the road which leads toward self-determination in matters economic as well as political. If this road is blocked by the European nations, (and we have too little evidence to make us confident that they will not follow this short-sighted policy,) then Asia will fly to the arms of Japan and ask for military and economic leadership to compel the recognition which is now withheld. Every stumbling block placed in the way of Asiatic selfdetermination is a card played for Japan, and for such race antagonisms as bode ill for the future peace of the world. Nor will it any more surely promote the peace of the world to support Japan, as she is now being supported, in ber designs upon China, and as she was supported by the United States in violation of a treaty, when she annexed Korea.

China is the center and heart of Asia. What happens to China in the next fifty years determines what will happen to the world in the next century. Japan has drawn upon herself the ill-will of the world by her policy in China, but the Western nations have been quite unwilling to face the fact that they have given to Japan her sole excuse for her present Chinese policy. For more than half a century China has been in the process of being carved up by Western nations. Japan feels convinced that if she does not make a firm stand now, China will, in time, be divided up in such a way as to leave her (Japan) excluded from China and also exposed on a weak flank to military attack. Japan feels that she must take a hand in the game for her own protection, and her logic is absolutely sound.

The pity is that the European nations are so unwilling to renounce the folly of their own ways in China. Japan is asking for no more in China than they have demanded and received. They dare not stand in the way of Japan because their own hands are far from clean and they are unwilling to give in China rights and privileges which they obtained only because China was too weak to protect herself. Europe bullied China and profited thereby. Japan is but fol

lowing in the foot-steps of Europe.

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We had hoped that the world had learned that a Balkan policy never leads to peace, but we must frankly confess that the recent world war was, as a teacher of the arts of peace, a terrible failure. China now appears to be the Balkans of the future. It is a nasty first page of international policy in the much heralded "new world." But let us be honest enough to admit that the blame attaches itself exclusively to no single nation.

The hope of world-wide enduring peace lies in the establishment of a single standard of morals for international affairs in which the white races agree to practice among the tinted races the same code which they accept for themselves.

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS (Editor's Note: The following is published just as it was received.)

"100 Oraton Street,
"Newark, N. J.

"Editorial Staff-"Overland Monthly:"
"Sirs:

"I wish to express my entire approval of the "Overland's" policy in instituting its new department of Oriental affairs. If it can, by so doing, overcome some of the stupid and unreasoning prejudice which now exists, much will be gained. I am aware, though long a resident of the East, of the antipathy of many Westerners to Oriental races, (it is also found here, though less pronouncedly) and I, too, fear it may lead us into another terrible war, for the underlying reason for these periodic "butcheries," with all the world a shambles as history clearly proves, is not only territorial greed, but ignorance, intolerance, religious, socialistic differences and the Prussianistic doctrine that "might is right" and we being the "salt of the earth" can do as we please without regard to the smaller or weaker fellow's human prerogatives.

"The Chinese has always proved himself a good citizen; law-abiding, more so than any foreigner of like intelligence, I can now bring to mind. His qualities

of honesty, respect for the aged, patience under abuse, faithfulness in service, are certainly to be commended. If we AngloSaxons hold ourselves superior, why are we so bitter, so hostile toward those who, possibly, have not had our advantages? Many an Oriental has practically made himself over to suit an Occidental environment-the generations stand back of us. We have them to thank for all that we have and all that we are. Why can we not be magnanimous, happy to be ourselves, and with ready sympathy for others? I cannot understand this feeling of hostility and I am sure that until lately it has not been felt by alien races toward America.

"I believe that this unnecessary goading of Japan will force her to retaliate. The Japanese are plucky, adaptable and essentially clever. Can it be that we

are jealous? I believe suspicion of Japan and her motives has all along been entirely unwarranted. That they have whole-heartedly admired and emulated us for years, I do not doubt. То me their desire for learning all about our great and glorious Republic has no sinister meaning whatever. The red revolutionist who is in our midst is more to be feared than any peace-loving son of Nippon.

"I am sure the "Overland's" stand in the matter, which is a most timely one, will appeal to the good sense and love of "fair play" of all broad-minded Americans, and I shall continue intensely interested in the contributions promised for this department.

"Most sincerely,

"ALICE I'ANSON."

I

REMEMBER the wonderful thrill I used to experience when in some old-fashioned military drama, the major, or colonel, or whoever it was in command, handed important papers to his dispatch bearer, and after explaining his destination, and so forth, added impressively-"And ride like hell."

Looking around me, in these riotous, stampeding, bewildering, maddening, H. C. L., after-the-war days, I have come to the conclusion that everyone except the dispatch bearers themselves, (for who. ever saw a messenger boy hurry?) are all riding crazily somewhere!

The old-time dispatch bearer at least knew where he was riding and why— the great majority of human beings today, do not. We are simply obeying orders rather blindly, most of us, and even when we can take the initiative ourselves and are our own masters to a great extent, still we find ourselves "speeding up" in a strange, nervous, unnecessary hurry, to get-somewhere.

The silly haste of the age could be epitomized in a little friend of mine, who visited me for awhile. Her time was absolutely her own for a few weeks, yet she would appear every morning trailing a heap of lingerie over her arm, in breathless agitation, checking off importantly "all the things she had to do today." I once went shopping with her, and after flying around a huge depart. ment store as if we were possessed; into elevators and out again, (in the end keeping a poor tired clerk past her time for leaving) I heard a saleswoman say: "Is she going to catch the evening train for New York, or is she just crazy?"

In the street car going home, my friend quieted down and then, after a tired sigh, remarked: "I always hate to do things in a hurry!"

After spending valuable time shillyshallying, and passing innumerable notes

back and forth to a practically irrespon sible, if not insane Emperor, our country prepares for war over night, and drafts boys from peaceful pursuits into the trenches inside of six weeks, a "speeding-up" process which cost more lives in the camps that this government will ever admit.

The senseless tragedy of the "Titanic," with the criminal ambition of its agent to make a record trip, is an example of what speed dementia can culminate in.

The speed mania of autoists is too universally conceded to be mentioned. I will never cease to deplore the passing of the old-fashioned barouche, with its jingling harness, and prancing steeds, even though I were not fortunate enough to possess such an equipage. Elegance and leisure are vanishing into the nevernever land. Surely the old adage "Haste makes waste" was never more applicable than it is now. Waste of food, fabrics, human flesh and blood.

In the press rooms of large publications, one realizes this I think, perhaps more than in any other industrial hive. Listen to the loud hum of the presses"hurry, hurry-quick, quick," see the press feeders, perched on their great machines like jockeys, driving on their steeds; note the strained, pale, purpleshadowed eyes of the reporters, whose nerves and brains and energy must go towards supplying those racing steeds; realize what the publishing of a paper means to the workers on that paper. And then flirt over the leaves of your magazine or your news sheet, and exclaim petulantly: "There's simply nothing in the paper tonight!"

The spirit of the age is driving us all with hardly more kindness than the Simon Legrees of slavery days.

Poor humanity is riding like the dispatch bearer in the old-fashioned military drama-"Where to."

"Dave Darrin On The Asiatic Station," by H. Irving Hancock. This is the fourth of the Dave Darrin series, any of the six volumes of which would make a very welcome gift for any boy or girl, either, being extremely instructive as regards the ethics of the American navy. There are three very thrilling incidents in this story. The first is the attack by the Chinese rebels on the American Mission, wherein Dave, and Dan, his chum, distinguish themselves in repelling the attackers; the stealing of a wonderful old medallion, owned by a Japanese officer; which theft is laid upon Dave, but he of course secures his complete exoneration; and the attempted bombing of the Japanese Emperor and Empress, as they ride in a parade to the Embassy. This attempted assassination is foiled by Dave Darrin, but why an American should risk his life for an Emperor of a foreign country is rather a mystery to me.

"Dave Darrin On The Asiatic Station," Henry Altemus Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

When one goes camping with friends it is best to determine before-hand which of the party snores most quietly before choosing a partner for your shelter-tent, which is the army word for tent. William Gerard Chapman, neglected to do this before leaving for the Algoma district of Ontario when last he went camping with friends. His bunkie proved to be a past master at snoring. After he had retired, the small tent vibrated and the ground quivered at the rumbling disturbance and Mr. Chapman was unable to sleep. Remembering an ancient belief that whisting often quieted a snoring sleeper, he tried this remedy with but temporary and spasmodic effect.

The next morning Mr. Chapman was up bright and early. He chanced to overhear the head of the party confiding to a friend who had come over from a nearby camp, "I got a pair o' grand musicians wid me. Wan of them snores -like a saw-mill workin' up knotty spruce, whilst the other wan whistles in his sleep. 'Tis rare harmony, I make

no doubt, but between the two of thim song-burrds not a wink did I be after gettin'; not a wink the whole night through!"

"French Ways and Their Meaning,” by Edith Wharton, Author of "The Marne," etc.

A small volume of one hundred and fifty pages depicting in a clear and intimate study some of the characteristics of a nation and its people. To cover so broad a subject within a small compass one must penetrate into the heart of things at the beginning. The author introduces to us immediately what she believes to be the prominent qualities of the Gallic spirit: Reverence, taste, intellectual honesty and continuity. Upon these conclusions are drawn. These are discussed from various points of view and in relation to the things they modify.

The concluding chapters comparing the French and American women are a little over-drawn. To those who have lived among the French such a statement as, "Compared with the women of France the average American woman is still in the kindergarten," seems rather out of place in such a volume. Aside from its being a rather exaggerated way of putting the matter, it fails in its conviction. The remaining pages do not help the discussion but throw some light upon the relation of the French woman to the "shop" and the home. But when the grand array of words; "France! Look at her as she has stood before the world for the last four years and a half, uncomplaining, undiscouraged, undaunted, holding up the banner of liberty; liberty of speech, liberty of thought, liberty of conscience, all the liberties that we of the western world have been taught to revere as the only things worth living for-etc., "come marching up at the conclusion of the chapter on "The New Frenchwoman" we fain would smile and remind the author that in France the "conscientious objector" was not even tolerated, as he was in America (if such could be called toleration), and certain

ly not compared to England, who was probably the most tolerant of all in that respect. As for liberties of speech, thought, etc. Did not Clemenceau once change the name of his famous paper from "The Free Man" to "The Man in Irons?"

Space is too limited to give a more extended criticism. Like all volumes on French life by Americans there is too much perfume.

"French Ways and Their Meaning," D. Appleton & Co., New York, N. Y., Publishers, $1.60.

"Stuff o' Dreams," by Rex Hunter. "Quick action" is surely the key note of this little volume of four plays, by Rex Hunter, for there is no padding, nor superfluous dialogue. From the first playlet, "The Wild Goose," on through "Stuff o' Dreams," "Hands and the Man" and "The Romany Road," the writer takes us at a sprightly pace, until the small book is finished, leaving us rather breathless.

"The Wild Goose," who cannot be staid, "with his eyes set to the sea and his beak to the salt air," somehow appealed the most to me. The young traveler, about to settle down at last, with the girl of his heart, ("a lovely slim young thing, would charm the heart out of any man's body," as he himself declares), is disclosed in his bedroom busily typing. Mary, the inevitable house-maid, comes in, and starts to clean the room, meanwhile asking innumerable tions. Michael leaves his writing eventually and dragging out an old trunk, that has been "half around the world," begins to turn over its contents.

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"Pictures of Honolulu," he answers Mary's questions; "Honolulu roads of the world. With the big liners pausing for awhile and going on to remote parts. The crowds on the wharf with leis of flowers and paper, and the band playing "Farewell to Thee"-farewell— how it grips the heart-strings, wild sadness-the sadness of the butterfly that has so little time to flash bright wings in the sun. Brown boys diving in the blue water-”

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And again, "And here's a souvenir from London London, old and gray, with the street lamps shining in the fog. And the roar of the traffic like an organ. Little cafe in Soho, when that merry party of artists gathered the night before I sailed aimless drifters, the children of this world would call them-but how gay!"

Then, through these memories, the wanderlust surges over him again. He suddenly flings his things into a suit case, directs Mary to send his trunk after him, when he writes her the address, and is off! And what about "the lovely slim young thing" he was about to marry? Alas!

"The Wish Fairy of the Sunshine and Shadow Forest," by Alice Ross Colver, and "The Four Little Pigs," by Kenneth Graham Duffield, both prettily illustrated, are tiny books which would not harm any childish fancy. In the "Wish Fairy" we are told how the parrot got all his gayly colored feathers, why the giraffe's neck grew so long, how butterflies were born, (butterflies, who make people happy to see them, and gentle when they touch them). And I will wager, also, that very few grownups, let alone children, know how the first Easter bonnet came to be worn! Read this book and learn!

"Wee Books For Wee Folks," Henry Altemus Company, Philadelphia, Pa., Price 50c each.

Harry Hansen, author of "The Adventures of the Fourteen Points," soon to be published by The Century Co., has joined the union of author-lecturers. He will lecture on The League of Nations and his experiences in Paris and Versailles, where he represented over twenty American newspapers at the Peace Conference. Mr. Hansen served as the representative of the Chicago Daily News in Belgium, France, Germany, AustriaHungary and Italy during the first two years of the Great War. He witnessed the march of the German army through Belgium, and later made a careful study of the war efforts of the Austrians and