The Washington herald., 1913-10-12

book will be at a loss to understand
why Tony Ethgrete falls in love with
David Hearn. To this extent, and pos
slbly farther, Miss Patterson's is a
woman's book. However, as whole
and, despite a crude first chapter, THE
Dust of the Road" is one of the new
seasons remarkable offerings. 1t in
vites reading.
Miss Patterson is a young American;
but she places her scenes chiefly in
England and upon the English stage.
where she herself has had experience.
Her heroine is a plucky little Virginian
who has bolted from a placidly snob-
bish father and a stepmother to make
her own career in the mimic world.
The real name o: Miss Ethgrete is An
toinette Meredith, and as a comfort to
her father, who Internationally disowns
her, she can suggest only that she is
not at all like the long line OF Mere
diths gone before. Tony has finished
with the ConservatOire at Paris before
we know her. We follow her through
the drudgery of a tour over the Brit
ish circuit with Gregory Webster's
Shakespearean touring Company" an
organization of theatrical human ma
ture. With the Websterites, because
OF temporary whim, is David Hearn,
and the trouble begins.
David is sculptor by vocation.
He is red-headed, oss-grained. trucu-
lent, impudent, conceited. obstinate-so
much of all these that his brief lapses
into tenderness. when he and Tony
have discovered how it is between
them, seem incredible. However, the
fruit Of it all is a sacrifice for Tony.
While telling the story of Tony and
David. Miss Patterson conveys to us
vividly the sense Of the life Of the
websterites in performance. in rehearsal.
and on the train. Webster is Pa to
the company. He is instructor. discip-
linarIan. guide. counsellor. and at all
hours. a friend.
Every Friday was Painting Morning
that is to say the day for rehearsing
stage fits. faints. falls. and deaths by
weapons or poisons. Give us an epi-
lepsv" commanded the sergeant. sig
Mailing out Jonesey. And when Jonesey
begged to ne allowed to do the act with
out soap in her mouth, as II causes
sdueamish feeling. the lenient sergeant
says: Take the bayonet in the chest
instead"
After the touring there is glimmer
Of a star role in London for Tony and
the father runs across to be depicted
in terms Of laughing satire by the author.
Follows quickly a glimpse of Lourdes
and its pilgrims. and with this glimpse
the sacrifice.
when from under her curls Tony
looked at you with wi6e eyes like a
shepherd boy used TO facing the sun in
windy spaces. she was grave and en-
gaging. But when she smiled Tony was
irresistible Her mouth crinckled, rip
pie Of amusement ran up her face. and
eddied into two dimples, one in either
cheek: her lips parted. and her teeth
shone white as a root-few fawn's," and
so forth. But this does not make II any
clearer why she loves David Hearn.
THE WHITE LINEN NURSE: BY Eleanor Halo
we'll Abbott Illustrated. New Nork-The Cen
tury Company.
The publication in the Century Maga-
zine OF this new novel by the author
Of Molly Make-Believe." has attracted
attention. II is a rather striking story.
In il are blended sentiment, humor. vivid
realism. originality. and psychological
power. together with some straining Of
probability. The leonine senior surgeon