The Washington herald., 1909-10-24

among many other Things, uses Language
slangy. risky and profane She smokes
and asks In smoking-rooms for a whisky
and-soda. These are but two instances
taken at random, the book is full of
others just as laughable and in as poor
taste as these.
The authors own replys TO various per-
sons who asked him civil questions or
made some simple remark are extremely
mirth-provoklng when II is remembered
that che book is supposed 70 be a hand
book Of manners. Certainly the American
lady IN the anecdote that he tells about
the statue Of Budda had far more man
ners than the author who poses as a
criterion Of good breeding
Read with a view 10 getting all the
amusement out of il possible this book
will prove extremely funny IN parts. but.
read in a serious mood. as the work was
undoubtedly meant TO be read, II is feared
that the reader viii be grievously disap-
pointed.
JEANNE OF TIE MARSHES BY E Philips
Oppenheim. Boston Little. Brown & Co.
There are probably very few authors
writing to-day in the popular vein Of the
romantic and mysterious that have writ
ten as much or created for themselves
such a following as L. Phillips Open
helm. This English author can usually
be depended upon for about three books
a year. and Il Is almost a certainty that
the majority of them will be interest
ing. The popularity OF his school-lf such
1t may be called-is evinced by the fact
that the latest Oppenheim work is almost
sure 10 be found among the honored
big six" of the best sellers.
But HIS latest book, Jeanne OF the
Marshes" may not appeal as strongly
to his devotes as some of his others. for
II is not nearly so "oppenheimy.' There
/ is no great mystery I'm II; the destinies
OF no nations are threatened by the acts
/ OF the characters, and there IS not
\ diplomat in the entire story This hardly
| seems possible for an Oppenheim story.
! but yet II Is IN this very fact OF breaking
away from his former associations, and
writing around n theme almost new 10
him, that the author shows his versatll-
ity. That he has a grasp Of the subject
will be apparent 10 all that read the
book
Jeanne Of the Marshes" receives the
| latter part % its title from the salt
marshes Of the Norfolk coast, where
large part Of the action is laid Jeanne
is the stepdausiIter of the Princess OF
Sturme. whose principal occupation IS
living on her wits-and Jeanne's money
For when Jeanne's father died ne left
her what was thought TO be an enormous
fortune. and on the strength OF being the
guardian OF an heiress. the princess had
been able to achieve social heights that
she could only aspire TO before. The
princess is a typical Oppenheim villainess.
siren Of To- ". whose code of life is
expressed in her words 20 jeanne 1T Is
your legitimate occupation IN life TO make
fools Of all manner OF men. and there is
no harm In our beginning as low down
as you choose il ii amuses you"
Evidently the princess has been en-
gagged in her Legitimate occupation" for
some time. for when the story opens we
find her and her confederate buslly en-
gagged in fleeing two rather tender sprigs
OF nobility Cecil de la Borne and Lord
Ronald Westerham. To further their
purposes. she works the former for an in
vitation TO his country place on the Nor
folk marshes. and the scene shifts from
London TO the northern part of England
Cecil has a brother Andrew. who. not
liking the idea OF being cooped up with a
party of this kind. decides 10 disguise
himself as a fisherman and keep out OF
their way. On the very first morning
that she is ar the house Jeanne meets
Andrew accidentally. and, half-Suspecting
that he is not what he pretends 10 be-
makes IL a point 20 see a good deal Of
him later.
In the meantime. the four others have
been playing bridge every evening and
incidently relieving Lord Ronald Of "A
considerable portion Of his money. Finally
he discovers their crooked play and de-
Fnrn Fnrrr J.
publish them in London as the cheats
they are. Seeing that he Is memorable.
they decide 10 keep him prisoner until
he promises not TO reveal what he has
seen.
From this point on events move with
rapid strides II would be unfair 10 the
reader to tell the denOuement-sufice il to
say that il is reached by means of a Sc
cret passage used in smuggling DAYS. and
is exciting enough for the most exacting.
The many attempts Of the princess to get
Jeanne married, and the feelings and &C
tons of the latter In respect to them af-
ford side lines OF interest that prove we'll
worth while.
In his delineauOns of character. in his
phraslnEs, and especially in his descrip-
tons, Mr.. Oppenheim seems 10 have i'm
proved on his other books 1t is true
exciting as, say, THE Great Secret" or
The Maker Of History" but II Is a bet
ter book. Indeed, it may be well said
that in this. his twenty-first book. Mr..
Oppenheim has reached his literary ma
jority.
THE LADY OF THE BIG SHANTY By F.
Berkeley Smith New York: Doubleday. Page
& Co.
While THE Lady of the Big Shanty."
by F. Berkeley Smith, may not attain
to the glory Of what is known as last !
ing literature" 1t certainly has quail |
ties OF style and sincerity Of purpose |
considerable above the current run OF |
novels. 1t has a moral which points in
right direction, which is something in
these days of mere exploitation of evil /
without visible moral. it has characters |
who partake of the normal attributes |
of real men and women. which is some /
what refreshing as compared with the |
favorable list of perverts and degener- |
ates. and It has an interesting run Of /
consistent events which Is a distinct |