Chapter 87

20–19297

A volume of Verses, Sonnets, and Translations from the Chinese, varying from the broadly humorous to the whimsical and tender. The “translations,” the author frankly states, are based on a rather rudimentary knowledge of the language gleaned from laundry slips. The poems are reprinted from the New York Evening Post, Philadelphia Public Ledger, Life, and other periodicals.

“Christopher Morley is not quite so successful this time. He still tries to blend sugary light verse with even more sugary lyrics. He is at his best in the lowbrow translations from the ‘Chinese.’” Clement Wood

Reviewed by E. L. Pearson

MORLEY, CHRISTOPHER DARLINGTON.Kathleen. il *$1.25 (5c) Doubleday

20–5771

The story is an Oxford undergraduate prank. The Scorpions, literary club, agree to write a serial story on shares. In lieu of ideas they make up a tale around certain names mentioned in a letter accidentally found and signed Kathleen. They work themselves up into some romantic fervor about their heroine and eventually go on an expedition to find the real Kathleen at the address mentioned in the letter. She is all their fancy has painted. Under various disguises they gain entrance to her home and after an orgy of mystification, Blair, the Rhodes scholar from Tennessee, makes a clean confession and carries off the palm of victory.

“A slight and amusing tale.”

“‘Kathleen’ is forced from beginning to end. ‘Kathleen’ is a warning to all writers who ignore the fact that there are difficulties even in the construction of a trifle designed for an hour’s entertainment.”

MORLEY, CHRISTOPHER DARLINGTON.Pipefuls. il *$2 Doubleday 817

20–20442

“Pipefuls” is apropos of the brevity of the sketches in this collection compiled from the New York Evening Post, the Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger and other journals. The author characteristically declares: “These sketches gave me pain to write; they will give the judicious patron pain to read; therefore we are quits.... And yet perhaps the will-to-live is in them, for are they not a naked exhibit of the antics a man will commit in order to earn a living?” (Preface) In one of the sketches, Confessions of a “colyumist,” in which he expatiates on the task of conducting a newspaper column, he thus parodies Wordsworth:

“The meanest paragraph that blows will giveThoughts that do often lie too deep for sneers.”

“The meanest paragraph that blows will give

Thoughts that do often lie too deep for sneers.”

The illustrations are from drawings by Walter Jack Duncan.

“Short crisp amusing papers with the mellowness and pungency which are characteristic of this fluent author’s work.” Margaret Ashmun

“Mr Morley is like a painter who converts the commonplace into a work of art.”

“In other words, if one wants to believe things honestly worth while, despite unquestioned difficulties, if one wants to walk in the reflected sunshine he sheds on the ‘sunny side of Grub street,’ if one longs to see the ultimate value of unconsidered trifles, if, in fact, one asks for a lifting grin at the bad crossings, or only some fun, humanwise, by the way, read Christopher Morley.” I. W. L.

“Mr Morley, one is glad to see, seems to be shaking off the sugar-crystals which were threatening to encase his style; and in this volume one rejoices in passages of real charm, the product of an alert and sensitive imagination.”

MORLEY, CHRISTOPHER DARLINGTON.Travels in Philadelphia. il *$1.50 (2c) McKay 917.48

20–5213

In his introduction to this collection of sketches, originally printed in the Evening Public Ledger, A. Edward Newton says: “Where else shall we find simplicity, the gayety, the kindly humor, and the charm of this gentle essayist? Who, other than Morley, could make a walk out Market street of interest and a source of fun?... Who, but he, could find in the commonplace, sordid, and depressing streets of our city, subjects for a sheaf of dainty little essays, as delightful as they are unique?” Some of the titles are: Little Italy; Meeting the gods for a dime; Trailing Mrs Trollope; The Ronaldson cemetery; Chestnut street from a fire escape; The recluse of Franklin square; Up the Wissahickon; The Whitman centennial; Anne Gilchrist’s house; Penn treaty park; At the mint; Madonnas of the curb; On the sightseeing bus; Putting the city to bed. The illustrations are from drawings by Frank H. Taylor.

“These articles combine a happy, not too studied description with pleasant humor into a congenial guide book to Philadelphia.”

“The book is here for everybody to read and take pleasure in whether or not they have ever seen Philadelphia. Perhaps some day Mr Morley will come hither and give us a like book about Boston.” E. F. E.

“To an old Philadelphian the insight of Mr Christopher Morley is really wondrous.” M. F. Egan

MORLEY, LINDA H., and KIGHT, ADELAIDE C.2400 business books and guide to business literature. *$5 Wilson, H. W. 016

This is a revision of the work called “1600 business books,” compiled by Sarah B. Ball and published in 1916. It has been prepared by Linda H. Morley and Adelaide C. Kight of the Business branch of the Newark public library, under the direction of John Cotton Dana. “The sub-title ‘Guide to business literature’ is added to make it plain that the book is far more than a list of 2400 volumes. It is an index to the contents of those volumes; that is, it lists, in alphabetic order, under 2000 different headings, the subjects which are treated in these 2400 books. These headings are in addition to those entries which give the names of the writers of the 2400 books and in addition to the entries which give their titles.” (Introd.) The entries are arranged in one alphabet, with a publishers’ directory at the close.

MORRIS, EDWIN BATEMAN.Cresting wave. *$1.75 Penn

20–4440

“An American story of a young, successful, but unscrupulous, financier, giving a picture of society financial markets, and the conflict of business methods and the passion of love.”—The Times [London] Lit Sup

“Edwin Bateman Morris’s preceding novels have prepared us for moderately good tales from his pen, and ‘The cresting wave’ is no disappointment.”

“The author here has taken a safe course in his novel of more than four hundred pages, and if he presents us with nothing especially new, at least he does no violence to no tradition and does not attempt to paint his hero in impossible colors.”

“‘The cresting wave’ is built upon one of the very oldest of ideas or morals: namely, that it is better to be decent than successful, better to serve than to grasp. Perhaps my gratitude to young William Spade for neither trying to write a novel nor spouting free verse nor hanging about cafes and studios in search of ‘life’ prejudices me unduly in his favor.” H. W. Boynton

MORRIS, HARRISON SMITH.Hannah Bye. *$1.75 Penn

20–7646

“The Quaker life and character is sketched in this simple and sweet story of Hannah Bye. The scene is in a Quaker community and the characters are varied. Here is Deborah Bye, cold, harsh, uncompromising, whose conscience forms her whole character and whose personality rather than her religion, forms her conscience. Her daughter, Hannah, the heroine of the story, is a far sweeter character and one which appeals strongly to the reader. Ruth Blake, her nearest friend, makes the acquaintance of a city visitor to the country, of whom Hannah warns her without success. The fall comes and Hannah, in her effort to keep and save Ruth, draws upon herself her mother’s anger. The peaceful home is shattered but Hannah in the end restores its peace.”—Boston Transcript

“The story is restful, with here and there a dash of humor, but one which will appeal to all in its quiet delineation of character, which appears to be drawn from real life.”

“Mr Morris’s descriptions of the country are sympathetic and reveal an artist’s eye; he has handled the Quaker jargon with some success, but not exhaustively or to the complete satisfaction of the insider. Any Quaker will, certainly, take exception to the hard, domineering character attributed to Hannah’s mother, Deborah Bye. The Quaker meeting for worship is also incongruous, and the dance and its sequel are inappropriately melodramatic.” W. W. Comfort

“The picture of a little rural community centered about the quaint meeting-house of the society of Friends is delightful.’”

MORRISON, ALFRED JAMES.East by west; essays in transportation. *$1.50 (3½c) Four seas co. 382

20–26869

“A commentary on the political framework within which the East India trade has been carried on from early times, starting with Babylon and ending very near Babylon.” (Subtitle) The book begins with the twentieth century before Christ describing the avenues of trade to and from Babylon, “formed by position for a seat of empire and commerce,” and falls into two parts, part one ending with Venice as the great commercial center in the fifteenth century. Part two begins with the trade ascendancy of Portugal, at the time of the discovery of America, and ends with the Bagdad railway and “The great transportation war.” An edition of the book was published by Sherman, French in 1917.

“The book was probably not designed and is certainly not adapted to fit the needs of a serious student, but may attract the casual reader by its rapid movement and informal style.”

“Some of the remarks seem but remotely connected with the subject of transportation.”

“The underlying causes which caused the movements of civilization are dealt with in a lively style, which is not often found in books of this kind.”

MORSE, EDWIN WILSON.Life and letters of Hamilton Wright Mabie. il *$3 (3½c) Dodd

20–20980

A biography of a distinguished author, editor and lecturer, quoting liberally from his letters and from the letters written to him by others. There are chapters on: Ancestry, boyhood and youth; At Williams college in the ‘sixties; Recollections of Dr Mark Hopkins and Emerson; In the uncongenial law; On the staff of the Christian Union; Associate editor of the Christian Union; A memorable decade; Non-professional activities; Literary honors; The middle period; Ambassador of peace to Japan; The world war; The last year; Editor, author and lecturer; Character and personality. There is an index of names and places.

“Mr Morse’s ‘The life and letters of Hamilton W. Mabie’ is conceived and carried through in the spirit of its subject. It is clear, sympathetic, and convincing.” H: Van Dyke

“Mr Morse has performed his task excellently, with sufficient fulness and good judgment in selection of his material. The book is also well illustrated.”

“The reviewer does not mean to suggest that Mr Morse’s volume is dull, but is far from exciting. The subject of it led an uneventful life, in the sense that there were few dramatic happenings in his life.”

“Shows careful and sympathetic study of an influential American.”

MOSHER, MRS ANGE (MCKAY).Spell of Brittany. il *$3 Duffield 914.4

20–21069

This volume by an American woman who had lived long in Brittany is devoted largely to its history, traditions and folklore. There are chapters on Madame de Sévigné; Folk-lore and Jeanne de Pontorson; Mont St Michel and its legends; St Malo and Chateaubriand; A folk song of St Malo; Dinard, Dinan and excursions; Félix de Lamennais; The legend and pardon of St Yves; Breton wedding; Brest and the adjacent islands; Audierne, and the legend of Ys; Saints and fairies; Nantes and Anne of Brittany, etc. Among the illustrations are reproductions of paintings. There is an index. The introduction by Anatole LeBraz is in the nature of a memorial to the author, who died in 1918.

“Good print and make-up.”

Reviewed by Margaret Ashmun

“Exceedingly bright and fascinating are these chapters out of the life of a lovely woman who made the study of these people her avocation, if not her actual vocation.” E. J. C.

MOTON, ROBERT RUSSA.Finding a way out; an autobiography. *$2.50 (4½c) Doubleday

20–10075

In writing his story it was the hope of the author “that the telling of it would serve a useful purpose, especially at this time, in helping to a clearer understanding of the hopes and aspirations of my own people and the difficulties which they have overcome in making the progress of the last fifty years which has been so frequently described as ‘the most remarkable of any race in so short a time.’” (Preface) Contents: Out of Africa; On a Virginia plantation; Through reconstruction; Doing and learning; A touch of real life; Ending student days; Black, white, and red; With north and south; From Hampton to Tuskegee; At Tuskegee; War activities; Forward movements in the south; Index. The author succeeded Booker T. Washington as head of Tuskegee institute.

“This autobiography not only impresses one with the worth and dignity of its writer but charms and amuses the reader with the sense of humor and the sweetness which the author has carried with him.”

Reviewed by M. E. Bailey

“If not so romantic as the autobiography of his predecessor, Dr Booker T. Washington nevertheless this story of the life of the present head of Tuskegee, is a document of vital interest. The chapters on From Hampton to Tuskegee and At Tuskegee are among the most important of Dr Moton’s autobiography.” W. S. B.

Reviewed by M. W. Ovington

“We wish that this volume might find its way into every public library in the United States and into every school and church library in the South.”

“His book deserves to be read on his own account, and also for the side lights that it throws upon negro conditions and problems.”

“It is easy to read and is highly informing and inspiring regarding the career of one of America’s outstanding figures in contemporary affairs. It is bound to be read, especially by those who enjoy an unusual autobiography.” F. P. Chisholm

MOTTELAY, PAUL FLEURY, comp. Life and work of Sir Hiram Maxim; knight, chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, etc. il *$2 (4c) Lane

20–13086

Biographical facts are set forth in a foreword by the author. This is followed by an introduction by Lord Moulton. The body of the book is then devoted to the inventions of Sir Hiram Maxim, with chapters on: Electric lighting; Maxim automatic gun; Powders; Explosives; Erosion of guns; Fuzes; Gun for attacking Zeppelins; Lewis gun—Madsen gun; Flight of a projectile; Aerial navigation; etc. There are seven illustrations, appendixes and index.

MOULTON, JOHN FLETCHER MOULTON, 1st baron.Science and war. pa *80c (7½c) Putnam 509

(Eng ed 19–15830)

This small volume contains the Rede lecture for 1919, at Cambridge university. In beginning his enumeration of the debts the war owes to science Lord Moulton, without apparent ironical intent, points out that science made the war possible. He shows that the war represented “the results of the totality of scientific progress” from the beginning and then devotes himself to the more recent developments of science and invention that determined the character and extent of the war. In conclusion he warns that the next war may mean not only the end of civilization but the self-destruction of mankind.

Reviewed by B: C. Gruenberg

MOULTON, RICHARD GREEN, ed. Modern reader’s Bible for schools; the New Testament. *$2.25 Macmillan 225

20–5983

“‘The modern reader’s Bible’ is not a new translation. It is the ordinary Bible (revised version), without alteration as to matter or wording, but printed in such a way as to bring out to the eye the full literary form and structure. This literary form and structure refers to such things as the difference between story, song, drama, discourse, essay: the distinction between verse and prose, together with the delicate variations of verse which make such a large part of the effect of poetry.” (Introd.) In addition to the general introduction each of the three parts, Gospels, Acts, Epistles and Revelation, has its special introduction. Some forty pages of notes are arranged at the end and there is an index “designed to give assistance in the more systematic reading of the New Testament.” There is also a frontispiece map.

“On the whole the book seems admirably adapted to the purpose intended—to provide a text of the New Testament with explanations adequate and truthful yet thoroughly adapted virginibus puerisque.”

“Professor Moulton’s ‘Reader’s Bible,’ good as it is, does not please everyone because he varies the order of the canon, and because he adopts the revised version. However, we are glad to see his simplified edition of the New Testament. It is far easier to read than any ordinary Testament.”

MOWAT, ROBERT BALMAIN.Henry V. il *$3.50 Houghton 942.04

“Henry V in his day was held to be the pattern of a chivalrous knight: round his name has centred the romance of medieval England; in his person Shakespeare found already expressed the glory of the Elizabethan age, the symbol of our national aspirations. The character of Henry V has many of the faults but all the virtues of his time; ... his kindness and good fellowship; his bravery and sense of justice; his unremitting industry; his piety.” (Chapter I) Among the contents are: The legendary and the real Henry; The French war; The conquest of Normandy; The treaty of Troyes; The work and character of Henry V. The book is illustrated and has an appendix, a bibliography and an index. An earlier edition of this work appeared in 1915.

“It is natural in such a biography rather to emphasize the heroic, and within the limits of his space Mr Mowat has given us a very readable and on the whole accurate history. But space would not permit the writer to add much that is new.” C. L. Kingsford

Reviewed by E. L. Pearson

“Mr Mowat has written a good book, which should be widely read. He has very rightly relied in the main upon the chief French and English chronicles and biographies, and has avoided the tendency, rather too common just now, to pick out erudite and often irrelevant detail from half-read sources.”

MUIR, EDWIN.We moderns; enigmas and guesses. *$1.75 Knopf 192

20–26566

The volume is the fourth in the series of Free lance books, edited with introductions by H. L. Mencken. It is a book of aphorisms after the manner of Nietzsche and inspired by the philosophy of Nietzsche. They are animadversions on life and all the modern aspects of life as revealed in our art, literature, science, and religion; and are grouped under the headings: The old age; Original sin; What is modern? Art and literature; Creative love; The tragic view.

“There are lapses, superficialities, but on the whole this is criticism, of life and of literature, which must effect a change in one’s habits of thought.”

“These aphorisms are utterly without the meretricious glitter of the common epigram; they are luminous with the sober light of truth. Like Pascal’s ‘Pensees’ the logic that underlies the book is, in its smaller scale, an unconstructed cathedral of thought: it demands a certain architectural intuition of the reader. One thing is certain: no utterances more tonic, more bracing have rent the sultry firmament of contemporary literature.”

“He is, on the evidence of this little volume, a thinker not lightly to be passed by.”

MUMFORD, ALFRED ALEXANDER.Manchester grammar school, 1515–1915; a regional study of the advancement of learning in Manchester since the reformation. il *$8.50 (*21s) Longmans 373

20–8869

“This volume has seventeen chapters with twenty-one appendixes of documents, tracing the history of the Manchester school for three hundred years. The author is more interested in the personal history of its benefactors, directors, masters, and graduates, than he is in detailed information regarding the school’s management, support, system of education, etc., at various periods. This is somewhat disappointing to the American student. On the other hand the volume is much more than a history of one school or even of the educational forces and agencies in Manchester. There is much of value on the educational and intellectual development of England in general, and comment on the larger factors of an economic, social, and religious character, which influenced the course of this development. The main thread of the story has to do with the struggle to democratize the school and to supplant the old classical curriculum with one which would more directly meet the new economic and social conditions ushered in by the industrial revolution. There are numerous illustrations of Manchester, the school and notables connected with it, and a good index.”—Am Hist R

“The book is a creditable piece of work, even if it does not measure up to the high standard of scholarship which other writers have set in their histories of similar schools.” M. W. Jernegan

“The last chapter of Dr Mumford’s book contains much valuable material. As he was for a long time medical examiner at the school, his testimony against military training in secondary schools is important. Other valuable expert testimony is that given in regard to the irregular development of the adolescent.” W. S. Hinchman

MUNDY, TALBOT.Eye of Zeitoon. il *$2 Bobbs

20–4959

“Those who followed the fortunes of the four friends who traveled ‘The ivory trail’ will rejoice at the opportunity here afforded of meeting them once again and sharing the thrilling adventures which befell them because of ‘The eye of Zeitoon.’ This same ‘Eye of Zeitoon’ was not a precious stone of any kind, but a man named Kagig, an Armenian and a patriot, doing his best to save his countrymen from the Turks. Two women play important parts in the story—Gloria Vanderman, an American girl, resolute, strong-willed and fearless, able to handle a pistol or even a rifle in a moment of danger, and that effectively, and the mysterious Maga Jhaere, the wild, pagan, primitive half-gypsy, a veritable fiend at times, yet almost a child in her naïveté. She is interesting, but not so interesting as Kagig himself.”—N Y Times

“‘The eye of Zeitoon’ shows a great advance on ‘The ivory trail,’ which we reviewed not long ago. It has more coherence, fewer horrors, and a descriptive quality which at times touches the point of brilliance.”

“‘The eye of Zeitoon’ has most of the Kipling tricks and some of the Kipling virtues. As a yarn, it drags at times, its briskness of style being in odd contrast with the sluggish action.” H. W. Boynton

“Talbot Mundy would like to be a second Rudyard Kipling and he never will, but if you don’t insist on making invidious comparisons and if you like hot fighting you can find a lot of interest and excitement in this tale.”

“A dramatic, well-written and absorbing romance of high adventure.”

Reviewed by Katharine Oliver

“A highly interesting element is the author’s portraiture of eastern characters.”

“Mr Mundy strives valiantly after thrills and excitements, but scarcely succeeds in rising above the level of musical comedy.”

MUNDY, TALBOT.[2]Told in the East. *$2 Bobbs

20–21184

“Two of the three stories in Talbot Mundy’s ‘Told in the East’ are of the proportions of novelets. They are based on dramatic incidents in the Indian mutiny. The third has a humorous trend but is withal a typical Mundy tale. The first of the trio, ‘Hookum, Hai’ has for its central figure Bill Brown, a stoical British sergeant, who, while assigned to an isolated outpost in command of a dozen men, is caught in the maelstrom of the initial uprising. A typical Mundy character—a loyal, aristocratic Rajput officer—is the hero of ‘For the salt he had eaten,’ the second story. ‘Machassan Ah,’ the final tale, relates the humorous experiences of two British bluejackets who go ashore at an Arabian port in pursuit of a native who proclaims himself an Englishman.”—Springf’d Republican

“None of the three tales published in the present volume is lacking in excitement; in fact, there is a little too much of it.”

“Through the magic of these printed pages, we are transported to the India of the last century.”

“The three stories will afford pleasure and entertainment.”

MUNK, JOSEPH AMASA.[2]Southwest sketches. il *$3.50 Putnam 917.8

The book describes the mesa and desert country and the coast line of the Southwest geographically, geologically, climatologically and ethnographically. The healthfulness, beauty and rare fascination of the country are dwelt upon and the 133 illustrations give some idea of the scenery and the remains of pioneer and aboriginal life. The contents are: The mesa country; Land of the cliff dwellers; In Hopiland; The Flagstaff region; The petrified forests of Arizona; El Rito de los Frijoles; On the Arizona frontier; Passing of the Apache; Ranch reminiscences; Big irrigation projects; Southwest climate; Southern California.

“A pleasantly informal travel book. Mr Munk evidently writes with thorough knowledge and shows an appreciative eye for the beauties and oddities of that country and its native people. Particularly fascinating is the description of the petrified forests of Arizona.”

MUNROE, JAMES PHINNEY.Human factor in education. *$1.60 Macmillan 370.1

20–2741

“A volume defending vocational education and written by a vice-chairman of the Federal board for vocational education. The author tries to show that the old regime of twenty years and more ago was a flat failure in the scheme of education in the United States. There is strong intimation that much of the old system is still in force. He shows how the great world war has helped bring us to our senses in the matter of educating boys and girls in a many-sided way rather than in a narrow way as previously. (School R) “The book does not advocate, however, the separation of vocational from academic schools.” (Booklist)

“The plea for reorganization of elementary and secondary education could hardly be put more forcibly than is here given. To the casual reader, however, there seems to be some overemphasis in places; but this only makes one think more carefully.”

MURCHISON, CLAUDIUS TEMPLE.Resale price maintenance. pa *$1.50 Longmans 338.5

19–17749

“Dr Murchison lays the foundation for discussion of price maintenance in the two chapters upon marketing: The organization of the market, and Irregularities of the present retailing system. The discussion of price maintenance is given in chapters five to eight.” (Am Econ R) “[Other subjects discussed are] the function of the retailer, and attempts to prevent price-cutting. Issued as Columbia university studies in history, economics, and public law.” (Brooklyn)

“A serious study such as this is to be commended even though it does not say the last word upon price maintenance.” H. R. Tosdal

“The various forms of price maintenance and of price cutting are described in detail, and the arguments for and against both, as well as for the author’s own compromise position, are stated with lucidity. If the reader remains unconvinced, the reason lies in the fact that in actual life the problem of price determination is bound up with a variety of other problems of equal importance to the consumer.” B. L.

MURDOCK, VICTOR.China, the mysterious and marvellous. il *$2.50 Revell 915.1

20–20219

“Mr Murdock’s book is simply a narrative of a trip into China that took him rather far into the interior and away from the usual route of the tourist.” (Freeman) “He says, ‘Here is the history of the present volume. My brother in Wichita took the letters I had written and as they had been published in our paper, the Eagle, put them in the form they bear. Our idea was to let me give copies of it to particular friends.” (N Y Times)

“It is unfortunate, we think that Mr Murdock elected to write this story of his travels, not in English, but in journalese. Some three hundred pages of etymological ‘jazz’ places an undue strain on the reader’s literary nerves. And this is more the pity because the author can command good, plain English when he wants to.” Harold Kellock

“The text is so frisky, the words so plain and slangy, comparisons so lacking, and the subject dealt with so personally, that I wondered at a publisher printing such a book with paper and labor so dear.” F: O’Brien

MURRAY, ELSIE RIAEH, and SMITH, HENRIETTA BROWN.Child under eight. (Modern educator’s lib.) *$1.90 (*6s) Longmans 372.2

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