University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-01-14
The Diva'S Ruby.

r MARION CHAN FORD l. probably
r the most prolific writer of novels
that We have today He has some
forty five novels To his credit. all reata
bic. and all interesting. One OF his
latest novels. the ''Diva'S Ruby" is an
interesting tale of modern life. 1t l.
a sequel to the "Primadonna' and
Fair Margaret and completes the
trilo"v dcaln" with the life of Mar
"arct Donn". the greatest living lyric
soprano. This story. however. tells
of the contest of two men for the hand
oi Margaret who has now gained II
reputation ~ il singer. and j. called
Madame la Cord"va.
The first chapter OF the book tells
"f ruby mine somewhere in Asia. the
whereabouts of which Is known only
to one family TO this family comes a
traveller who i also a physician. He
cures the head of the house of a dread
,d disease and thus grains favor with
all of them lie i European. and
fair to look upon. and Baraka. the
daughter. falls i'll love with him. and
ctfrrS to lead him to the mine III re
turn for his love. While they are IN
The cave where the rubics are hidden.
the entrance is blocked by the father
and brother of the girl. and the Nv"
are left to die The man manages I"
escape. however, and leaves the girl
as he thinks. to die of thirst and starry
alton i'm the cave.
The rest of the book deals mainly
with the story of Rufus Van TorP.
the great American money wolf. the
richest man in the world. and Non
Stain Logotheti. the cultured Greek
who is engaged to he married to Ma
dame da Cor,lova The undcrpl"t tells
of the search of the girl. Baraka. Tor
tn. man who took the rubics. and left
her to die
The character of Rufus Van TorP Is
J,;r.,Jv drawn. He has been in
I,v. with Margaret Dome ever since
l.. first SAW her: but she Is AFRAID "i
him on account of his rough ways an"
,.,.r,l lack of culture. He had spent
all ,f hi. early life on Western ranch.
When he heard that she had becom"
.uo,o.d to the Greek. Lo@otheti. VIII"
has aIwavs had Il >tr"n" fascination Tor
her. h. sells the great Nickel lru-' o'
which he is the head. and determines
to marry her himself. How he flnali!
.ucceeds. and how Lo9"theti breaks OIL
the engagement and marries the Tartar
nirl. Baraka. i all in"eni"h>ly w"rk'"
I'M, The stolen rubicS figure III the
plot in minor way.
There are manv excellent deScriptIv"
pa.,a"rS in the book. The t"ll"wln"
!. ON, of Venice: The city lay half
IA mile away in the after glow OF the
sunset. The water was very green
f, b,, evening. a. it sometimes l. IN tn"
auopu~. though not always. anu IL We"
shaded off through many "pale-r"n'
= intS "f hrliotropc. then it was sudden
Iy black below the steps Of the Piaz
eta and the Ducal Palace Within tn.
canal I" the right she could
make ont the Bridge "f Sigh- and there
was the Pontc della Pa"lia. and tn.
Ion" line of irregular buildings to the
eastward- of the Prisons IL far as the
Public Gardens. To the lett there was
he wide mouth "f the Grand Canal.
and the Salute and tn. Custom House.
and the bread opening "f the Guidccca."
Probably Mr. Crawford has never
lone anything IA good "a, Mr.. I-aac.."
his first novel. All of his later novels
are compared with it. and the later
novels d" not profit by the compari-om
While The Diva'- Ruby" may not com
pare with IT. or may not be "a, good as
some OF his other works. it is entertain