Laughlins," which won, and deserved to win, a prize from "Harper's" a year or two ago. That seemed to me a book of dignity and substance. "The Kenworthys" is thin and hectic and long-drawnout; equally sentimental and disagreeable; there is nothing much worse than that in a novel. It is like being ogled by a cross-eyed female. Biography With EDWARD EVERETT: ORATOR AND STATES- Edward Everett expected that his biography would be written. For forty years his journals were kept with an eye to the future; the opinion of posterity was an important consideration with him. His sons, who did see to the completion of his published "Orations and Speeches," meant to write a Life, and promised to. Somehow they never did. Nearly forty years ago Dr. A. P. Peabody expressed the hope that they would not fail to issue a biography of Everett "before the desire for it died away." Everett is now sixty years dead, and half forgotten. Dr. Frothingham has consciously dared much in trying, through the medium of a full-length biography, "to do tardy justice to the memory of a great and brilliant man.” Of his brilliancy there is no doubt. Beginning as a youthful prodigy in the florid oratory of the time, he passed from the pulpit to a professor's chair at Cambridge; then served as Governor of Massachusetts, as Minister at the Court of St. James's, as President of Harvard, as Senator and Secretary of State at Washington. In later years Dr. Holmes called him "the yardstick by which men are measured in Boston." He was eloquent, courtly, handsome, a "Pegasus in the pulpit" and an "Apollo in politics," to use Dr. Frothingham's phrases. Of not the most distinguished New England stock, he married into the Boston aristocracy. Everything from the beginning "came his way." How is it that from the record as a whole we get an impression of relative. failure? Partly because we find him, for This honesty of purpose, for all his public spirit and devotion to the right as he saw it, an unconscious egotist. He did ill-advised things, but he never did anything that he did not think welladvised for his career as well as for the country. At critical moments he was unable to detach considerations of ambition and self-interest from considerations of public welfare in the inner recesses of his own mind, at least. Contemporary, and in some senses rival, of Webster, he lacked something of Webster's masculine In writing to the above advertiser, please mention The Outlook force. There was always a touch of the actor and of the posing statesman about him. Everett's long and sounding oration at Gettysburg made great noise at the time and won commendation from Lincoln, but it is Lincoln's tiny masterpiece of the same occasion-the complete negation of all then held to be "oratory" -which the world remembers. Edward Everett stood for many fine things, was a pioneer in some things; he failed of greatness, according to Dr. Frothingham. because he lacked a certain hardness of fiber essential to statesmanship: "He was a clergyman in politics. He endeavored from first to last to employ the principles of the pulpit and to practice the gentle virtues of the Ministry of Religion amid all the heat and dust of the political arena." A sound piece of biography, which succeeds remarkably in its task of rebuilding for us a notable personality out of our American past which for most Americans already had become little more than a name. Politics and Government POLITICAL AND SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1492-1828. By Homer C. Hockett, Professor of American History in the Ohio State University. The Macmillan Company, New York.. $3. POLITICAL AND SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1829-1925. By Arthur Meier Schlesinger, Professor of History, Harvard University. The Macmillan Company, New York. $3. These are companion volumes of about equal merit, both eminently suitable for use as text-books in the higher schools and in colleges. Both are scholarly and for the most part, clear; both are sufficiently provided with maps and copiously with bibliographies. Neither is to be praised for brilliancy or charm or lifelike portraiture or vivid description or penetrating analysis or, indeed, any remarkable quality. Neither author possesses that extremely rare gift, the genius. for summarization. But, compared with most attempts at summarization, both volumes are distinctly good. GERMANY. By George P. Gooch. (The Modern World Series.) Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. $3. About Germany to-day. There are five chapters to lay the background and describe the Germany of the past century, and the rise of the Empire. The importance of the great industrialists is emphasized, and there is a chapter upon the intellectual life of modern Germany. The remaining eleven chapters describe internal politics and conditions during and since the war. The writer seems to have achieved a success in fairness and in clear statement. All the confusing events of the Revolution, the foundation of the German Republic, all the strokes and counter-strokes of the last six years,: are discussed. It is a valuable book. literary adviser, reviewer, translator, and He is now engaged (but not busy) with the trifling task of turning Maupassant into sixteen volumes of English. A few months ago one pub ! lisher issued his "Portraits: Real and Imaginary," a collection of his recent magazine skits and estimates. Now another publisher, still more august, brings out the present volume, and announces a sequel with the same slightly portentous, title, if you change "ten" to "nine." Mr. Boyd is neither hack nor faker, but a genuine prodigy of zeal and industry in the field of letters. He is a linguist and a scholar; and his voracious appetite for literature has thus far caused no serious indigestion. He usefully blends the methods of the critic and the literary journalist. He wants to give the ordinary reader of some intelligence a glimpse of what is doing in all of the" European literatures. His present notes on Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, and Canada are brief. His fullest papers are given to the countries from which American readers have heard most in recent years: France, Spain, Italy, and the Scandinavian lands. It is in the initial section on France that he is formative. In French literature he is chiefly critical, rather than chiefly inintimately at home; his essays on Flaubert and Anatole France will be remembered. Sociology 7 SOUTHERN PIONEERS IN SOCIAL INTERPRETATION. Edited by Howard W. Odum. The University of North Carolina Press, ChangL Hill, North Carolina. $2. We have here an introductory essay by Dr. Odum (Professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina) and a group of biographical sketches, as follows: "Woodrow Wilson, a Challenge to the Fighting South," by Gerald W. Johnson; "Walter Hines Page, a Southern Nationalist," by Robert D. W. Con nor; "Charles Brantley Aycock, Epic Builder of Education," by Edwin A. Alderman; "Seaman A. Knapp, Pioneer In writing to the above advertisers, please mention The Outlook 2 in Southern Agriculture," by Jackson Davis; "Augustus Baldwin Longstreet, a Southern Cultural Type," by John Donald Wade; "Joel Chandler Harris, Constructive Realist," by Julia Collier Harris; "Booker T. Washington, Creator of a Race Epoch," by Monroe N. Work; "Madeline McDowell Breckinridge, Herald of Community Service," by Sophonisba P. Breckinridge; "Edward Kidder Graham, Apostle of Culture and Democracy," by Robert D. W. Connor. With the exception of Judge Longstreet, all the persons whose lives and accomplishment are briefly set forth have been important contributors to the work of reconstruction, material and spiritual, in the South. On the whole, the book is decidedly worth while, throwing a good deal of light on an interesting phase. Especially interesting is the account of the really wonderful service to the South of Dr. Knapp (a New Yorker) in development of the Farm Demonstration Work. The sketches of Woodrow Wilson and Walter Page are discriminating and that of Joel Chandler Harris is charming. Miscellaneous MARTIAL: THE TWELVE BOOKS OF ЕРІGRAMS. Translated by J. A. Pott and F. A. Wright. (Broadway Translations.) E. P. -Dutton & Co., New York. $5. The epigrams of the Roman satirist translated into English verse. Martial has a bad reputation, because of about one epigram in twenty. In this translation many are given as literally as possible, considering the fact that this is a rendering into verse; some are a little veiled in their English form; a few have to be left in the original sin of the language in which the author wrote them. Martial covered every phase of Roman life, the harmless and innocent as well as the scandalous, and hundreds of his epigrams are merely witty and pleasant comments upon society as he had found it. Martial (Marcus Valerius Martialis) was born in Spain about 41 A.D., and died there about 104 A.D. If anybody despairs of our civilization, let him-if he can construe Latin-read a few of the lines left untranslated in this book. They Ild bring blushes to the cheeks of a group of cigar drummers in a smoking car. PUTNAM'S FRENCH CROSS WORD PUZZLE BOOK. By Henry E. Mills. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York. $1.50. Here is another book of cross word puzzles, this time in French. It will afford all the usual joys, with the added delight of increasing your knowledge of French-and perhaps your self-control, when you refrain (as, of course, you do always) from violent language. Building for America's growth The early builders of America made their houses of rough hewn logs or of stone or adobe lifted from the earth. Settlements grew to towns, towns to cities. Small stores and shops were built, and these in turn were torn down to make room for bigger ones. Roads, bridges and railways were constructed. Factories and skyscrapers were erected. And so, swiftly, the America of today appeared, still growing. In the midst of the development came the telephone. No one can tell how much of the marvelous later growth is due to it-how much it has helped the cities, farms and industries to build. We do know that the telephone became a part of the whole of American life and that it not only grew with the country, but contributed to the country's growth. Communication by telephone has now become so important that every American activity not only places dependence upon the telephone service of today, but demands even greater service for the growth of tomorrow. SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED TELEGRAPH CO COMPANIES AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES BELL SYSTEM One Policy, One System, Universal Service Notes on New Books Edited by E. P. Dut A PRIME MINISTER AND HIS SON. the Hon. Mrs. E. Stuart Wortley. ton & Co., New York. $6. From the correspondence of the Third Earl of Bute and of Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Stuart. Much of this is of especial interest to Americans on account of the chapters dealing with the American Revolution. CHILDREN'S FUNNY SAYINGS. Collected by D. B. Knox. E. P. Dutton & Co., New York. $2. The title of this book commands you to laugh. It takes very funny sayings, indeed, not to be spoiled when so presented. We have read the three sayings which constitute the first page, and gloom rests upon us like an inky cloak. In writing to the above advertiser, please mention The Outlook Investigated and Approved NVESTIGATION and analysis of bonds, so thorough as to satisfy the Every issue of Straus Bonds, whether secured by property in New York This organization, with offices in all principal cities, constantly is inves The thoroughness with which this House conducts its investigations is Write today for list of investments yielding 6%, or even better-with $86,000,000 in 1902 its gross earnings have grown to about $1,400,000,000 today. The industry has formed the habit of practically doubling every five years. Within the next ten, the "Electrical World" says, that energy generated will triple, gross revenue more than double, and that $6,000,000,000 will be spent on extensions and improvements. The product of this vast industry-electric current has become a prime necessity of modern civilization. A study of the electric power and light industry reveals the following points, each of which could be elaborated on at length: 1. Capital investment is necessarily heavy, requiring, it is estimated, about five dollars for every one dollar of rev enue. 2. Future possibilities depend on the increased use of industrial power, the extension of electric-lighting facilities to thousands of home communities, adaptation to the railroads, and the increased use of the central power station to replace privately generated power. is 3. Demand, once established, steady; the increased sale of labor-saving devices in the home promotes steadiness, which means economy of operation by abolishing sharp peaks of load. 4. Probably not more than twenty per cent of gross expense is for labor-a very low ratio. Hence a low labor risk. 5. Rates apparently decreasing rather than increasing. 6. Customer ownership, insuring widely divided ownership with consequent manifold advantages. Electric light and power plants are of three types: those making electricity by hydrogeneration-i. e., water power; those using steam; and a combination. It is hard to predict whether one type is likely to increase more rapidly than another. Steam-generated electricity requires a smaller per horse-power investment than hydrogenerated, a fact of great and often unrecognized importance. Whatever the source, the product is distributed to a growing legion of users and for a growing number of uses. In the last half decade transmission and distribution have been reorganized on a basis which, in effect, integrates important power producers and promises undreamed-of economy and efficiency. This is "super-power," described by David Cowan's $5,000 prize article in these words: "Super-power... is commonly used to describe the great network of interconnected lines of different companies whereby an extensive area is given power facilities with the least possible wastage. 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Smith Company was founded, in 1873, men and women who have put their money into our First Mortgage Investments have known but one result-perfect safety and perfect satisfaction. Behind Smith Bonds there is now a record of no loss to any investor in 52 years. 7% INTEREST ON EVERY PAYMENT You may use this plan to buy a single $100, $500 or Although our Investment Savings Plan is designed SEND FOR THESE TWO BOOKLETS Let us send you our two booklets, "Fifty-two Years of Proven Safety" and "How to Build an Independent Income." The first of these booklets tells about the time-tested safety features which have made Smith Bonds the choice of investors in 48 States and 30 foreign lands. The second booklet explains all details of our Investment Savings Plan and points out the results you can accomplish by systematic investment at 7%. Send your name and address today, on the form below, for copies of these two booklets. The F. H. Smith Company NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA Founded 1873 PITTSBURGH Smith Building, Washington, D.C. MINNEAPOLIS NO LOSS TO ANY INVESTOR IN 52 YEARS In writing to the above advertiser, please mention The Outlook 6-Z |