The Newtown bee., 1908-01-24
:NGLAND Vs. AMERICA,
 WHICH WILL WIN? Brief Reviews of the Two Novels in the Anglo-American Con-
 petition.
VOTING BEGINS NEXT SUNDAY
'ublie to Determine Whether Max Pember. ton or Mary E. Wilkins Freeman Is
 the Better Novelist,

NEW YORK, January i5,-Next Sunday, January 10, Is the time set for the opening l 4 the unique Anglo-Amercan Competition instituted by the New York Herald
 The issue of the Herald for that daIe will contain the first nstalments of the TWO competitive novels by Mary F. VII lins Freeman, representing America and Max PemDerton, the English author, and indications are that the voting on their merits will be heavy
 This Is the first time an effort has been made to determine the comparative popu- larty of an American and an English luthor. Therefore, great interest is being | shown on both sides of the water, and thousands of people have written letters declaring their intention to take part in | ne voting.
 The competition will, however, do more | han merely decide the question of popu- arlIy. IL will also develop the reasons why the public prefers one author to an- other. This will be accomplished by means of the New York Herald's offer of weekly .ash prizes for the best criticisms of the nstalments as they appear, and these criti- ,lsms will be published ill the Herald every Sunday.
 Some idea of the character of the two stories may be gathered from brief re- ylews-the first that have been made pub .ic since the Herald paid the authors SlO,OO0 for the exclusive rights.
 The American Novel.
 Mary D. Wilkins Freeman has given lher novel the title of 'yThe Shoulders of Atlas" 1t deals with homely people in a masterly fashion, and delights the reader with the rue to life blending of pathos and humor.
 There is also striking-indeed, a start lihg-psycno- physiological study of young girl, who is beautiful. and yet repellapt, who longs for love with such intensity that her whole nature is biased by it, her -ruliJlonal no..0ns of right and wrong are overthroWn and tragedy is brought into ler own life and that of others.
 Then there is another element, foreign to that of the village life, introduced by another beautiful girl, with a tender heart, perfect femininity, grace and dalntlness: She has been brought up in the world Of luxury, refinement and sophistication and she brings the best of that world into the village life ,.!lh9u offending it's preju- dices. The love taie running through the story is a very pretty one. The tragedies in the background are real tragedies. They remain as haunting memories after the story has been read. Moreover the man. ner in which a problem of conscience. IS worked out by one ofIthe most interesting characters in the book alone would make the novel worth reading.
 The English Novel.
 Max Pembertons story, "Sir Richard Escombe," is stirring tale of adventure a story of action-Without a dull moment in it. It is laid in the long ago days when chivalry and intrigue had more play than they have in our prosaic days. There are real hero and real heroine, over whose plight we hold our breath. A wonderful picture is drawn, too, of famous religious order which degenerated into an infamous one, where the members under the protec- ton extended to persons of noble birth and high social position were guilty of prac7 tices and orgies that were a scandal to the kingdom. The famous suicide clause was one of the most fearful of the clubs rules, and it's effect upon the hero of the story and the way it was turned by him to the destruction of the club make one of the most enthralling features of the story.
 Who Wins!
 In addition to the weekly cash prizes which the Herald will award it's readers for criticising these stories, it will also give large sum to the winning author. Who will get it? Which side of the Atlantic will win both the glory ana the gold? These are the questions which the public must decide.