Evening star., 1937-06-12

that he would get we'll. As time
showed, the Viennese was right.
The present book is the second
which has been written about this
hospital in recent time William Sea-
brooks Asylum" which came out
in 1895, also had Bloomingdale for
its base Of operations. But whereas
Mr.. Seabrook was not mentally Ill,
being entered case of chronic al
coholism, Mr.. Brown was in COM
plete mental collapse He tells that
he wanted to do nothing
nothing. He did one thing, however,
and that was walk increasingly. He
considers that he must have paced
60 miles q day. in his unendurable
restlessness. He suffered no fatigue
from this whAtsoever. It was indeed
one OF his first symptoms Of recov-
cry when he began to feel tired.
His book is, as has been said, hu-
morous in its treatment OF the ex-
perience. Mr.. Brown does not relate
narrowing visions or Authorizations;
If he had them he does not mention
the fact. He tells something of his
treatment, Of his fellow patients, Of
the suicide club" of the hospital
routine, its entertainments and oc-
cupations. He is successful In max
ing his reader feel that his present
amusement at these things Is sin
cere. There Is no false shame in
him and no false making light OF
the reality of his illness.
The book seems to the reviewer to
have distinct value. What doctors
will think Of it she cannot Of course
pretend to know, but surely for lay
men 1t throws sane light on in
sanity and the manifold problems
surrounding such illness. Mr.. Brown
does not hold out hope foolishly, Of
course; he had too close shave
himself to do that. He saw more
than one patient entered in the in
durable ward, and he paints that living
death realistically. But he also saw
many cures. and no one who reads
his present work, humorous, wise
and honest. can doubt that he himself
was completely cured. It ought to
be read by people who have the prob
lem OF mental illness in their fam
Lies or among their friends. And it
can be recommended to the general
public, too, as highly entertaining.
TWENTY YEARS AS MILITARY
ATTACHE. BY Col. r. Bentley
Mott. New York: Oxford Uni
versity Press.
THIS is q pleasant autobiography,
written by man whom Wash
ingtonians should know well, Col T.
Bentley Mott. COL Mott was three
times attache at the American En-
bassy in Paris. he was aide de camp
to Col. Roosevelt when the latter was
appointed special ambassador to rep
resent the United States at King Ed
wards funeral, he went on a special
mission to st. Petersburg during the
japanese Russian War he went again
to that city as member Of the Root
Commission following the revolution,
he saw service in the Spanish Ameri-
can War. he was assigned by Gen.
Pershing to duty In Italy during the
World War. and generally has had a
career which has taken him into the
midst Of great events for as long
period as the title OF his book indi-
Gates. He writes here one OF those
autobiographies in which the char
acteristic feature Is the use Of ex-
cellent anecdotes. It is no dry rela-
ton OF conferences, negotiations and
the like, but lively narrative Of
those events and moments OF his life
which apparently seem to commend
themselves to the author as likely to
make the best reading. No.withstand-
ing, the book is, by no means, devoid
OF serious discussion. It has, however,
that detached seriousness which ap-
pertains to the official attitude. 1t Is
in great contrast in this respect to
the impassioned seriousness Of recent
self-histories written by observers who
were not officially attached to any
state-news writer's, for example.
Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and
Wilson, Ambassadors Wallace and
Herrick, Marshal Foch, Admiral
Dewey, Gen. Pershing. Clemenceau,
Marshal Petain, Elihu Root, the Czar
| of Russia, the Emperor of Germany
all these and other world figures fill
the pages Of Col. Motifs memories
He has mingled with his "reminiscences
OF them excellent stories of fox hunt
ing. OF official social life, Of diplomatic
| interchanges and OF Army life. His
book Il completely readable. One can
| not but feel moved to comment, on
the basis OF 1t, on how vastly more
personal and individual are the auto
biographies written by men OF Col
Motifs generation than are those Of
the writer's whose experience In public
Affairs dates from the World War.
There have been many Of these latter
this year, and almost without excep-
tion they fall into one OF two types
they interpret affairs with . deadly
seriousness or they refuse, with equal
grimness, to interpret. Col. Mott.
while giving his opinion At times.
follows the rule Of remaining amiably
detached. and his book gains by Its
application. 1t may not be 50 deep
In the stream of world happenings,
but 1t is expressive Of an urbane and
cultivated attitude. This Is, perhaps,
unfashionable, but 1t makes good read
ing none the less.
THIEVES LIKE US. BY Edward An
derson. New York: Frederick A.
Stokes Co.
THIS Is . novel about . young Okla
homa gtlnman-how he broke out
Of prison with two friends. embarked
"a . career of rohbtng and killing