Evening star., 1934-03-25
6Y SARAH @. BOWERMAN
II History of the Veteruns' administrator.
CHiNyrus Bureau Issues Nezc Book.
';Story Of the Stor2as'

of brave bad men, Cap. ThomCs Jones' pirate,
brought the Mayf1oWer into Plymouth harbor
and later died at jamestown. Va. Capt Kidd.
sailed from New York with a commission to
seize ships which flew the fl g of France,
especially pirate ships, and became himself a
prince Of pirates. Paul Revere was not only
sversmith, but a dentist well. and the
horse which he rode in his great hour was not
his own, for he never possessed one If Maj.
Andre nad not bsen given incorrect informa-
ton about the whereabouts of an American
patrol, or il he had not had case of nerve
strain which caused him unaccountaby to de-
clare himself British officer, he might have
lived to a good old age in England. Another
spy whose story is tod by Marquis James was
James j. Andrews, Union spy, who with 20
companions stole train running from Atlanta
to Chattanooga, with intent to burn bridges
behind them and render useless 130 miles of
railroad anc telegraph. Andrews was hanged
10 days before the date set for his wedding.
Sam Davis, a Tennessee youth, Confederate
spy, suffered death because he refused to give
information about his superior. Mr.. James has
chosen all his episodes for their dramatic
quality and has made of them thrilling tales Of
danger and daring.
PARCHED EARTH. BY Arnold B. Armstrong.
New York: The Macmillan Co.
| AND appropriation is the basis of civiliza-
l. ton. All sorts of hard terms have been
ii is usually theft from thieves who have them
selves stolen the land from earlier occupants.
In "Parched Earth" Fray Junipero Sierra and
his followers supported by Spanish troopers,
came into the Tontos Valley of California and
forced the unwilling Indians to Christianity and
hard work. Before they aware of what
was happening the Indians found their hunt
ing and fishing grounds and rich corn-growing
soil turned into mission property. Don Miguel
Vazquez followed the missionaries and enriched
himself by raising cattle. since he could rot find
gold His son, also Don Miguel, was enjoying
the fruits Of his fathers prosperity when the
Yankees invaded California, discovered gold and
took possession of the land. A Yankee lawyer,
Amos Caldwell. disbarred in his native YER
mont, was employed by Don Miguel the Second
to protect his interests. He stole them instead
of protecting them. His son Everett became
the boss OF the town of Caldwell, which grew
up the thrice-stolen land.
"Parcned Earth" is the story of Everett, who
captured control of the canneries, the bank,
the railroad irrigation water and all stationary
and itinerant labor. He represents the latest
stage in the development of the TontoS Valley
the industrial town. Among the last OF the
preceding stage. pioneer ranchers. were Hattie
and Maud RathbCne, living in fear OF both
their japanese farm competitors and the town
boss. Belle VazqueZ last descendant of the
Spanish grandees, the town prostitute,
whose idiot son reproach to the respect
ability of the town. The story bristles with
social and moral lessons, which are not
preached but are allowed to demonstrate them
selves through characters and action. Ger
tainly the picture of the peaceful TontoS In
dians who conceived Of existence in terms of
love and leisure and laughter" is more pleas
ing one than that of the jealous, hating.
hypocrtical inhabitants of the thriving town
of Caldwell.
INT These National Taxeaters BY T.
Swami Harding New York: Ray Long q
Richard R. Smith.
THE taxpayer has been much sympathized
with that he has fallen into a state of
self-pity Mr.. Harding attempts. in this book.
to jolt him out of that deporable attitude OF
mind and to encourage him to bear his bur-
den as legitimate one without complaining.
He supports the thesis that the Federal Gov
ernment is not wasteful or inefficient, but on
the contrary is more businesslike than private
business He does not deny certain amount
of graft-less than in municipal governments
nor mistakes but thinks that, on the whole,
Uncle Sam is not merely greedy taxeater.
His initial chapter, "A Taxpayer Meets Tax
eater" describes the visit of a business man to
Government official in md-1932 during
which the former accused the latter of loung-
ing in soft job while he himself was obliged
to "start racket to keep me out of the poor
house" The Government official, who had no
time for rackets and was taking no vacation,
remembered that two years before the same
business man had earned twice as much as
he did and laughed at him for hugging a
Government job on small salary" The serv-
ices of the Federal Government to the indi-
vidual and to communities in problems of
daily life and in the scientific research which
results in such valuable discoveries for health
and general welfare, are outlined by Mr.. Hard
ing. who, believes that, new services. and sfunc-
fiOoS nf P1ta led fnr rafh hnr