Evening star., 1937-10-30

some one talk in aWe-struck, but large
ly incomprehensible whispers. Still, for
those who retain their concern in the
affair, there Is some material in the
book.
The exact nature of Mr.. Leeds
theme-as implied by his title--the re-
viewer never discovered. The author
says the King fell in love for the first
time in his life when he met Mrs.
Simpson. he says that she was an ire
proachable lady who was made to
suffer cruelty, he says that the NOR
ganatic marriage issue was misrepre-
sented to the English people in order
to arouse their hostility, and he says
that Edward remains today a factor
of great Importance in the Empire-as
is witnessed by the campaign of un-
fairness and discrimination which has
been waged against him increasingly
since his marriage. He also involves
the Communist international, the fall
ure of Anthony Eden's Ethiopia nego-
tiations and feminine jealousy in the
development of the gossip campaign
which led to the abdication. Appar-
entity he knows considerable about the
matter, but he either writes too badly
to communicate it or deals deliberately
in nystification Still, as has been
said, if you retain interest in the
events, you will find here some bits of
information which have not previously
been given out in a connected form.
AFRICAN GENESIS. BY Leo Fro
benius and Douglas c. Fox. New
York: Stackpole & Sons.
THIS is volume of tales drawn
from the mythology of various
African tribes. Prof. Frobenius is the
anthropologist who has most carefully
studied the rock drawings of Africa,
and the tales included in the present
volume have been gathered during his
expeditions. They are offered here
as the most persuasive evidence Of
common prehistoric culture of African
and European races"
There are creation myths. folk tales
and magic tales in the book The
Berbers, the Soninke and the Fulbe
of the Western Sahel; the Mande of
the Western Sudan, the Nupe and
Haussa of the Central Sudan and the
Wahungwe of Southern Rhodesia are
the peoples studied. The collection is
of course primarily of interest to stu
dents, but that by no means ends its
attraction. 1t has in high degree that
fascination which always appertains
in some measure to the primitive myth;
there is fancifulneSS and lightness
about these stories which is charming,
and they can be recommended for en-
tertainment as well as for their scien-
tific value Through them run figures
familiar in most NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
mischief making animals. tutelary
spirits and so on. The reviewer found
the manner in which the authors pre-
sent this evidence of the common be-
ginnings of mankind ironically anus
ing and commends the work on all
the counts referred to.
TO A LONELY BOY. BY Arthur Hop
kins. Garden City: Doubleday
Doran e. Co.
THIS is curious little book-a series
of letters which, supposedly. the fa-
nous theatrical producer has written to
an invalid boy, boy afflicted with an
incurable and possibly fatal disease.
The substance of the missives is en-
couragement and the lnculcation of
a philosophy fitted to meet the lads
unhappy situation. Interspersed with
this graver matter are anecdotes Of
the famous men and women whom
Mr.. Hopkins has known-the Barry
mores. Mrs. Fiske, Theodore Roose-
velt, David Observation-Disclosures of
the production of famous plays, and
so on.
1t amounts to the memoirs of
veteran producer, set down in an un-
usual form-not by chronology, but
at random, as incidents occur to him
which he thinks will serve the in
terests of his invalid friend. The ef-
feet is curious one, for it is pro-
duced by combining the account of
a public career with private, inti-
mate relationship. Nonetheless, the
volume is interesting and well worth
going through.
RUMBIN GALLERIES. BY Booth
Harrington. Garden City: Double
day, Doran & Co.
THIS latest book of Booth Tarking-
tons is pure sugar candy. 1t is
the story of sweet old Santa Claus of
an art dealer whose aim in life is to
spread happiness. He has a beautiful
secretary and a handsome assistant
and he sees to it that the path of true
love is made to run smoothly for them.
In addition, he sells Van Dyeks, Rem
brandts and Lawrences and adroitly
forestalls bankruptcy. There is a
faint memory of Booth Tarkington's
old vivacity about the work, but it is
very faint indeed. That is all there is
to be said for "Rumbin Galleries 4"
Except, of course, that it might very
easily become a best seller.
THE MINSTREL BOY. BY L. A. G.
Strong. New York: Alfred Knopf.
Thomas Moore is much in the lime
light this present publishing season.
Two biographies concerning him have
been written. The present one by L. A.
G. Strong is a satisfactory conventional
sort of work, the sort which begins
with childhood, proceeds through edu-
cation and early fame. revels bit in
maturity and includes chapter or
two of interpretations" The facts
of Moore's career are in the book,
therefore, and the book is easily and
readably written. The reviewer went
through 1t without any pain. but be-
yond the above comments she could
find nothing to say of it. 1t Is just
another life, quite acceptable.
RANGER TRAILS. BY John Riis.
Richmond. Va: The Dietz Press.
The early days of the United States
Forest Service have been re-created in
this tale of wanderings in the West
by son of Jacob Riis. the great social
worker and friend of Theodore Roose-
welt. Written in the simple, nom