The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-17
NOVEL THAT APPEALS
Meredith Nicholson, Indiana
Author, Writes New Book.
THE PORT OF MISSING MEN
4 Tale That Is Sheer and Dashing
Romance, Written with Fine Feel
Ing for Stirring Incident and
Drawing Picture of Unusual Hero
Inc and Mysterious Hero.


Meredith Nicholson. Of indianapolis. /
was poet before he gained any TenOwn
rs a prose writer, and although he sailed
forth for a time into the fields Of serious
endeavOr, as for instance when he wrote
1.-THE Hoosiers," a volume telling OF III
diana's literary accomplishments, he mas
always been a poet at heart. perhaps
Since his novel 1.-THE House Of a Thou
sand Candles" took him proudly into the
ranks of the best sellers" he has given
another book Of poems to the world. and
now he appears as the author Of THE
Port Of Missing Men" one Of the best. /
most stirring, and graceful roraances that I
has seen the light for many a day
But the poet is evident even here in |
this strongly romantic story His dedi- /
catory poem he calls THE Shining Road" |
and it has a true Stevensonesque, bright |
~ romantic air. It is a fine invitation 10
the story that follows it,
Come. sweetheart, let nde away beyond the citys
bound.
And seek what pleasant lands across the distant hills
There is golden light that shines beyond the verge
q dawn,
And there are happy highways leading on and al
ways on:
So sweetheart. let us mount and ride. with never
backward glance
To find the pleasant shelter Of the Valley Of Ro-
nance.
Before us. down the golden road floats dust from /
charging steeds
Where two adventurous companies clash loud in |
mighty deeds.
And from the tower that stands alert Ike some tail
reckoning pine
Zen nov. my heart see afar the lights Of welcome
shine.
So loose the rein and cheer the steed and let US race
To SEEK the lands that BE beyond the Borders Of
To-day.
Draw rein and rest moment here in this cool vale
The race naf run. the goal half won. The sure re-
lcasei
To night and left are aoFery fields. and brooks go
singing down
To mock the sober folk who st are prisoned in the
town.
Now to the tail again, dear heart; my ann and
blade true.
And on the plain ere night descend III break
lance for youl
o. Ewcstheart it is good to find the pathway chin /
iug clear,
The goad is broad the hope is sure, and you are I
near and dear
So loose the rein and cheer the steed and Jet as
To sch the land. that lie beyond the borders Of
To-day
Oh we shall hear az last. my heart. cheering wei
c1me cried
As DER gathering dravbidge through the Gate Of
Dreams We ride
There IS a gallop 10 that that sets the /
pulses ungling before the journey TO the 4
Port Of Missing Men is even begun, /
and one would say that It must. indeed. /
be a good story that should live up 10 4
such a preface. Yet Mr.. Nicholson's /
story goes even beyond #. It is sheer +
romance throughout A story Of high ad- I
venture, Of mysterious births of knife I.
thrusts in the dark. secret papers, brave I.
fights and gallops in the open, and over I
and above it all the ancient chivalry Of
love, as charming and compelling as ever /
the new-old theme can be.
John Armitage is the hero Of the tale I
John Armitage about whom there is /
strange mystery that begins with the /
opening words Of his meeting in Geneva 4
with the grim Old Austrian premier 4
Count Ferdinand Won Stroebel and which /
lasts until the very end. when his real 4
name is revealed; but then Il does not 4
matter much. though 1t satisfies curiosity. ]
as the girl in the case, with her arms 4
about his neck and her cheek. with its .
warmth and color against his face. tells .
him that she does not know the man who /
is called by his other name: But I love /
john Armitage she says.
This is going ahead Of Mr. NichOlson's /
story with a vengeance, and Il would be 1
inexcusable were it not for the fact that 4
when a gOod-loOking and manly hero is /
thrown in contact with a charming and 4
altogether desirable maid il Is the chief /
function Of the novelist-the end and aim 4
and the justification of his labors-that /
this twain should be married at the end 4
Of the story. For in all the novel writ .
ing that has been done for hundreds and 4
hundreds of years. no one has improved /
on the ancient tellers OF tales whose ro- I
mances fnvariable concluded with "And /
so they were married and lived happily 4
ever after"
Mr. Nicholson is too good and careful !
q craftsman rudely to violate the ethics /
of his profession and so. given John 4
Armitage and Shirley Claiborne. IL was /
inevitable that cheek should rest on 4
cheek and all come lovingly right in the 4
end
Shirley Claiborne! The name is an in /
dex to the girl 1t rolls trippingly off the 4
tongue, and 1t gives a mental picture Of /
the maid that Mr.. Nicholson has drawn: /
she gave forth an impression of vital /
ity and strength, she was beautifully /
fair. with a high color that accentuated /
her youthfulness. Her brown hair. caught /
up from her brow in the fashion of the 1
early years Of the century. flashed golden /
in the sunlight"
Mr.. Nicholson himself has felt the
came to him I'm his dreams. for he has /
a disquisition on girls names in which he 1
pictures to us Helen and Gertrude: /
Laura. with dark eyes, Gladys, the spirit 4
Of mischief; Mary, the serious, and julia 4
reserved and discreet He says that If 1
you do not understand the subtle connec-
ton between the girls names and the /
girls themselves, then:
Shirley, in such case. will mean moth /
ing to you. 1t is a waste Of time to tell 4
you that the name may become audible 4
without being uttered; you cannot be /
made TO understand that the r and the Il /
slip into each other as the ripples glide 1
over pebbles in a brook. And from the 4
name to the girl-may you be forever de- !
MED the glimpse of Shirley ClaiboTnes /
pretty head. her brown hair, and dream /
haunted eyes If you not first mGrmur the 4
name with honest liking.
A fitting mate for Shirley is John Ar
mitage. honest American. He has seen /
much of the world. owns a place in Vir- 4
ginia and a ranch in Montana, and In |
his first interview with the old Austrian .