Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-29
BOOK. REVIEWS.
THE WEAKER VESSEL. BY E. F.
Benson. author Of The Climber"
y. etc. New York: Dodd,, Mead & Co.

60 etc, new YORK: Dodd' Mea9 q GO.
- - r. BENSON has made a roomy
IL story that gives out an ex-
Nv pansive pleasure, such as one
feels in the unchallenged free
dom of a great house of high
unfretted walls, with floor spaces broad
and free, and windows open to long
vistas of retreating landscape. In oe-
cupancy too, as well in general port,
the book is uncrowded. giving one the
chance to make acquaintances much as
he does on the outside, through the
daily gains and losses of long and init
mate companionship. Not more than
half dozen people, all told, engage one
here. At the heart of the matter are
Harry Whitaker and Eleanor, his wife.
Young folks. both. gifted and ambitious,
both of nigh intent, much in love with
each other. The story swings into mid
course with Harry Whittaker's discovery
that, at the whip-lash of whisky, the
vagrant dramas playing hide-and-seek
through his mind in such maddeninglS
nebulous confusion at once come 10 or
der and stand at attention. each 9. crystal
vision waiting only for words to wing IL
out an embodied and communicate
thing. With another lift of the glass,
words-choice, eager, searchlng-nock IKE
carrier pigeons to deliver the rapt vision.
What this discovery does to Harry WHIT
taker playwright, and to Harry whit
taker man, makes half Of an absorbing
human study done IN terms OF e .nis s,ne
unfolding has to do with Eleanor
woman so big and fine. so courageous anu
WISE and withal so captivatingly human,
and, above all. SO tenderly loving, that
.1f@I no. moi H.
en- can afford-to miss the friendship OF
Eleanor Whitaker. All the minor parts
of this novel are of the exact truth ana
finish that so fully mark its larger as,
poets. Here are Eleanors father ana
stepmother, her girlhood at the parson-
age. the stage and stage folks of her
later years. If one were to gather up
two novels for a truly deightful DAY
two Immediately recent novels-he, II bent
to real and genuine pleasure, would
take. for one, 1.-THE Weaker Vessel and
for the other-say. THE Happy Warrior
THE CANDID ADVENTURE. BY
Anna Coleman Ladd. author OF
.sHieronymus Rides" Boston,: Hough-
ton Miffiin Company.
The author is frankly disposed here to-
ward nothing more serious than the en-
tertainment of leisurely uncritical read
ers. This in itself is refreshment. The
romance comes by immediate descent
from it's brave and gracious predecessor.
.Hieronymus Rides young man, well
come leftover of Hellenic youth, domi-
mates, these bright pages. For a living
he paints springtime pictures, though liv-
ing not a living, Is his supreme engage
ment A European model and a New
England woman named 'Marquise" by
the enamoled boy, not only double the
story. but add to it, besides. two admir-
ably contrasted women of lifelike
quality. There is, along the way, much
interesting and graceful TODD about
Italy, its life, its scenery, its art and it's
pleasures. In the between whites OF these
delightful pilgrimages to the land Of art
and song. there are chilly hibernations
round about Boston. The contrasts Of
place and those of person are effected
with good deal of insight and uncom-
mon skill of workmanship. Since the
real life of the hero antedates our own
reckoning he may be depended upon to
make a twentieth century fool Of him.
self. The story closes with him about to
do this. However. his passage up to
this point of folly has been one Of keen
defigfA to the reader, who takes his leave
still hoping that something yet may In
tervene to save the boy from an unto
ward elderly fate
ONE wOMAN's LIFE. BY Robert Her
ricK, author of "The Healer" etc.
New York: The Macmillan Com
pany.
Milly Ridge, Mr. Herricks new heroine.
is important because there are SO many
of her. The country Is full of Milly
Ridges. She is interesting because she
lives next door, or, more than likely. in
ones own house. Milly, however. is not
by ans. means a composite of indetermi-
nate and elusive feature. On the con-
trary. she is emphatically herself, indi-
vidual and complete. AIilly is pretty,
wholesome and good-natured, popular.
She is possessed of a keen social instinct
bent TO the practical uses of getting on
in the world. She has no learning to
mention, no training for any. single one
of the probabilities of woman's life, no
duties. no responsibilities, no sense of
values OF any sort Milly marries. They
all do. She is what majority of the
wives and mothers are made of The
young husband Is artist of great prom
Use. First Milly kills his genius. Then
she Kills him. going blitheiy along on her
pleasantly constructive way. Mr.. Her
ricks novel-making habit is TO seizessome
big, multiplied, everyday aspect of mod
ern life. With consummate insight and
skill of Interpretation he distills its es-
sential import off by way of a single
person or a small group of individuals A
master hand at giving type the quail
ties OF one i've and recognizable human
being He has never done this better
than in the transcriptive story of Miliy
Ridge. which instead of being one wom-
ans life is the exact pattern of the lives
of innumerahle women
THE LOST DISPATCH. BY Natalie
sumner Lincoln. New York: ID.
Appleton & Co
The daring exploits OF a young south
ern girl acting as spy among the north
ern troops, her apprehension and trial.
her deliverance from death, and her
,onlantic love for Union officer. sum
here TO a spirited and dramatic invention.
The mysterious loss of an important mil
ltary order ealists the secret service
whose activities Disclose the young spv
and lead &c her slibselnsnt imprisonment
And trial One OF the fine features of
Miss Linccins romance lis ftss background
a realistic picture OF Washington life al
the time of the civil war. There .i@- a
glimpse OF Lincoln himself, characterfstfo
and eelievable. Social Washington is
sharply cleft now into declared northerI4.
srs and southerners with the open or
secret sympathizers of each The old
Capitol prison has a conspicuous part
here, as have certain historic mansions