Evening star., 1940-03-17
The Spanish Adventures Of
Washington Irving
By Claude G.. BroDers. BoS-
ton: Houghton, Mi61i1 & Co.

ton: Houghton, Mi61in & Co.
Mr.. Bowers. during his period of
ambassadorship to Spain, has un-
dertaken, as he tells us in his fore
word to this book, to follow the trail
Of Washington Irving through that
romantic land. And, having made
good his undertaking. he has writ
ten a book on his findings. It Is a
volume which ought to be Of value
to students of Irving, but which,
for the general reader, seems likely
to be rather pallid fare. Mr.. Bowers
has recorded Irving's journeys and
Journeys ends very faithfully, to be
sure But unfortunately he has
not put much life'into his recording
The chief contributions to Irving's
history would seem to be Mr..
Bowers discovery of new material
about Obadiah Rich and the lovely
Leocadia Zamora. Rich was con-
genial spirit with whom Irving spent
considerable time on his first So
journ in Spain. but little has been
known about him beyond the fact
that he possessed famous library
of rare books and manuscripts.
From letters in the possession of a
descendant, Mr.. Bowers has gather
ed information hitherto unpublished,
disclosing that Rich rendered the
American Government valuable
service under the State Secretary
ship of Henry Clay. About the
lovely Leocadia. who had been the
toast of Madrid society and whom
Irving, in his second Spanish period,
always called his "favorite,' Mr..
Bowers learned that she never mar
ried, but eventually founded con-
vent, entered the establishment as
Mother Superior, and spent the rest
of her life there in religious seclu-
sion.
There are ample accounts in the
work of Irving's trips through the
difficult country of rural Spain, his
residence in the Alhambra, his
friendship with the child queen,
Isabella, and his interest in the
political situation, which, during
his period as minister, was danger
ously threatening. We have records
of him as artist, friend and states
man. But Mr.. Bowers has made
little effort to render more than the
facts. So what represents a real
piece of research seems unlikely to
find a popular reception. Irving
students, however, owe the Ambas-
sador very real debt of gratitude
for his considerable research into
their subject.
Sailing the SuIu Sea
By Rear Admiral DdUid Pot
ter. NeW York: E. P. Dutton
e. Co.
Escapists from the dreary world
Of war will find Admiral Potter's
memoirs of the Philippine pacifica-
ton at the turn Of the century q
delightful footnote to American his
tory.
The picturesque n1emories-inter-
sperSed with much poetic deScr1p-
tion-of his tour Of duty aboard the
converted freighter Manila are writ
ten in a humorous vein and bear
the sheen Of tales oft told in ward
rooms with much Of the discom-
fort and misery made dim by the
years.
Cut-throat bandits, piratical at
tacks from savage Moros, opera
warfare with insurrectos and q ro-
nance with lovely Spanish miss,
Senorita Twinkletoes, combine to
make the volume the kind that
many read in one sitting.
After graduation from Princeton
University Admiral Potter accepted
commission in the Nays Supply
Corps during the Spanish-American
War. He was the supply of1cer
aboard the Manila when she sailed
from Cavite on July l. 1899, to the
farthest islets Of the Philippine
Archipelago, where the vanent crew
Encountered adventures seldom writ
ten about, though experienced BY
many o6oers sttU u aetive servics.