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ing on human effort, would, by the world's charity, be let out on contract. So much by bid for converting India, so much for Borneo, so much for Africa. You see this doing good in the world by driblets is just nothing. I am for doing good in the world with a will. Do but think of the eddies and maelstroms of pagans in China. People here have no conception of it. Of a frosty morning in Hongkong, pauper pagans are found dead in the streets like so many nipped peas in a bin of peas. To be an immortal being in China is no more distinction than to be a snowflake in a snowsquall. What are a score or two of missionaries to such a people? I am for sending ten thousand missionaries and converting the Chinese en masse within six months of the debarkation. The thing is then done, and turn to something else.'" Such was the ironic temper of Melville's mood in 1857.

Of the four books which he published after that date two were privately printed in limited editions and three contained exclusively verse. As Mr. Weaver observes, "Melville's family seem all to have been more skeptical of

FICTION

his verse than they were of his prose. In 1859 Mrs. Melville wrote to her mother, 'Herman has taken to writing poetry. You need not tell any one, for you know how such things get around.' Mrs. Melville was too optimistic: her husband's indiscreet practice is still pretty much a secret to the world at large." Most of these poems, and they are sufficiently quoted by Mr. Weaver, deal with the speculative divagations which preoccupied Melville's long period of silence. Mr. Weaver quotes Melville's verdict on "Clarel," the longest and most revealing of his poems: "A metrical affair, a pilgrimage or what not, of several thousand lines, eminently adapted for unpopularity." "Though this is completely true," says Mr. Weaver, "Melville used in 'Clarel' more irony, vividness, and intellect than the whole congregation of practicing poets of the present day (a few notable names excepted) could muster in aggregate. Yet with all this wealth of the stuff of poetry, the poem never quite fulfills itself." And, with the exception of "Moby Dick," the statement seems equally well to apply to the bulk of Melville's writing.

THE NEW BOOKS

NOVELS OF TURGENEV (THE). Translated from the Russian by Constance Garnett. The Macmillan Company, New York. $2. The store of good material in Turgenev's writings seems inexhaustible. Some of his short stories appeared fifteen years ago in this excellent collective edition, with the same translator and publisher. The tales in this volume are strange, dramatically tense, but with the tragedy there is often intermingled a humorous strain.

SHERIDAN ROAD MYSTERY (THE). By Paul and Mabel Thorne. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York. $1.75.

A detective story well carried on until the end approaches, when the villain's villainy is so excessive that the reader ceases to believe in him.

HISTORY AND POLITICAL ECONOMY AMERICAN HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT.

By Matthew Page Andrews, M. A. Illustrated. The J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia. $2.

A remarkably complete and wellwritten account of our country's history from its beginnings to the present time. The reading of the book will interest and stimulate every one who is at all familiar with our life as a nation and the problems that have beset it. A Southern slant will undoubtedly be felt by the Northern reader in some of the chapters (notably in the account of Brooks's assault on Senator Sumner), but on the whole the author's attempt to present an unbiased narrative is fairly successful, and his point of view is always interesting and skillfully put.

BIG FOUR AND OTHERS OF THE PEACE CONFERENCE (THE). By Robert Lansing. Illustrated. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. $2.50. We have already spoken at some length about Mr. Lansing's remarkable pen portrait of President Wilson in his

book entitled "The Peace Negotiations: A Personal Narrative." The present volume is devoted to slighter and lighter sketches of a few of the notable figures of the Paris Conference. Naturally that relating to Mr. Wilson is here comparatively short and slight. Those dealing with Clemenceau, Lloyd George, and Orlando are carefully written and are keen in character analysis. The other chapters, which deal with Venizelos, Feizul, Botha, and Paderewski, are avowedly mere impressions, not thorough studies.

STORY OF THE IRISH RACE (THE). By Seumas MacManus. The Irish Publishing Company, New York. $6.

Written by Irish men and women in a spirit of sympathy with the nationalistic aspirations of their race, this book nevertheless deals largely with other than political themes. The story of Ireland's early civilization receives full treatment, and much of this portion of the book will be new to most American readers. As a whole, the volume presents a somewhat somber picture of a race whose future at the present time seems luminous with hope.

MISCELLANEOUS

SOUL OF AN IMMIGRANT (THE). By Constantine M. Panunzio. The Macmillan Company, New York. $2.

This book has attracted deserved attention because, like the narrative of personal experience written years ago by Mary Antin, it brings close to the reader's mind the feelings and impressions of an immigrant who enters this country with a deep love of liberty. In this case the sailor boy described had unhappy and unfortunate experiences, was ill treated, but still struggled on, and in the end became an American citizen of the kind we like to have.

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"-and the men would lean their guns up against the wall, handy

and then all would join in prayer; though the man next the aisle didn't kneel-he kinda stood guard."

PIOUS souls, they were in those days

-quaint Mississippi River daysand vigilant all the while. For the ownership of a disputed calf could never be settled until the family of one or the other contender was exterminated. Can you picture the people of the river towns the river pilot, as romantic a figure as American history produced; brawling deckhands, picturesque traveling mendicants, levee darkies-the craft that plied the shifting bed of the Father of Waters? Not until you have read the man who lived the life, knew its spirit and caught its humor-Mark Twain. As far back as you can remember you have heard of Mark Twain as a story-teller. You have read many of his imperishable works. But did know that this great story-teller had written his conception of how a story should be told? This he has done, and you may have it FREE. Merely clip the coupon and we shall send you the free booklet which contains Mark Twain's delightful instructive essay, "How to Tell a Story." The booklet also contains a complete reprint of one of the funniest stories the great humorist ever wrote. We have included in this same little book interesting and valuable information about the Author's National Edition of the Works of

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1922

WHEN YOUR INSURANCE DOLLAR PUTS ON ITS OVERALLS

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BY FORREST F. DRYDEN

TAND some morning in the office of large life insurance company when the mail is opened. See the great stacks of letters brought in and emptied on the receiving tables, and let your imagination busy itself with the stories that lie behind these envelopes. Here is a money order from a crossroads post office-only a few dollars, yet a husband and wife have sacrificed for a month to purchase the protection it Here is a check for thourepresents. sands a corporation has insured the life of its president, in order that the business may be protected in the event of his loss.

envelopes and poor, Stiff, formal shabby envelopes-some addressed in typewriting, some in ink, some with lead pencil in letters hardly legible, but every one a magnificent testimony to For the people from human faith. whom these envelopes come have never seen the office of the insurance company nor met its officers; they are intrusting the dearest thing in the world-the protection of their wives and children-to men whose names even are almost unSurely there is no known to them. more solemn trust than this. I pity the insurance man, no matter how familiar the sight may be to him, who can watch the morning mail being opened without feeling a renewed and deepened sense of obligation at this vast, silent ritual of Confidence and Faith.

Now what becomes of these millions that are sent to the insurance companies from families all over the world? Are they kept piled up in banks? Some of them are, for sound insurance practice dictates that the company shall always have a large reserve in cash. No one knows when a catastrophe or an epidemic may come, making thousands of families suddenly dependent-the insurance company must be always prepared.

But what of the rest-the millions and millions which will not be needed by the policy-holders for years?

In St. Paul's Cathedral in London there is a simple slab marking the burial-place of Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of the great edifice. Upon it is this inscription in Latin, "If you would see his monument, look about you." The same inscription might be written of the dollar which you, and you, and you, have intrusted to your insurance company as a protection for the future. If you would see that dollar, you have only to look about you. It is not lying idle in some vault far away; it is invested and at work close at hand.

You pick up the telephone receiver and are connected with a friend in another part of your city. It is a miracle that would amaze us more if it were not Your insurance dollar has so common. helped to work that miracle; for the

THE OUTLOOK

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A scene on Broadway, New York, in 1890, showing the density of overhead wires

The same scene after the overhead wires were replaced by underground cables

Improvements

The history of the telephone is a record of constant improvement. Only by numerous inventions and ceaseless research for new and better ways has the present standard been reached.

Two-score years ago the telephone could hardly carry the human voice across a city. Now it carries it distinctly across this great continent. The once familiar network of overhead wires in large cities has been replaced by systems of underground cables, each cable containing thousands of slender, sensitive wires.

Switchboards, once primitive devices, called upon to handle only a few connections and limited in their workings, have now become great and precise

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mechanisms through which the volume and complexity of telephone traffic is handled with mechanical perfection.

With the continued growth in the number of telephone users, there is a continued increase in the problems of speed, accuracy and speech transmission.

These are the problems forever before the scientists and engineers of the Bell System; and the solution of these problems, in advance of necessity, is the objective of this great body of specially trained experts.

The Bell System will continue the improvements necessary to maintain its standard of service, which is the best and cheapest telephone service in the world.

"BELL SYSTEM"

AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY

AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES

One Policy, One System, Universal Service, and all directed toward Better Service

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WHEN YOUR INSURANCE DOLLAR PUTS ON ITS OVERALLS (Continued)

telephone system has been constructed by the proceeds of telephone bonds. And millions of dollars of insurance money are invested in these and other utility bonds.

You step into a train in New York, eat dinner, go to bed, and wake up in Buffalo. Another miracle-and again

the insurance dollar has helped. For the railways could never have stretched their tracks across the continent except by the sale of railway bonds. And the insurance companies are large investors in those bonds.

You pass a beautiful park or a fine public school; they too are built by bonds-municipal bonds-an investment which is heavily owned by insurance companies. You pass a row of houses, each the home of a family that is paying a few dollars a month and looking forward to the day when it can call that home its own. Who furnished the money to erect this home, and took a mortgage as security? Very likely an insurance company another place where your dollars are at work.

And farms-here your millions have been at work also. Thousands upon thousands of acres have been planted, buildings have been improved, and life made happier because your savings have been at work in the shape of farmmortgage loans.

So the story might be carried on indefinitely; but enough has been said, perhaps, to give you a little picture of the multitude of activities which are being made possible through the wise investment of your insurance savings. Your insurance dollar is not a proud aristocrat, snobbishly living an idle life. Rather it is a worker in overalls, helping to build and maintain the most vital institutions of modern life.

It is paid for its work in interest or dividends of course, as is perfectly proper and right. And the interest dollars and dividend dollars are put to work in their turn-a constantly increasing army of dollar workers, adding to the security behind your insurance policy and reducing its cost to you.

So, if you would look for your insurance dollar, look about you.

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LOYD R. MORRIS is a graduate of Columbia and the author of an admirable volume on Irish literature, "The Celtic Dawn." He has frequently contributed to The Outlook and other periodicals. From Mr. Morris's record one can prove both that a writer is not necessarily impractical and that a business man is not necessarily interested Mr. Morris solely in dollar-chasing. served as chief of the trade division of the United States Postal Censorship durHe has an encyclopædic ing the war. knowledge of foreign trade, a fact which stands him in good stead as managing editor of the "American Exporter."

Vapo resolene

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THE OUTLOOK

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-Heart and Arterial Deterioration

"It Added 5 Years to My Life"

"Then he told me about a remarkable booklet on this very subject-a booklet which had shown him the fallacy of 'enjoying poor health.' When I sent for a copy, I little dreamed how much it would mean to me. But today, I honestly believe that following the sound advice contained in this booklet, 'The Story of Paradise Spring,' I have added at least 5 years to my life!"

The person speaking the above words was a man of 60, who had been in miserable health for years. He benefited by the advice of a friend. Perhaps his experience will mean everything in the world to many readers of this page.

If you have any of the specific ailments listed above-if you are finding yourself slipping as you ad

vance in years-if you are feeling well today, and want to preserve that good health, don't fail to write for a free copy of this booklet.

It outlines in clear, understandable language the exact, scientific reasons for old age or physical deterioration, and shows you how to offset these deteriorating influences. It describes the depositing of mineral impurities in your cellular tissue and joints-and tells you how to overcome this. It covers a subject in which your physician should also be interested. If you wish us to send him a copy, too, give us his name.

Write for your free copy of "The Story of Paradise Spring" today. It will point out the sure road to better health.

PARADISE SPRING CO., BRUNSWICK, ME.

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The Financial Department is prepared to furnish information regarding standard investment securities, but cannot undertake to advise the purchase of any specific security. It will give to inquirers facts of record or information resulting from expert investigation, and a nominal charge of one dollar per inquiry will be made for this special service. All letters of inquiry should be addressed to THE OUTLOOK FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT, 381 Fourth Avenue, New York

A

THE RAINY DAY

CCORDING to statistics printed by "Dun's Review" there were 19,652 failures in the United States in the year 1921. The liabilities of these concerns totaled $627,401,883. In 1920 there were 8,881 failures for a total of $295,121,805. Every one said that the year just ended was a bad one for business, and these figures certainly furnish the proof that this was so. Out of every hundred concerns in business 1.02 failed, the highest percentage of failures since 1915. All sections of the country had their share of failures, the South Atlantic, South Central, and Central Western States making the worst records as com

pared with the year previous, while the best showing was made by the Pacific Coast, where the percentage of increase over 1920 was 50.8 per cent, the lowest of any section.

It is interesting to compare the banking suspensions with the commercial failures. The number of banking defaults reported for 1921 totaled 383, an increase of 264 over 1920. In New England there were 1,702 commercial failures and 3 banking suspensions; in the Central Western States 1,855 commercial failures and 119 banking suspensions. In the Middle Atlantic and Central Eastern States, where, combined with New Eng

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Faithful to Their Trust
for 40 Years

ORTY years ago, the first investments safeguarded under the Straus Plan
were underwritten and sold. Since that day, Straus first mortgage
bonds amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars have been pur-
chased by tens of thousands of careful investors, all over the country.
And in all that time -

Millions of separate payments, of interest coupons and of bonds,
have been made in cash on the date due.

None of our bond holders has ever lost a dollar on these securities
or been compelled to wait for payment.

This record has not been due to chance or accident. It has been due to our
dealing in a class of securities fundamentally sound; to our fixed policy of pro-
tecting the interest of our clients at all times and under all circumstances; and
to the Straus Plan-a modern and scientific system of investment safeguards
which protects every bond we offer. Write today for literature describing safe
and secure bonds, in $1000, $500 and $100 amounts. Ask for

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