Evening star., 1934-02-17

sisted SO long In our historical tradt-
ton.
GEORGE WASHINGTON HIMSELF.
A Common-Sense Biography Writ
ten From His Manuscripts. BY
John c. Fitzpatrick, L. H D., Lift.
D. indianapolis: The Bobbs-Mer-
rill Co.
Though the Bicentennial year is now
past, the editor of the United States
Bicentennial Commission edition of
the writings Of George Washington
has written this biography as an after
math OF his work on the manuscripts.
1t Is not e story biography, nor one
which attempts much Interpretation.
The author believes that too much
nonsense has been written about
George Washington and too little at
tention paid to the best sources of
information about him, the Washing
ton manuscripts. He also disputes the
theory of older historians that the
subjects Of the American Revolution
and George Washington have been
completely exhausted. No bibliography
is given, because it is considered that
few authorities" deserve considera-
ton in comparison with the manu-
script records. OF course, those man
uscript records have been used be-
fore by other historians. This biog-
raphy endeavors to explain simply the
underlying causes of the difficulties
and obstacles which George Washing
ton encountered during his public
services and in this wise help TO make
clearer the character of the man with
out whom the American Revolution
and the establishment of the United
States as a nation would have failed"
The biography is, as the title claims,
practical, but it is doubtful If it adds
any new information or Interpretation
TO already existing biographies.
FACSIAdLES OF FAMOUS AMERI-
CAN DOCUMENTS AND LET
TIERS. Collected and arranged by
Edward c. Boykin. New York:
Blue Ribbon Books.
Twenty-six facsimiles of documents
and letters are contained in this port
folio Of plates. They include the
Declaration of Independence, Lincoln's
Gettysburg Address, Washington's re-
fusal Of the crown, Grants demand for
unconditional surrender, Burr's chal-
lenge to Hamilton, Mai. Andres ap-
peal to George Washington, Lord
CORVALLIS proposal to surrender the
British army, Lafayette's thanks to
the Continental Congress for leave Of
absence, Washington's tentative list Of
cabinet and other appointments under
the new Constitution, The Star
Spangled Banner" In the writing of
Key, Beauregard's request for the sur
render of Fort Sumter, the last mes
sage from Stonewan jackson to Rob-
ert E. Lee, and the Monroe Doctrine.
An accompanying pamphlet gives the
documents and letters in printed
form and contains a foreword which
explains the choice as designed to
high light great American men and
moments"
MAHATMA GANDHI. His Life, Work
and Influence. By Jashwant Rao
Chitambar, NJ A., LII. D. phila-
delphia: The John G. Winston Co.
Most westerners wonder at and fail
to comprehend the almost wizardlike
influence of the fragile, gentle, but
stubborn, ascetic little man who
sways the millions Of India by his
words and non-resistant deeds. Bishop
Chitambar, Of whom John r. Mott
speaks in his foreword as pastor,
teacher, college president and Chris
tian statesman the first Indian
In his communion to be consecrated
BISHOP" has written q sympathetic
and unprejudiced biography Of the
Hindu mystic who has, incompatible
as it may seem with mysticism, be-
come the leader of the Nationalist
movement in India. With intimate
knowledge of the social and religious
organization of his own country. and
q high degree Of familiarity with west
ern ideas and life, Bishop Chitambar
is unusually well qualified to write a
biography and estimate of the man
who has for long been such q storm
center.
The facts Of Gandhi's life-his edu-
cation in London, his career as
barrister in South Africa, his con-
nection with the Nationalist move
ment-have been covered before by
other writer's. For the real value Of
this book we turn to the discussion
of the inception, growth and ramiflca-
tions of the Nationalist movement,
Gandhi's entrance into it and direc-
ton Of its course, his personal re-
ligion, and the authors dilemmic
question as to the outcome Of the
movement. VIII Great Britain ac-
cept to a large extent the ideas of
Gandhi, or will there be catastrophe
revolution in India? Bishop Chitam-
bar, after visiting Canada and OBJ
serving its freedom under dominion
status, Is favorable to dominion status
for India. He believes that india has
everything to gain by cooperating
with the British government" but
he does not minimize the difficulties
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