The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-14
BOOKS.

Stewart Edward Whites latest Of
fering The Rules OF the Game" 10 a
book that is hard to classify. II pur-
ports to be a novel but IL might Just
as we'll have been published by the
American Conservation Society as part
OF their conservation campaign. There
has always been a prejudice among
critics of the novel against stories
written TO defend a theme, and l am
! inclined TO agree with the dictum that
the theme mars the story and the
story mars the theme. For an artistic
story, there is too much conservation
In The Rules Of the Game" and for
an argument there Is too much story.
! This does not mean that the book
Is not interesting and good reading II
| you care to be informed about this
question which has disrupted cabinet
and embarrassed an administration
and is quite the most important issue
before the American public today.
| Stripped, however, OF the excellent ex-
PLANTATION OF the methods OF lumber
7 ing both in Michigan and IN the newer
| lumber lands OF the far west, and OF
! the stories OF crooked land Office meth
/ DDS that have furnished ground for
so much Official investigation within
the last year or 80, the story OF the
Rules OF the Game has little 10
differentiate il from the yellow back
wild western tales OF our youth.
Bob Orde, the hero. is a football
demi-god, who goes into the lumber
business through the ONCE OF his IA
theirs best friend. In the managing
ONCE he makes a failure through in
ability 10 appreciate details and in the
mill once another. He begins TO be-
lieve that he Is not worth quite so
much TO the world as he imagined and
his own opinion is confirmed by those
around him until he discovers a ca
pacity for leading men In the emergen-
cies OF a strenuous lumber-drive. Then
he progresses rapidly and when the
Michigan tract has been cut. is put
In charge OF operations in California.
There he comes in contact with the
Forestry Service and is so carried
away with the ideal side OF the work
in contrast 10 the sordid aspect Of his
own occupation that he resigns and be-
comes a ranger. After passing through
The stages OF apprenticeship, he finds
himself compelled to push 10 prosecu-
ton case against business assoct-
ate who has grabbed some important
water-rights This involves him IN the
usual difficulties In which the hero
! finds himself under such circum
stances. He Is bribed, threatened
with similar suits against his father
and his best friends, with prosecu.
/ ton for completely in justifiable
murder, and finally, when all these
avail not Is kidnapped and spirited
away TO an inaccessible mountain fast
ness But Bob manages 70 escape
| from his captor and with the aid Of
/ trusty fellow ranger escapes his fur.
/ Their plot 20 kill him from ambush
When BAKER, the grabbing power
baron, finds that all his plans have
not accomplished anything, he philo-
| sophically submits and offers Bob
position Bob however. goes back to
! numbering, taking charge OF operations
with the intention OF making II a mod
Ell piece OF numbering for the forestry
service TO point to az a lesson that
| their plans are feasible He also takes
with him the inevitable girl. who is
/ filed with enthusiasm for the ideals
OF conservation through her work
with her brother who is in charge or
1 Nllt EOAtNilg s0ti NAiEs
The Rules OF the Came gives An
excellent idea OF numbering methods.
OF the ideals and workings OF the for
estry service and throws a great deal
OF light on the way government land
officials can be crooked. There are
in II many picturesque characters. for
the most part conyeutionally so. n il
a thoroughly palatable way OF absorb.
ing some real ideas about the move
ment for conservation.
The Rules of the Game" is pub.
lished by Doubleday, Page & Co. aud
Is for sale al the local bookshops.
Red Pepper Burns" which has prev.
iously appeared in serial form Is now
published in pleasing little volume
by Doubleday. Page & Co. II is a
pretty story OF a dynamic doctor who
IL 80 interested In his cases and his
problems that he even postpones his
wedding TO perform an operation and
stops TO see his patient as he starts
on his honeymoon-but that OF course
is In the last chapter. IL Is a whole
some, and In some ways clever little
love-story refreshingly lacking in
brain-wracking problem or profound
criticism OF life.
Red Pepper Burns" IL by Grace s.