The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-24
B O O K S
Nv. Va Eyes"

Henry S. Harrison, who won the ad-
miration of many readers through his
novel. "Queed," which deservedly hg-
ured among the best sellers two years
ago. has done not less notable work
in w. VS. Eyes" recently published,
albeit one which will not achieve the
popularity OF It's predecessors because
IL is less of the conventional love
story and does not have the happy
ever after label.
Mr. Harrison Is unsurpassed among
present-day novelists in the knack OF
presenting through the mouths of his
characters an ethical or social prob
lem. without letting their conversation
lose its interest or appear forced
DR.. V. vivian. the Is man and not
girl as you would guess from the
title), Is self-sent missionary doc.
tor and friend OF the poor in great
city. His life as portrayed In the
story Is SO strong a proof OF the
futility of distinctions based solely on
| wealth and social position that
lack would be felt by the reader were
there not some philosophizing along
this line OF the sort in which Mr.. Har-
rison is adept.
Several things make the young DR..
V. V. unsuited to the role Of the con-
ventional hero. among them the fact
that he Is lame. but as said above, it
is not a conventional tale. These APP
parent discrepancies prove to be APP
propriate parts OF the story when it's
really tremendous climax Is reached.
V. VS. Eyes has several things in
common with Queed and one of them
Is some resemblance OF characters,
though II Is not close enough to de-
stroy interest The pseudo-prince
charming Is at least a first cousin to
| his predecessor, while "a delicate
pathos similar to that aroused by
Fiji is furnished by the troubles OF
Kern Garland. a factory girl; only
Kern doesn't die, thanks to the doc
| tors care.
In the later book the metamorpho-
| sis of character takes place In a girl
| instead OF man. Carlisle Heth, or
"Cally" has strength Of character
that would have been out OF place in
the distinctly southern girl and wom-
anly heroine OF Queed.
| Cally is a child Of wealth. A large
income, the station of her family and
a lifelong training by socially am
bilious mother all urge her toward
the goal of girls OF her class; that is
brilliant match"
She enters the game with zest.
and shows so much ability that with
ease she carries of the biggest
catch" within her social horizon. In
the meantime. however. she acquires
new point OF view on what Is worth
while In life, largely through acct.
dental contact with young physician
without wealth. nobody" who Is
capable OF giving his best suit Of
clothes to dead.beat on the plea that
the beggar needed them to get a place
| to work.
Having gained an appreciation OF
her responsibility as a member OF the
human race as well as of the 400, she
comes to despise her previous butter.
| fy existence. Revolving at the un-
worthy motives for her approaching
marriage. she wins the everlasting
disappointment Of her mother by COM
hitting the socially objectionable sin
of rejecting the "non.pareil.' The
problem of the novel Is to show the
strength Of the forces working against
this change in her character and at
the same time make 1t appear reason.
able 1t Is to the credit Of the au-
thor that 1t appears not only natural
but inevitable
The greater part of the books 500
pages are taken up with the doings
OF Cally. but still 1t Is rightly named
for the young doctor since he repre-
sents the chief influence which causes
the growth OF her character por.
trayed.
The plot and its incidents are less
completely worked than in Queed so
that at times they appear sketchy.
This criticism would not, however, %.
ply to the characters presented. On
the whole, the story Is drawn In bold.
err lines, but with less finish than the
earlier novel. Houghton-Mifflin Co,
Boston, $1.35 net.
| Irrigation has been practiced In