Evening star., 1935-03-31
By Sarah Boverman.

!" has little natural affinity for
4 Il such personages as Crom-
well, the subject of his recent
biography, and Milton, the subject Of
the present one. Charles the First,
James the Second and Wolsey offered
him characters with whom he could
feel greater sympathy. Yet Mr.. Belize
is such an ardent historian and so
understanding of historical movements
which he considers to have been
detrimental to the cause Of civiliza-
tons that his biographical studies do
not suffer from personal bias. They
also have all the vitality which such
a spirited style as Mr.. Belloc's can
give.
Cromwell was interpreted by Mr..
Belloc as primarily the soldier, risen
to leadership from among the COM
mon people, and only secondarily as
the politician. Milton was first Of all
the poet, who became during the
middle period of his life the supporter
of Cromwell and Puritanism through
his violent pamphlets, but later re-
turned to his poetry and produced
his great epic, Puritan in concept,
him place in English poetry second
only to that of Shakespeare. Milton's
earlier lyric work, written when he
was between 81 and "a, is praised by
Mr.. Belloc without stint. "LAllegro."
I'll Penseroso," "Comus," "Lycidas"
and the lode to the Nativity" belong
to the only period Of Milton's life when
he knew happiness. The long chapter
of enthusiastic appreciation of the
work of the lyric period is the most
satisfactory part of a well-rounded
critical biography. Milton as a man,
egotistic, pugnacious. sensitive, not
very successful as husband and father,
suffering under his blindness with
both philosophy and human irritability,
is characterized with sympathy and
comprehension. As is his custom in
all his biographical studies, Mr.. Belloc
begins his work with description of
the historical period in which his
chosen character played his part.
Milton cannot be understood without
a knowledge of the social, religious
and political struggle which was going
on in England during his life, and Mr.
Belloc's chapter, Time and Place" Is
in itself valuable historical essay.
THE AMERICAN WAY. Democracy
At Work in the Des Moines Fo-
runs. BY John w. Studebaker.
New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co.
DR. STUDEBAKER, United States
commissioner of education, Is
the originator of the panel discussion
method of adult education Of the type
with which he has so successfully ex-
perimented in Des Moines, Iowa. In
this book he describes the first two
years of that planned system of pub
Lie forums, but goes beyond the con-
crete account Of methods and accom-
plishment and explains the philos-
ophy which underlies the experiment.
1t all comes back to the question
whether democracy has broken down
or whether it can be made to work.
If it can be made to work at all, it
Will be through the education Of vot-
ers In economic, social and political
problems. in national and interna-
tional affairs. This education should
be a continuation of public school
education and should be in co-opera-
ton with public schools and public
libraries. DR.. Studebaker believes
that Federal funds could be applied to
no better purpose for the good of the
Nation than in the support of a Ma
tion-wide system of public forums for
the civic education OF adults. The
problems of our civilization are today
rev and unusually complicated and
the millions of adults in this country
who have never attended high school
cannot reasonably be expected to un-
derstand them without assistance.
The Des Moines forums, of which
Commissioner Studebaker was direc-
tor, are being conducted as a f1ve-year
experiment by means Of q grant from
the Carnegie Corporation of New
York, through the American Associa-
ton for Adult Education. The forum
meetings are held on a regular
schedule, usually In school buildings,
and are conducted by leaders in adult
education, who present current prob
lens in social welfare, economics and
politics and afterward guide discus
sion on the subjects. The forums are
of three types: neighborhood forums,
held in % different locations every
other week: central forums. held
weekly in five centrally located school
buildings; and city-wide forums. A
total Of 578 meetings were held in
1933-34. The success of the DeS
Moines forums, judged by attendance
and increased activity Of discussion,
has been such that DR.. Studebaker's
belief in the forum method of rais-
ing the level of intelligent comprehen-
sion of national and international af-
fairs seems amply justified, and it is
to be hoped that before very long
other communities will have the same
opportunity.
CAPITALISM CARRIES ON. BY
Walter B. Pitkin. New York: Nc
Graw-Hill Book Co.
"A PRACTICAL man, Mr.. Pitkin
does not deal in generalities or
declare oratorically that things should
be thus and so He gives reasons for
his beliefs and tells how to bring
about desirable results. Judging from
the sales Of his book, Life Begins at
Forty" he has convinced q good many
people that he can help them to a
rich and active life after the threshold
of middle age has been crossed. In
Capitalism Carries On" he does not
conduct an offensive against those
who have prematurely announced the
autopsy of capitalism and proclaimed
with eternal hope the improved pan
acea of Marxism; instead, he tells how
he believes capitalism may weather
the experiences Of the depression and
carry on, modified and rejuvenated.
The book is dedicated to "the middle
class, on whose survival and prosperity
all civilization depends"
Capitalism will carry on" says Mr..
Pitkin, "if it keeps up with the times.
To keep up with the times, 1t must go
pioneering into new fields and, in some
cases, desert old, overworked fields" !"
Superior minds are needed for this