, AbertlE
1T NRr<1ou
Prophecies" such the frequent prophecies OF
the coming of the Day Of Judgment and the
influence Of fortune-teilers, clahvoyants and
zstro3oeers; "The MzgnetHeEs," beginning with
Paracesus; the Influence Of Politics and Re-
hgion on the Hair and Beard. THE Crusades";
THE Witch Mania" not including its American
manifestations; 'Duels and Ordeab"; Relics;
"Hamted HoNsea" and various other minor
crazes A chapter exceedingly applicable to our
present society is that on Popular Admiration
Of Great Thieves" One Is impressed in reading
the book that some popular delusioHs are no
longer prevalent Few people become excited
ever the hnminence Of the theological Day OF
J1dgment Except in primitive connuutftes
a1one people Of low grsde intelligence, belief
In witchcraft seems to be thing Of the past
This probably shows that the cure tor the mad
ne8 Of crowds II education. There II need Iof
thnt edaeation today. especially in eonnectaon
With financial nndne8es and criminal mad
nesses.
THE FIRST WORLD WAR Photographic
History. Edsted with Captions and an In
PRODUCTION by Laurence StaAings New
York: Simon 4 Schuster.
N the publishers forevOrd, M. Lincoln
schuster alludes to the epigrxm that "ene
picture is worth thousand words" and hopes
that this chronoaoGjcal Photographic chronicle
q the World War may be - gpphe aid to
Aisto9y" consideration Of the many hrse
pages Of repFoduced photographs Of war scenes'
With their dramatic and calculating esp
Cons By Mr. StaHings makes We certain that