The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-26
.Among the Books
"sinx.

s'Ainx,"
by Katherine Cecil Thurs.on... nus.
trated by FRANK Craig. Harper
brothers. publishers. $3.50.
This novel, in It's clear-cnt outiincs
and its atmosphere Of nlysterlous az
1urs,nent recalls forcihly we Mas
dueradcr,' the first great s"sccss W
It's author. ,,..
Mrs. Thurston is novelist and
ro,nant;cist mt moralizer. She
pnends no part of her time and pur-
nose In tho expression Of personal
nn,n,ons or the analysis or motives.
Her pIot begins from the start, and
interest is at once demanded and
aroused In the first ohapter OF MAX
the pulse Of emotion ana inqnisitlVe.
ness Is set athrob In the readers mind
by the attitude Of dreaming boy
on a night express out of St Peters
h,,ry Isiissia. on IT'S way to Paris,
dreamer guarding something that lies
snu, and deep in the pockets OF
nlaIn rough overcoat which is utterly
at variance with the boys compost
ton In expression and essence.
In the same sleeping car with tho
dreamer, who dreams part of the
wav with eyes and ears open, Is a
party of card playing friends--a tall.
snare American. spruce young Eng
lishman. and an Irishman named
Blake. who gives evidence in the
kindly federation Of his demeanor OF
'knowing his world. the globe over
1t Is a. proof of Mrs Thurston's dis
terminating skill that, though only
one man out Of this group, Blake. the
Irishnan, serves more than tran
STORY purpose. yet even in the brief
glimpse afforded of the trio. In the
few sentences they utter regarding the
recent sensal.-n in st. Petersburg So
cietyf concerning the disappearance OF
the Princess Dayorska, the personality
of each individual Is suggested.
TIE development of the story comes
amid the subtleties and adventures
sought and found Ia artistic anu Eo-
hcmian Paris By the boy dreamer and
...e Irishman. Blake, now transformed
into the boys friend. drawn irresist-
IDLY to him by his youth. his enthu-
siasm and his mystery.
The older man sees through the
dreamcr's eyes what Paris can show
OF painting and sculpture in Its art
salons. of the color that characterizes
It's cafes. of the types to be found In
the apartment houses and the dance
halls Of Bohemian Montmartre. AL
ways the boy displays a manly force
and strength Of character mingled
with whimsical inconsistency. a
shrinking away from the slightest
approach to emotional coarseness
that. coupled with his genius for
painting. his keen delight in freedom
independence and the pulsing NE
with which he moves. make of him
a most fascinating personality. Be
tween the boy ana the Irishman com.
radeship in It's best sense is de.
veloped: in lesser sense. between the
boy and his ne!ghbors of the apart
nent house. from the grumbling con.
cierge 10 Cartel. the musician, ant
the woman. aacqueline. who loved
Cartel and understood the dual nature
OF the hoy from the arst.
1t is the duality of the boy. i,deed
that renders him so inconceiyabl,
charming. for he is as truly Maxine
the Princess, as he is Max. the 30.
hem!an. With the quickening OF hi
human pulses awakened out of tn,
very sordIdrcss OF Paris. in which n.
had Sought 10 grown himself. h,
learned to solve the question tina
from youth upward had ranklei in
articulate IN his soul."
The mystery of the book turns o.
the relationship OF the boy dreame,
Max. and his sister. Maxine. The
each play their part in the story. The
each make an .nsistent appeal throug
their grace and beauty But at tn
last IL Is the princess who goes ava
with Blake 10 his castle in IRELAND
where the sky Is white. the sea opa
and the seaweed smells like violet.
And II Is for the reader to d!scove
WHY Max. the hoy dreamer. is lief
behind Blake and the princess in pari.
"The Greatest Wish in the world.-
BY L. Temple Thurston. Mitchell
Kennerly. 2 East Twenty ninth stree
New York publisher. $3.50
The story OF the book is the stor
of Peggy. a little girl baby. toun
when the story begins by Fathc
O'Learv at the nour or Benediction. {,
the little chapel of Corpus Chris,
Maiden Lane. London, where the goo
Irish priest repeated Latin phrases i
sonorous brogue to his parishioner!
When Father OLeary. after chansin
his vestments. walks down the churc
on his way to the prespytery. the or
of an infant turns his footsteps to
ward the altar of the Virgin Mary A
her feet, wrapped in poor clothing an
lying on black box. he finds tn
child and takes 1t home to his house
keeper. Mrs. Parfitt
After that the problem OF the child
upbringing. her apparellinfi her'schoo
ing and her developing, from natur:
healthy childhood into fresh, unspoile
womanhood. occupy to the exclus!o