Evening star., 1936-06-27

10 be dangerously comprehensive.
SOLD OUT. BY Isaac Lippincott
New York: D. Appleton Century
Co.
THIS is another book by an exasper-
ated economist Who has been en-
deavoring to make reason out of the
New Deal. Prof. Lippincott, for years
teacher of economic resources at
Washington University, fails to agree
with the brain trust.
His book is an indignant examina-
ton of where we have come to and q
fearful putting of the question, Where
do we go from here? He answers his
questions by saying that we have come
fair distance on the road toward
socialism and that our present Gov
ernment is following that route as
fast and as earnestly as it can without
seeming to. With that he queries,
Why not, If socialism will make for
the more abundant life which we all
so long to live? And answers again
that a mere change of systems, a mere
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even our present difficulties, much less
put us all on Easy street.
What we need, says this author, is
scientific principles in government,
and by that he obviously means not
the pseudo-science of graphs and
charts and pretty diagrams such as
our ruling economists bring forward to
prove their contentious, but the sci
ence of the laboratory. Turn it to pro-
duction problems, he urges Eliminate
wastes, increase output. reduce costs
and the people will find their own mar
kets. The New Deal, he AYERS, has
given its attention to marketing prob
lens first and production only sec
ondarily. That is the reverse of the
real solution. he claims. seized upon as
a remedy because it promises quicker
results, quick results being a necessity
to politicians, since elections come so
often. 1t may sound we'll as propa-
ganda, he says, but it is primitive eco
nomics.
That, n substance, is the book. II
is readable work, because of the in
dignation which the author pours into
its pages. One cannot escape observ-
ing, too, that it agrees in many points
with economists who write more So
berly.
BIRDS IN THE WILDERNESS BY
George Miksch Sutton. Illustrated
by the author with pencil drawings
and field sketches in color made
from living or freshly killed birds
New York: The Macmillan Co.
THIS book could be treasured for
its fine illustrations alone. They
are both spirited and realistic, COM
bination lacking from the drawings of
all but the finest naturalists. But
DR.. Sutton, whether he is drawing a
strutting grouse or painting a blue
goose, is close to the life of his sub
ject.
A readable text accompanies the
pictures. It is not scientific or tech
nical. but is series of popularly-writ-
ten articles, describing the authors
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From Florida to the frozen coasts of
Labrador ne went, looking for birds TO
draw. Scientist he undoubtedly is The
holds the post of curator Of birds at
Cornell University, but he writes of
the physical adventures inherent in
bird hunting. rather than about his
researches. He has made delightful
and beautiful book.
A LONG RESTROSPECT. BY F
Anstey. New York: oxford Uni
versity Press.
IF THE reader can allow himself the
relaxation of a complete banality
he will probably put down this book
with the comment, How very Eng
lish!" For, while it purports to be an
autobiography, it amiably avoids refer
ence to any of the grsver issues which
its author must have faced in the
course Of his lifetime, deals chiefly in
such matters as would make good light
talk, and Is everywhere in perfect
taste. 1t tells little about the author,
who is ostensfbly its subject, but it
does offer polite, mild entertainment.
Such unvarying reticence good humor
and conventionality suggest no other
comment than the one mentioned
above.
F. Anstey, lest readers may be for
getful, is Thomas ARstey Guthrie,
author Of THE Man From Blankleys," I"
"Vice Versa" and other plays and
stories popular in another generation.
That his work is largely forgotten to-
day he admits in his preface, saying:
In dealing with my career as an
author I have no doubt dwelt at
greater length than some would con-
slider was required on the inception
and the fortune, good or bad. Of every
one of my performances. most Of which
must be unknown to the present gen.
Grafton.
Il have done so, not because I over
rate their importance, as to which l
am under no illusion, but for the rea-
son that, IN the circumstances, could
not well write my autobiography in
any other way.
For my life has had no adventures,
and no vicissltudes; such incidents as
have happened in it have been the
experience Of any author who has been
fairly popular in his day and has en-
joyed his work
The appealing quality of this mod.
est statement carries through the
work Mr.. Guthrie gives his readers
an excellent description of life in a
middle-class English family so years
ago as he describes his childhood.
From there he takes them through his
public school and university days. He
intended 10 be lawyer, but early sue
cess as a writer encouraged him to
urn to that career. His memoirs be-
come at this point an account Of his
struggles with publishers and his
widening acquaintance with the liter
airy men Of his time. Browning, Hux-
ley, Tennyson, Lang, Swinburne-
these illustrous names were among his
contemporaries. as were Frank Harris,
Henry James. George Meredith, But
Ter. Kipling, Irving, Tree and du Maui
rier. But II one we're to list them all