Books: Great Humanitarian

ANGEL IN TOP HAT—Zulma Steele—Harper ($3.50).

Manhattan Socialite Henry Bergh was 50 when he began to chase droshkies. One day in 1863 a St. Petersburg droshky driver was merrily lashing his horse in the Russian manner. Suddenly a smart carriage pulled alongside and Bergh, who was First Secretary of the U.S. Legation, bellowed to his coachman: "Tell that fellow to stop!" Obediently the droshky driver dropped his whip. First Secretary Bergh nodded approval, set out in pursuit of other inhumane drivers.

Why Bergh was aroused by inhumanity so late in life is "any man's guess." But eventually he gave up his Legation post,...