The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-10
1.-THE THREE SISTERS"

tlon.
THE THREE SISTERS"
BY May Sinclair. The Macmillan Co..
Publishers, New York.
Ever since 1.-THE Divine Fire. gratified
discerning critics of 10 years or SO ago,
May Sinclair has at intervals written
fiction well calculated to sustain the ira
dition of the first volume and to main
tain her position in the front rank of
modern authors, 1.-THE Three Sisters" Is
her latest story and. as might be expected
from the continued expansion of power
shown in its predecessors, her most i'm
portant
Miss Sipclair's general purpose in ''The
Three Sisters" is to present three distinct
types of womankind-not unusual types,
but those frequently encountered. So well
has she chosen her chara ,ters and into
their delineation has gone 50 much OF
close observation that tney may trury be
said to sum up the different feminine
Viewpoint.
But 1.-THE Three Sisters has more than
this one interest. big though that one Is.
1t is. quite apart from its fine study of
human motives, a dramatic tale OF incl
dent logically constructed and moving
logically and with the "reminiscences of
life to an inevitable conclusion.
1t is story to the fashioning Of which
Miss Sinclair has brought all her talents
and mature skill; story which can only
be read with distinct admiration for
the vividness with which it Is told and
the understanding of the principles which
actuates men and women, which 1t re-
veals.
Out of the three women their different
attitudes toward life, particularly toward
love and marriage. Miss Sinclair has made
an engrossing story. In its analysis Of
human motives and in its array of dra-
matte incidents, the author OF The Divine
Fire is shown at her best.
"RADA."
GA DRAMA IN ONE ACT.') BY Al
fred Moves. Frederick A. Stokes Co.,
Publishers, New York.
Christianity VS.. war is in a sense. the
theme of this poignant drama by a poet
whose voice has ever been raised in the
cause of peace.
stanzas of 1.-The Wine Press Is the dra-
matte simplicity of this play. set in a
Balkan hut at the close Of a day Of bat
tie
Christmas eve-a little village In the war
zone-a cottage sheltering a young widow
of day and a child ignorant of the hor-
rors about her. The pathetic illusions of
the little girl as to her Christmas happi-
ness. the noczing of the brutalized SOL
diers who bring on the tragedy. and the
final irony of the half-witted schoolmas-
ter babbling the worn-out arguments for
war--these thrust home
Terribly true, wonderfully human. pitt
lessly convincing and intensely dramatic
this play makes a deeper impression
when read than do most dramas when
seen.
THE TRAVELLER"
The $25,O0O Collier prize story" by
James Connolly Charles Scribner's
Sons publishers, New York.
THE Trawler," by James Connolly.
the $4,000 Collier Prize story, is one
of series of stories and essays whose
recognition as masterpieces by the
critical few as well as by the multitude,
obviously demanded publication in a
permanent and independent form.
What some of the Judges" in the
Collier contest said about The Trawi-
err" may be of interest to the readers
of this clever story.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt said:
" The Trawler' is far and away the best
story. 1t is literature. In thought in
elevation of sentiment. in rugged
knowledge Of rugged men, in strength
q place of permanence."
Ida NJ Tarbell said: 1T Is a story with
a big theme: it's characters living men.
The knowledge of the life it handles Is
unquestionable."
Mark Sullivan said: "As q picture of
the sea 1t deserves to stand alongside
of Dana's Two Years Before the Mast"
sTHE CRYSTAL ROOD"
BY Mrs. Howard Gould; illustrations by
Erie Stetson Crawford. The John Lane
Co.. publishers, New York.
Outanie, the sQuaw OF an Indian chief.
having borne the mighty warrior no son,
is driven by the taunts OF her tribe to
a hunters settlement up the river. Here
she kidnaps q child and, returning to her
tribe. passes him on as her own son.
ans perndy discovered. and then. by
aid Of the crystal rood gift once be-
stored upon q Syrian knight by the
pope and hung by the dying mother
round her infants neck--is his true
origin revealed. This IL the theme Of
Mrs. Howard Gould's story. ''The Crystal
Rood"
The story Of the Indian tribes OF the
Mohawk and the Delaware--their hab-
its, customs. games and warfare-is all
excellently told. and many are the In
teresting ana romantic adventures of
the young supposed Indian. Rushing
Water.
OTHER BOOKS RECEIVED (RE-
VIEWS LATER).
"BEFORE THE BABY COMES" BY
Marine Wheeler. Harper Brothers. pub
fishers. New York.
Tw1LIGHT SLEEP" BY Henry
Smith Williams. b Sc. N. F. LII D.