Evening star., 1938-12-18

thought his Interpretation a de-
lightful one either, for she has spent
much Of her life among artists and
can assume trance like ecstacy be-
fore any kind Of picture in twink
ling, and she has learned, too, that,
when in doubt, she can safely leave
1t to the artist to do the talking. But
she went away neutrality-suspicious.
for the first time in her life, which
meant that she recognized a new
province of knowledge which was
certain to be forever closed to her,
and was second in impenetrability
only to contract bridge. Even if
there were war, she would have to
leave trajectories to the Army.
All of which is just by way of
saying that the articles in Maj
Burns excellent Journal are of
such a technical nature that q non-
military person will ordinarily be
likely to find them beyond his judg-
ment. However, to mark the fact
that there are exceptions, the re-
viewer will mention that there is a
piece in the present issue which
any one can read and enjoy. 1t is
what amounts to a blow-by-b blow
account of the Battle of Trenton,
that festivity with which George
Washington celebrated Christmas in
1776. Americans who, like the re-
viewer. learned Of it in school no
more than that the general crossed
the Delaware in the floating ice
and took the town from the Hes
slams. who were sodden with drink"
can read the piece with benefit.
For, while the school book account
is true, it is what might be called
economical 1t. Col. A. c. NJ Azoy
of the Coast Artillery Reserve
Corps, author Of the Journals ar
ticle. makes that very plain.
He gives perfectly understand
able account of the movements of
the American troops as they came
on the town in two columns and,
more Importantly, he shows us a
humanized picture of. Washington
in action. We are so likely to think
Of the Father of His Country as the
artist has shown him-that is,
standing in an impossibly heroic
pose and looking as If he we're about
to burst into political speech,
when. of course. Washington was
not like that at all. He was a great
man, and one thing he would never
have done was rock the boat. In
that respect he differed from many
latter-day national leaders, a point
50 obvious that it needs no men,
tioning.
Col. AZoy's article reminds us,
however, that our Nation is de-
scended from a man who took the
risks that he asked of his soldiers
and, when there was fighting, was
under fire himself. 1t is a good
thing not to forget it-though the
reviewer can truthfully say for her
self that she was never in danger
Of doing SO; Washington she has
always esteemed as the great hero
Of modern times, and no debunker,
or chorus Of debunkers, will ever
laugh her out Of it. As Calvin
Coolidge remarked, His monument
is still there" But it is good to be
reminded, in this timorous and Sc
curity-craving age, of the SNOW
covered trails red-printed by blood
from the feet Of barefoot and rag
shod men" and to think what
Christmas in our land was. with
no more than 1872 years Of our past
behind us.
Washington. says Col. Azoy. while
the troops were being ferried over,
stood by the rivers edge or sat
on a box issuing orders. A diarist
in the ranks noted that the gen
erals nose was very red from the
cold and that he was not what
ladies call . pretty man." The re-
viewer is not 50 sure! Put him be-
side any of the strutting, posturing
leaders" Of the present day and
she will wager money on where any
lady's choice would be-red nose
and all. At that, how does your
nose look on winter night after
several hours in the wind? How
does Mussolini'S?
4 \ Il
The Infantry Journal also con-
tainS resumes of the situations in
Spain and China, both interesting
in that they are completely without
bias and based expertly on the mill
tary factors involved. Another piece
deals with the various methods
which may be used against ma
chine gun bearing airplanes. An
other is a historic survey Of the
career Of Gen. Meade. And still an