The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-01
The Whirl"


By FoKcroft Davis Published BY Dodd, Mead
4 Co, New York. Price 81. so
Foxcroft Davis describes his novel.
The whirl." as "a romance of Wash
ington society" and. though the story
is not at all like the real thing in
Washington. it is an interesting and at
times an exciting tale.
At the opening Of the book. Sir
Percy Carlyon, the hero, is 50 years
old and already has the goal of his
ambition IN sight He is the secretary
OF the British embassy at Washington
and has the promise of succeeding his
uncle, Lord Baudesert, the present am
bassador. on his retirement, scheduled
for four years later. Sir Percy has
not reached the age of 80 without hav-
ing few spots on his past which he
would like to forget. One OF these
spots" turns UP In Washington at the
most inopportune moment and makes
Sir Percy very unhappy Much of the
story has TO do with this very point
the different standards OF morals which
prevail for men and women-snd the
climax is very cleverly worked out
Lord Baudesert has a number of in
teresting things TO say and his views
OF American customs and American
women are well put His advice 10 his
nephew. Sir Percy. about the women is
the result OF much study:
They are the most complex crea-
lures alive. You must readjust all
your ideas concerning the sex when it
comes 10 studying this particular va
riety. They are not like English women,
nor French women. nor Spanish women.
nor German women. nor Hindu women.
that ever ] heard, vet they have some
OF the characteristics OF all. Having
been afraid of women All my life,
am more afraid Of American
women than any others. Don't marry
one. nay boy. That's my advice ..
Trust me. replied Sir Percy, con-
hdently ." and, Of course. after
that the reader knows what to ex-
pect.
Sir Percy falls IN love with a. real
kentucky thoroughbred Of a girl and
IN the course Of time they are mar
ried He tells her he has one thing
IN his past which he is ashamed of
that he wishes her TO know and so
their married life starts fair and
square They have small diplomatic
position in Europe for a few years,
where his government tries him out,
and then they return TO Washington.
In the meantime the woman who for
g few brief weeks had been an episode
IN his life had come TO Washington and
married Senator March. man prom
inent in the political life of the coua-
try. with an absolutely unbiemished
reputation. The intrigue and exposure
which follow are well carried out and
show the cIevcrness OF the author in
handling a complicated situation The
story is interesting throughout and de-
serves a place in the bundle Of summer
books.
Lord Baudesert, who gives such good
advice to his nephew about marrying.
has. q few general remarks TO make
that should be printed on leaflets and
distributed to the titled fortune hunt
ers when they arrive in America
i can tell YOU one thing. marrying
an American heiress is about the poor
est investment any man can make. II
he has an eye 10 business. In this sin
rt,lar country money Is never men,
toned bv the bridegroom. That one
word settlement would be enough TO
make an American father kick any
man ont OF the house. The father
however. is certain 10 mention money
10 his prospective son in law. He de-
nands that everything his daughters
husband has should be settled on the
wife. and generally requires that his
future son in laws life be insured for
TIE wife's benefit Then. whatever the
American father has to give his
daughter he ties UP as tight as drum
so that the son in law can't touch it,
and everything else the son IN law may
get depends on his good behavior The
American girl. having been accustomed
to regard herself as = pearl beyond
price. expects her husband 10 be sort
Of cody at her command If he isn't
she flies back to her father. and the
father proceeds to cut on supplies from
the son In law. Oh. il IS a great game,
the American marriage, when II is for
high stakes ! take It that il Is i'm
POSSIBLE for any European. even an
Englishman. TO get at the point Of
view Of an American father concerning
his daughter"