The Washington herald., 1912-03-24
BY CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON.

FATHER SEhGlUs. BY Count Leo Tolstoy-
Two, even three, OF Count Tolstoy's
stories In the new book, Father Sergius,"
tell OF the efforts of two men and one
woman 10 leave the world and seek a
new life in retirement and isolation.
Ser gius-an officer In the Guards and a
young man with brilliant career before
him-throws Il all up and takes monastic
VOWS because his hancee, In a moment OF
hazardous confidence. tells him that she
had. for a short time, been the mistress
OF the Gar.
The other two stories are the memories
OF a widow-a woman who has been a
good and devoted wife. but perhaps
not entirely happy one In her old age
she does not find peace and happiness
in the midst of the family life OF her
children and grandchildren. Without be-
lieving all the tenets OF formal religion.
she retires to q convent for prayer and
contemplation. The story consists Of an
introduction and a fragment.
The third story is also but a fragment.
being the supposed memoirs Of the Gar
Alexander /. He 8 thought to have
died. but. in reality-with the connIv-
ance of his doctors a dying person was
substituted for himself during q feigned
illness, and the Gar. going out from the
palace and the life of deceit and real
wickedness which he has led. takes up
the existence OF a wanderer and beggar.
The last two stories are simply short
fragments. incomplete at the death of
the author. Each Of the brief tales
shows the attempt OF men to ind spir-
itual growth in a life apart from their
environment.
These stories lack the technical perfec-
tion of much OF Tolstcy's work. They
are poorly translated, due, perhaps, to
errors in the original. But even in this
inadequate setting the reader does not
entirely lose the sense Of Tolstoy's
power. The capacity which he possessed
in an Incompatible degree OF describing
with conviction and emphasis-a mans
complex mental conflict, and then show
ing the reader suddenly, in few luciS
phrases, the explanation and necessity OF
the conflict. Is still there to enthrall ur
published by Dodd, Mead & Co., New
York. Price, Sis net)
JOHN RAwN. By Emcr,ou Housh-
The author OF $40 or Fight The
Mississippi Bubble" and THE Purchase
Price, has started the volume Alright
when he dedicated 1t TO woodrow Will
son, one of the leaders in the third war
Of American Independence"
The story has all the xest and the fire
els In tales of beautiful women. marvel
Gus financiers who pay 3i.oooooo to be
freed from their wives. and the ex-
traordinary ups and downs In the whirl
Of business. John Rawn starts poor.
makes a fortune, divorces one wife and
marries another, then loses everything.
At this juncture the -tall, gray-haired.
Intentionally dressed woman" arrives.
most opportunity, and presents him with
Ill IAA ID f.
saved, is reunited TO his wife, and all
ends as merrily as marriage bell An
exhilarating and dramatic story. pub
lished by the Bobbs-Merrill Company,
Indianapolis. Price. A.5o)
THE LUCK OF RATHcooLE, By Je,nn. Gould
Lincoln
Mistress Faith wolcott (sometime known
as Miss Moppeo. during her sojourn In
New York. at an early period Of the
republic, and Is brilliant and .vivacious
story OF the life In America from 17Se
sayings and stirring situations. and Is
a credit to the author. a native Of WASH
ington. published by Houghton, Mifiin
& Co.. Boston and New York. Price. ti2o
net)
HE THAT is WITHOUT SIN. By Ivan Trepod-
The canvas of this literary artist Is
New York City. where is much wicked
ness in both high. places and low, with
some goodness interspersed. As we read
this story we learn that life Is neither
high nor low, but Is plateau, with here
and there a hill The authors chief
character--Mildred Fulier-is a woman of
the street. who takes from life the little
that she can steal Her career Is not
exemplary. and we ind that the narra-
ton OF II Is not a moral taxt-book.
The story is not immoral: II is immoral.
For those who care for questionable
writing, Eimiiar TO Ia Cousine Bettee"
Of Honore Belzac. there will be pleasure