The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-09-23
BOOKS

''laddie-A Trus-eiue Story"
"Laddie." product Of wholesome
outdoor life, whom neither education
and the ability to talk Greek to hts
plow horses nor the pleas OF q beau.
tiful girl whom he loves can wean
away from the country and life on q
farm. IL the hero Of Mrs. Gene STRAIT
ton Porter's latest book. "Laddie-A
rrue-Blue Story"
The title has q familiar sound to
Mrs. Porter's readers and admirers,
for 1t not only labels this story, but
hits OF as well the particular ability
which gives all her books their chief
attraction; that IL. the power to pic
ture In simple and most effective
way answering adherence to perfect
honesty in word and action. Without
either preaching or permitting her
character to become vapid. she holds
up an ideal Of spotless honor, and at
the same time delivers a message oil
appreciation and emphasis Of elemen-
tai virtues - opposed to things that
are only conventional.
Her new book Is no exception to
this rule. Laddie is q member Of q
large family and the especial favor.
lite OF his Little Sister, who tells
the story. a fact which In q large meA.
sure justices an idealized sketchins
of his character.
His story Is one Of faithful love for
Pamela Pryor, the daughter 6f an
English family of high social rank
which Is in voluntary exile ON account
OF misplaced responsibility for =
crime. Social and religious preju-
dices separate the two families, but
the young man presses his suit un.
daunted, trusting to good 1udgmen,
and common sense to overcome al
difncultieA
Nor u his the only love AFFAIR with
which the book 10 concerned. A large
part Of the interest Of the story II In
the recounting Of the doinss Of his
various brothers and sisters, al OF
whom are attractive characters. OF
course Little Sister would not for
get tho beaux Of her big sisters. The
novelty Of writing the tale from the
viewpoint Of = child II made good use
Of by Mrs. Porter. and the girl her
self 10 Z unique creation.
The tale IL idyllic In spirit through
out. It IL free from the common
faults Of the popular up-to-date novel
which represents q search after new
sensations In the way Of strange and
bizarre events IN plot or in the por
trayal Of the abnormal In human char
acter.
The book II attractively gotten up
both with regard to color Of cover
and paper, and tn worlKmanship. II
10 compactly bound 20 al not to be II
all bulky. even with its 600 pages
Doubleday. Page 4 Co. 91.36 net
"Diamond Cut Diamond"
This ID another Of those bright,
breezy Bobbo Merrill books. Il u On
entertaining tale Of mystery and
crime with all the elements Of . good
detective story. It IL woven about q
secret perfectly concealed, relating 70
the disputed ownership Of seven blood.
red diamonds worth . million dollars,
Active participants In the action in.
clude . daring criminal, an innocent
girl and two women under suspicion
one Of whom, . writer for the maya
sines, IL telling the story.
There Ii. beades, an unobtrusivs
love AFFAIR, and q liberal amount Of
worldly wisdom and humor In the
book. The plot, which, Of course, ID
OF most importance in q story Of this
sort, 10 ingenious and complicated, in.
Guiding theft, smuggling and an III.
legged plot on the part Of Germany to
| gain political influence over Mexico
TO the detriment Of the interests OF
the United States.
One Of the best things about the
book II that there 10 nothing really
narrowing In II. The numerous tense
situations are, % lightened BY humor