Chapter 65

20–15533

The titles of these stories are: The princess of Tork; Riders in the dark; The one hundred eightieth meridian; Mr Eberdeen’s house; The two lovers; The visit of the master; The little family; His new mortal coil; How the ship came in. The stories are reprinted from Harper’s and other magazines. The visit of the master appeared in the 1918 volume of Mr O’Brien’s “Best short stories.”

“‘Under the rose’ contains some charming tales. The happy whimsicality of expression in a number brings to mind similar happy whimsicalities of Henry James.” C. K. H.

“This is a bewildering collection of stories, effective and yet at the same time not wholly satisfying. The themes treated are many, the transition from story to story sometimes marking a leap of mood difficult to achieve. Almost every story is successful by itself; and this, after all, is a great deal to demand of fiction.”

JOHNSON, CLIFTON.What to see in America. (American highways and byways ser.) il *$3 Macmillan 917.3

19–19488

“The book is concerned with the human interest of our country in nature, history, industry, literature, legend, and biography. It is intended for travelers who visit the places of interest in person, and also for those other travelers whom chance or necessity keeps at home, but who travel far and wide on the wings of fancy.... Under each state is included such things as the first settlement, the capital, the largest city, the highest point, and facts of general interest concerning its past and present that add to the traveler’s zest in visiting it.” (Introductory note) Each state in the Union has a chapter and there are 500 illustrations including several maps.

“Rather too brief for the intensive sightseer. No index, but full contents by states with mention of attractions.”

“Mr Johnson has an observant eye, and he knows what he wants to say, but he is frequently unable to express himself in straightforward English.”

“Somewhere between a guide book and travel essays. Useful for reference.”

“The pictures are better than the history, and the history is better than the opinions, but there are few opinions and only enough history to add the right tincture of romance.”

“His 500 illustrations are well chosen, well engraved and well printed; and they are frequently alluring. Probably there are few of those who read Mr Johnson’s book who will not feel a desire to let their own eyes gaze upon the wonderful spots which are here photographed.” Brander Matthews

“The numerous pictures are well selected. The traveled reader is sure to find new things as well as old in the volume, and the ‘stay-at-home’ will find here new zest for fireside travels.”

“Travelers may make good use of this volume, and it may be commended to public-school geography classes.”

JOHNSON, ROBERT UNDERWOOD.Collected poems, 1881–1919. *$4 Yale univ. press 811

20–1009

The collection comprises the poet’s former volumes together with some new material. The contents are: The winter hour, and other poems; Songs of liberty, and other poems; Italian rhapsody, and other poems; Moments of Italy, and other poems; Saint-Gaudens: an ode; Later poems of occasion; Poems of war and peace; Poems of the great war; Poems chiefly of friendship or admiration; Later poems of the great war; Miscellaneous poems; Poems of Italy in war-time; Latest war-time poems.

“Many of his poems are occasional in character, and in these he displays his happiest inspiration. He has the professional after-dinner speaker’s talent for saying the right, the tactful thing about any person or event. Mr Johnson would make an excellent laureate.”

“There is much sweetness—which never descends to mere prettiness—much grace and a good deal of fine thought finely expressed in melodious verse. Mr Johnson has long and deservedly enjoyed a special place of distinction in modern American poetry of the conservative tradition.” H: A. Lappin

“To enjoy this volume you do not need to belong to any ‘school,’ nor to hold any poetic theory. All you need is to love poetry as the interpreter of the best things in nature and life.” H: Van Dyke

“All the poems are not of equal value. But the omnipresent dignity of Dr Johnson’s muse, his understanding love for Italy, and his unfailing respect both for his medium and his reader, bespeak alike the scholar and the citizen of the world.”

JOHNSON, STANLEY CURRIE.Medal collector. (Collector’s ser.) il *$2.50 Dodd 737

The book furnishes a guide to naval, military, air-force and civil medals and ribbons in the following order: The pioneer medals of England; Early medals of the Hon. East India Co.; Peninsular awards; Waterloo awards; The naval general service medal; Campaign medals; British orders and their insignia; The Victoria cross; Service medals for bravery, etc.; Commemorative medals; Medals for long service, good conduct, etc.; Regimental medals; Civil medals; Medals of the United States; Foreign awards. The book contains eight plates in color and numerous other illustrations and has appendices, a bibliography and index.

JOHNSON, STANLEY CURRIE.Stamp collector; a guide to the world’s postage stamps. (Collector’s ser.) il *$2.50 (3½c) Dodd 383

The author rates the hobby of stamp collecting highly from an intellectual, an economic and a commercial point of view, but first and foremost as a pastime full of charm and fascination. Since there is so much that can be collected and so much that ought not to be collected he offers this guide which equally satisfies the beginner and the more advanced collector. The first few chapters deal with philately on general terms. They are: Planning and arranging the collection; Specialised collections; Technical matters; Stamps, desirable and otherwise; Forged and faked stamps; Sir Rowland Hill and other pioneers. Then a number of chapters are devoted to a description of stamps of definite areas and the last four are: The stamps of war; Rare stamps; Philately for the young; A glossary of philatelic terms with a bibliography and an index.

“If the author’s line of demarcation between stamps desirable and otherwise is rather arbitrary, his advice as to the best method of forming and continuing a stamp collection is at least accurate.”

JOHNSON, THOMAS COSTELLO.Irish tangle and a way out. *$1.50 Gorham 941.5

20–5597

“Mr Johnson is an American clergyman (Church of the Holy Spirit, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, N.Y.) who went to Ireland in 1918 to give lectures about America’s part in the great war. The larger part of the book is historical—from early times to recent developments. Mr Johnson’s own solution is—with educational reform and the development of resources—federal government with parliaments for England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and a central parliament at Westminster.”—The Times [London] Lit Sup

Reviewed by Preserved Smith

JOHNSON, WILLIS FLETCHER.History of Cuba. 5v il $45 B. F. Buck & co., inc., 156 5th av., N.Y. 972.91

20–10078

“Taking San Salvador as his point of departure, the writer follows the narrative of the discoverer, in which he traces his course from one island to another, and by this means identifies the place of landing of Columbus on the shores of Cuba. Thus is begun the history of the island. With the fourth chapter, Dr Johnson abandons travel for science, and enters upon geological and topographical history of the great island. Dr Johnson traces the history of the early years of Spanish settlement in Cuba, with great particularity down to the close of the sixteenth century.... Subsequent passages relate the military operations of an expedition under Admiral Vernon and the British plans for the conquest of Spanish America, the attack upon Havana and its capture; and finally, the negotiations which resulted in the return of the island to Spain. The story follows of the American war for independence and the rise of the Republic of the United States and its influence upon Cuban affairs.... The fifth and final volume of the series is concerned with the natural resources of Cuba today. This volume has been compiled under the auspices of the Cuban department of agriculture, commerce and labor.”—Boston Transcript

“There seems to be no feature in Cuban history and character left untouched in this scholarly and comprehensive presentation of a subject until now neglected.” E. J. C.

“It is on the whole well proportioned. If this history were condensed into a single volume it might serve a useful purpose. Its faults would appear less glaring. But for the general reader it is too long and costly, and as an accurately conceived and scholarly account of Cuba it is simply a waste of good paper such as the trade at this moment can ill afford.” C. H. Haring

“Dr Johnson has looked at the facts, it may be said, from a Cuban point of view, and at the same time with a sense of proportion that is continental and international. He has produced not merely a manifesto of Cuban patriotism, nor on the other hand, a coldly detached compilation of facts, but a true national record. His work is not only a valuable archive or work of reference, but also a treatise of vital interest and importance to the people of this country.”

“A well-written history.”

JOHNSTON, SIR HARRY HAMILTON.Mrs Warren’s daughter; a story of the woman’s movement. *$2 Macmillan

20–7923

“In his first novel, ‘The Gay-Dombeys,’ Sir Harry Johnston undertook to show us the second generation, the descendants of Walter Gay and Florence Dombey. Now he comes forward with ‘Mrs Warren’s daughter,’ taking up the history of Vivie Warren and of her mother at the point where George Bernard Shaw left it. When the novel begins, Vivie and her friend Honoria Fraser compose the firm of ‘Fraser & Warren, consultant actuaries and accountants.’ They are doing very well, but find themselves perpetually hampered by the regulations and laws forbidding women admission to various professions. In a spirit of revolt against these man-made restrictions, Vivie decides to cut her hair, don masculine apparel and become David Vavasour Williams.... In 1910 she finally drops Mr David Vavasour Williams and begins to take an extremely active part in the militant suffragist movement.... Mrs Warren had taken up her residence in Brussels, and that was how it came about that when Vivie was released from prison during the first days of the world war she went straight to Belgium to join her mother. The description of the experiences of these two women especially during the months of von Bissing’s ‘terror’ is very interesting and well done.”—N Y Times

“Whimsical, entertaining and clever. Readers who liked ‘The Gay Dombeys’ will like this.”

“The incidents of the masculine masquerade partake more or less of the nature of a fairy tale, but even though they are not credible, they are delightful in their humor and their vigorous views of passing phases of this world of English art, science and society. Nothing human is alien to Sir Harry Johnston.” E. F. E.

“The single compelling section of the book is the middle one, in which the effects of the Pankhurst leadership are given with circumstantiality; but this is brief, and the rest falls away from it both in matter and tone. It seems curious that Sir Harry could have found so rich a pocket of ore and not have tried to mine it to the rock. ‘Mrs Warren’s daughter’ is a too-simple sketch of a notable subject, and it is nothing more.” C. M. R.

“In ‘The Gay-Dombeys’ there was the high gusto and boyish delight of a gifted man’s successful experiment in a new form of activity. His second book is notably less fresh and engaging.”

“Those who knew the zoological, geographical, anthropological, and other learned London societies some thirty or forty years ago will read these books with a double interest, for they will find that Sir Harry’s characters resuscitate past chapters in the history of scientific life in London. The author, it is needless to say, uses a light and nimble pen to draw word-pictures seen from a highly individualistic Harry Johnstonian angle.”

“Judged as a work of art the book fails. The structure is stumbling and plodding: the style second-rate journalism. The characterization, with the admirable exception of the redoubtable Mrs Warren herself (she shows Sir Harry’s loving study of Dickens), is singularly superficial and conventional.” S. C. C.

“Unfortunately, it puts not its best but its worst foot foremost, the poorest part of it being the first, in which occurs Vivie’s preposterous masquerade. It is not until the last third of the book and its sixteenth chapter are reached that the novel really begins to be distinctly interesting. This sixteenth chapter is headed ‘Brussels and the war: 1914.’”

“The interest is of a queer nature, but it certainly exists.”

“‘Mrs Warren’s daughter’ by contrast [with ‘The Gay-Dombeys’] is a laborious invention.” H. W. Boynton

“We move in an atmosphere of sentimental romance, by no means disagreeable, but miles apart from everything which we associate with the initials G. B. S.”

“On many matters of social interest he is fluent and furious, and those who like this style of thing will doubtless be thrilled. We, unfortunately, were unable to find anything like so many nice and amusing people here as there were in ‘The Gay-Dombeys,’ and must absolutely refuse to swallow Miss Warren.”

JOHNSTON, MARY.Sweet Rocket. *$1.65 (4c) Harper

20–18509

The strain of mysticism revealed in Miss Johnston’s previous novel is very evident in this book. Of story in the conventional sense there is none. Richard Linden has returned to Sweet Rocket, the home of his family before the war. Richard is blind, and Marget Land, who had been born on the place as the overseer’s daughter, acts as his secretary. There is a curious bond of unity between the two which has no relation to earthly love and both are bound to Sweet Rocket by deep spiritual ties. The spirit of the place is such that all who come to it, friends or strangers, fall under its spell. There are beautiful descriptions of the country alternating with discussions of a psychic and spiritual nature.

Reviewed by H. W. Boynton

“Miss Johnston has revealed with keen perception the idea of individual growth and expansion toward Godhood, and the setting of her book is of idyllic beauty.” F. M. W.

“Though some of Miss Johnston’s readers may be pleased that ‘Sweet Rocket’ is written in the same mystical vein and in furtherance of the same spiritual quest as ‘Foes’ and ‘Michael Forth,’ the majority will, at this third blow, relinquish with regrets the hope that she may ever again give us a novel in the manner of ‘To have and to hold.’”

“It is not enough to be sensitive to the beautiful—one must have a sense of relativity, of proportion. Miss Johnston here makes a too conscious effort at poetic expression.”

JOHNSTON, ROBERT MATTESON.First reflections on the campaign of 1918. *$1.50 (11c) Holt 940.373

20–5656

The author, who was attached to the general staff at General Pershing’s headquarters in France for twelve months, where he had every opportunity of observing the working of our war machine, offers his reflections as a “constructive criticism of our combat army.” He points out the flaws, due to our neglect of national preparedness, and how they can be avoided in the future. As he foresees that the competition of highly organized industrial communities, for markets and for raw material, is about to produce a series of wars over the whole surface of the globe, he pleads for the highest possible efficiency and combination of naval and military power. Contents: The U.S. army before the war; Leavenworth; The conduct of war; The rank and file; The regular officers; The national army officer; The National guard officer; The general staff; General Pershing; Tactics; The replacement system; Our army of the future.

JOHNSTON, WILLIAM ANDREW.Mystery in the Ritsmore. il *$1.75 (3c) Little

20–10309

The murder of a beautiful girl in the hotel apartment of a newly married couple takes place on the third day of their honeymoon. A young guest at the hotel, Anne Blair, is drawn into the case by her love of excitement. The mystery is apparently quickly solved by the police, and they let the matter drop. But Anne is not convinced it is so simple and, aided by John Rush, secretary to the millionaire, Harrison Hardy, keeps up independent investigations of her own. Her quest leads her into a maze of clues, which broaden out into a plot of international significance, in which great sums of money are involved. Although the plotters are clever, Anne Blair proves cleverer in the end, when she foils their schemes.

“It is an excellent mystery tale. As is often true of detective stories, the finale is something of a disappointment.”

“‘The mystery in the Ritsmore’ is an entertaining, ingenious and well-told yarn, which holds its secret up to the very end.”

“The story is episodical, but is well enough knit to interest.”

JONES, ELIAS HENRY.Road to En-Dor. il $2 (2c) Lane 940.47

20–7946

This book, “being an account of how two prisoners of war at Yozgad in Turkey won their way to freedom,” (Sub-title), is incidentally an exposé of spiritualism. The author, in conjunction with a brother officer and prisoner, Lieutenant Hill, began his experiments in spiritualism in good faith, but soon saw a possibility of escape through skillful manipulations. They came to the conclusion that spiritualism has a most deplorable effect even on people whose mental powers one admires, causing them to lose hold of the criteria of sane conclusions. “The messages we received from ‘the world beyond’ and ‘from other minds in this sphere’ were in every case, and from beginning to end, of our own invention.” Yet through them it was possible “to convert intelligent, scientific, and otherwise highly educated men to spiritualism, by means of the arts and methods employed by ‘mediums’ in general.” Although the incidents described in the book may seem preposterous, the author vows for their truthfulness. The book is illustrated by Lieutenant Hill and has a postscript and appendices.

“To have made such an exposure at the present time is to have done a real and lasting service.”

“Interesting as a war narrative, though told somewhat too much in detail. Also interesting propaganda for anti-spiritualists.”

“The book abounds in excellent and vigorous writing.”

“The reader who begins ‘The road to En-Dor’ after dinner will probably be found at one o’clock in the morning still reading.”

JONES, SIR HENRY.Principles of citizenship. *$1.25 Macmillan 320

20–12226

“This little book is intended for the use of such men as attended the Y. M. C. A. lectures in the British army abroad. The purpose is to give a general view of the duties and rights of citizens; and the language is, therefore, simple and expressive. An initial distinction is drawn between two conceptions of the state. The non-moral idea is said to be German. Suggestions are then made as to the problem of individuality which are held to refute the pacifist.”—Int J Ethics

“The author of this book is amiable and high-minded, but seems out of place in the stern modern world, a belated Victorian.” B. R.

“Must irritate any reader who really looks for some kind of serious thought in Great Britain. Sir Henry Jones might quite decently have left Hegel in his grave instead of serving him up to the Y. M. C. A. by way of education for the British army. He ingeniously combines several fallacies in one. In the first place, what he calls the state is really the nation. In the second place, the ‘good life’ is no more the object of one nation than another, and when a league of nations is in being the ‘good life’ might be supposed to have an international flavour about it. In the third place, no nation is worth its salt if the forces of improvement do not originate with individuals but derive their origin and impulse from politicians and bureaucrats.”

“Sir Henry Jones has a firm grasp of moral principles, sadly neglected or defied by many people nowadays, and his exposition of his argument is singularly clear.”

JONES, HENRY ARTHUR.Patriotism and popular education. *$4 Dutton 370

20–10632

“‘Patriotism and popular education; with some thoughts upon English work and English play, our evening amusements, Shakespeare and the condition of our theatres, slang, children of the stage, the training of actors, English politics before the war, national training for national defence, war and design in nature, the league of nations, the future world policy of America, capital and labour, religion, reconstruction, the great commandments, social prophets and social prophecy, competition and co-operation, the biologist and the social reformer, hand labour and brain labour, school teachers and rag-pickers, internationalism, and many other interesting matters, in a letter to the Rt. Hon. H. A. L. Fisher, president of the board of education.’ (Sub-title) The eminent playwright fully describes his book on the title-page, and it remains only to add that he pleads for practical education which would turn out good carpenters and good citizens, and has no patience with modern ideas that, as he considers, have put the majority of working-men ‘in open rebellion against the plainest economic laws.’”—Ath

“Seems rather an outburst of annoyance than a constructively thought out criticism.”

“As an experienced writer he can express himself vigorously in from two to a dozen ways, can produce many interesting, many wise, many suggestive, many amusing, and many provoking paragraphs. But if one is looking for help in dealing with either educational problems or the problems of state, he will find many smaller books much more helpful.”

“Suggestive as are Mr Jones’s opinions and arguments, stimulating as they are and thought-provoking, they are calculated for the meridian of Greenwich and not for that of Washington—which may make them a little less useful to us, although none the less entertaining.”

“Throughout the book there are passages that deserve a praise that cannot be accorded to the whole as a statement of first principles or as a treatise upon education.”

“He can not write either lifelessly or tediously. He can not write foolishly, either; and, although you may now and again disagree with him, you will hardly find him repellently unsympathetic. On the other hand, you may be apt to feel, he does not leave you much of anywhere.”

“Mr Jones is in the mood of a man who has had a bad piece of work palmed off on him and writes an indignant letter to the Times about it. His book is a whole collection of indignant letters. The truth is that Mr Jones has not thought out his arraignment.”

JONES, HERBERT.Well of being. *$1.50 Lane 821

20–7866

A book of poems composed of two parts, the first a series of love sonnets, the second, “O mistress mine!” a long narrative poem telling a story of youth and love in Vienna in the old light-hearted days of that city.

Reviewed by R. M. Weaver

“Mr Jones writes love sonnets with ease and skill; sometimes with a truly graceful aptness. Sometimes he drops to what is merely trifling, or strikes a false note. The same may be said of the long poem which fills the rest of the book.”

JONES, JOSHUA HENRY, jr.Heart of the world. *$1.25 Stratford co. 811

19–16027

The title poem was inspired by the speech of President Wilson in Boston on his first return from Europe in 1919. Among the other titles are: The pine tree; The parting; With you away; In summer twilight; Easter chimes; They’ve lynched a man in Dixie; Gone west; The universe; A southern love song; The potter and his ware.

“Fortunately we are not compelled to judge Mr Jones poetically by such a piece [the title poem]. With many another subject he is happier in both conception and execution. He has a broad range of interest and sympathies; has a discerning eye for nature and a warm emotion for simple experiences and personal associations.” W. S. B.

JONES, RUFUS MATTHEW.Service of love in war time. *$2.50 Macmillan 940.47

20–10376

“Rufus Jones’s ‘A service of love in war time’ is, as he says, ‘something more than the story of an impressive piece of relief work; it is the interpretation of a way of life.’ It is the story of the Quakers who found opportunity to express their pacifist convictions in reconstruction service in France. Incidentally it is a record of our War department’s methods in dealing with the conscientious objectors. Indeed it is this record of the religious objectors in the draft camps which is the most vivid part of Rufus Jones’s book—for he was the chief representative of the Quakers in long and painful negotiations with the military authorities. His account is a necessary corollary to Captain Kellogg’s book on the conscientious objector.”—Nation

“We commend this book to anyone who desires to read a story of singular and effective devotion and courage.”

“Can be recommended as an earnest, straightforward, well-detailed account of a great work.”

“It is easier to sigh for the book which this might have been than to criticize Mr Jones’s book for what it is. I could wish less emphasis on the inner experience and more details as to the outward work; less emphasis on individual conscience and more on the general lessons to be drawn from great experiences corporately shared. I could wish, too, for a less sentimental title.” E: E. Hunt

“The account [of the conscientious objectors] is instructive in many ways; it is free from any disposition to exaggerate such abuses of authority as occurred, and shows on the author’s part an admirable perception of the intricacy of the various interests and principles at stake. Yet we cannot but regret that he did not treat his part of his story more summarily.”

JONES, RUFUS MATTHEW.Story of George Fox. *$1.50 Macmillan

19–1571

“A volume in the series of ‘Great leaders’ lives.’ It is the story of a hero who for more than two hundred years has figured in histories and religious works, but whose personality has never been clearly outlined in popular literature. In this instance, at least, his biographer has succeeded in giving his subject a fair degree of definition.”—R of Rs

“Good concrete example of the ideals of the Friends, well written.”

“Narrow as is its scope and unpretentious the style of this short biography written for young people, it portrays the founder of the Society of Friends with masterly art.”

“A compact and well-written volume.”

JONES, SUSAN CARLETON (S. CARLETON, pseud.).La Chance mine mystery. il *$1.75 (2c) Little

Nicky Stretton, in the midst of his rough life as a miner, holds the vision of the wonderful “dream girl” who will some day come into his life. At the end of a day of discouragement, he comes home to find her, as beautiful as he had pictured her, seated by his fireplace. But it must not be supposed that they at once settle down to a life of sweet domesticity. On the contrary there are grave obstacles in the way. In the first place it appears that she is engaged to Nicky’s partner, and secondly, there is some mystery about her identity and her past which project an enemy into her present. Nicky is a bit slow about grasping the situation, but when he and the enemy finally come to grips, there is plenty of excitement and a startling number of hairbreadth escapes before his “dream girl” becomes his in reality.

“The tale is well told, skilfully setting forth a highly improbable action without letting us acknowledge to ourselves, while it is going on, that it is absurd.” H. W. Boynton

“This is a novel of excitement in which neither characters nor setting are neglected for the sake of mere plot.”

“Full of tender, whimsical sentiment that will make its appeal to men and women alike.”

“For plot and swift action ‘The La Chance mine mystery,’ with its charming love romance, in the setting of frozen forests, with their howling wolf packs, is a story of the great out-of-doors that will satisfy the most blasé reader.”

Reviewed by Joseph Mosher

JONESCU, TAKE.Some personal impressions. il *$3 (6¼c) Stokes 923

20–3876

The author of this volume was former prime minister of Roumania. Of this English version Viscount Bryce writes in the introduction: “the descriptions it contains are for the most part vigorous sketches rather than portraits. Some, however, may be called vignettes, more or less finished drawings, each consisting of few lines, but those lines sharply and firmly drawn. Intermingled with this score of personal sketches there are also a few brief essays or articles which set before us particular scenes, little fragments of history in which the author bore a part, all relating to the persons who either figured in the war, or were concerned with the intrigues from which it sprang.” Contents: Monsieur Poincaré; Prince Lichnowsky; Count Berchtold; The marquis Pallavicini; Count Goluchowsky; August 2, 1914; Kiderlen-Waechter; Count Aehrenthal; Count Czernin; Count Mensdorff; England’s antipathy to war; The responsibility for the war; King Charles of Roumania; Herr Riedl; Count Szeczen; Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace; Baron Banffy; Roumanian policy; Tragedy; Count Tisza; Talaat Pasha; Prince von Bülow; Taticheff; France and the Teuton; A cousin of Tisza; New Italy; Why four last Germans; Eleutherios Venizelos; The kaiser.

“Some light is thrown on the events immediately preceding the war, and although the book is almost diplomatically polite, we see once more of what poor quality these official great men usually are.”

“Through all the back-stage chat which a diplomat loves we catch sharp flashes which throw into new relief many of the great events connected with the war.” H. F. Armstrong

“The book, being what it is, naturally does not contain or profess to contain the matured contribution to the history of the last decades which we hope some day to have from his pen; but none the less it will be useful to many and can be read with pleasure by all.”

JOSEPH, MRS HELEN (HAIMAN).Book of marionettes. il *$5 Huebsch 792

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