Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-09-02
BY WlLLIAn HAMILTON OSBORNE

Perpetua said nothing, but swung
her little bare feet against the polished
oak.
Il have stripped you," said Brian
laughing despite himself, "of til,
weapons of your detestable sex. Yot
are as naked as when you were born
You are surrounded by a miscellaneous
collection of goods like the spoil Of d
Roman empress! A bust of Homer, 9
bundle of broeade, a Dutch tobacco
box, and a large Chinese vase-and yor
look like a little angel. But | know
and he pointed a paint brush at her
that you are just seven years of thai
naughtlness called woman"
1t Is needless to say that the I-year.
cid Perpetual erpetol Mary was her
real name-was an artists model
which accounted for the scantiness oil
her wearing apparel. 1t was upon this
occasion that Perpetua Mary called
Brian OCree by the name of Father
She had no right to do 1t, but her owr
father had villainously deserted her
mother, and her mother a died,
Brian O'Cree, the big, young, warm
hearted Irish artist, succumbed to
Perpetua's charms. He permitted Per
petua to adopt him. He started in to
teach her.
"When I was YOU age he said, Il
could read and write, and / knew
where the Orinoco was, and who killed
Julius Caesar, and who Won the Derby,
Do you know any of these things, Per-
petua?"
II can read and l can write she
said, because mother taught me. I
don't know any more. Must one know
any more?"
1T is considered good form to know
where the Orinoco is" he replied
gravely, land I believe the address of
the Sultan OF Turkey is considered
essential; and it is good to be
able to reply if one is asked the names
of the kings of England. My father,
who was we'll educated, one told me
that the best thing he ever learnt was
how to carve a duck without splashing
the table cloth. But he was not an
ordinary man. Perpetua, we will edu-
cate ourselves"
1t is in this whimsical, engaging
fashion that Mr.. Calthorp has done
his story. There is nothing more de-
lightful in fiction than his narrative of
the adventures of these two people.
But there was, naturally, much trou-
BILE in store for them. The only clue
to Perpetua's ancestry was a note
found at her mothers lodgings signed
"R. F." "R. F." turned out to be Mr..
Russell Fenton, a successful English
sharper, though apparently a gentle
man, who later in the book, devotes
himself to the physical and moral ruin
of young Saville Member. Member had
money. He was further addicted to
drink and morphia. He fell in love
with Pernetua and she married him,
not because she loved him. but to save
him. Russell Fenton. her father, did
not intend that Member should be
saved. Member met with a tragic end.
There was murder done. Perpetua,
his young wife, was accused. 1t is
not fair to tell what Happened after
that. But through it all the big, boy
ish-hearted Brian suffer ed to the
heart-breatSing point. Perpetua made
a mistake and a discovery. but both
came too late.
The story is one that grips from the
start--grips in its own wonderfully
amusing, pathetic way. Mr.. Calthrop
is postmaster at this sort of thing.
Perpetua's experience with a circus and
with Maria Theresa, a circus elephant
she loved e~lephants-is a story in
itself. There is nothing more enthrall-
ing thar a love story well told. This
is n par excellence of the love of
two big-hearted peuple-Perpetua and
Brian O'Cree. 1t cmhodies other ele-
ments-surprise, suspense. a bit OF
terror, a bit of tragedy--all thrilling.
all sketched in by a master hand, 1t
is distinctly well worth while.
Go
Do fou Like Bookss
THE QUESTION NOW is NOT
whether you ought to read books or
whether you ought to like to read
books, but rather whether you actual
ly do like to read them. Literature
and the drama are Intended for en-
tertainnlent pure and simple. II you
are looking for entertainment, find it.
Do not, for one instant, make enter
tainment a matter of labor or of
a You ought, we will say, to
enjoy Thackeray. Perhaps, If you are
very keen about improving your mind,