Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-11
GARY SCHOOLS SUBJECT
OF FASCINATING BOOK
Writer Describes Schools Where
Punishment Is Being Kept
Out" Instead Of In

Yesterday thousands OF childish hearts
in Philadelphia thrilled 70 the news that
infantie paralysis--too little understood by
them--would probably prevent the opening
of the schools till late in September. What
a comment on the methods Of teaching COM
mon to most school systems in the United
States At such a time the reviewer rec
ommends with unusual eagerness Randolf
s. Bournes clear and enlightening little
volume on THE Gary Schools" (Houghton-
Mifnin Co. Boston).
out in Indiana, Mr.. Bourne found
school or rather a whole set OF schools
where punishment consisted of keeping
children out instead of in, where history
became n practical matter OF absorbing In
terest, where the life Of today linked IT.
self up with every field Of undertaking,
from mathematics to geography, and where
finally vocational training bdbame sane
and useful thing. The novelty of Profess
sor Wirts school system and the fascina-
ton Of Mr.. Bourne's book may be gathered
from the caption under the frontspiece
picture OF the Froebel School in Gary "a
model Writ school-plant, with all grades
from kindergarten through the high school.
Social center and peoples university"
Kathleen Norris again approaches she
fulhllment Of her promise Of genuinely
strong story and artistic novel In The
Heart OF Rachel' doubleday, Page Co..
Garden City, NJ W. The story offers an
interesting specific instance of the moral
circumstances of divorce an instance woll
developed and delightfully."- told, but sur
rounded by characters much too shallow TO
lend either color or strength to its main
fabric.
II must be said, too. though reluctantly.
that Mrs. Norris's newest novel betrays
haste and lapses into best-seller style. De-
spite these regrettable weaknesses however.
Tho Heart of Rachel" claims absorbed in
terest and attention. The heroine is
charming type of the brilliant cool Amer
ioan woman of wealth and beauty. Her
impusive grasp of genuine happiness
through the doubtful medium of divorce is
the most sympathetic phase of the story.
A dlssolute, inconslderate first husband
and selfish stepdaughter make Rachels
divorce seem entirely justihable; her re-
marriage with the fulfilled promise of love
and children augment the Justification. But
Rachel herself, faced by what she feels are
inevitable consequences. declares that what
ever are the circumstances divorce is
wrong, that mo blessing ever follows a
broken VOW"
Mrs. Norris does not 20 into the question
deeply enough TO reach solution; her story
is only one individualzed case and cannot
be taken as seriously perhaps as 1t was
intended.
A very beautiful piece of character study
of the Irish peasant type is the four-act
tragedy, John Ferguson" (Macmllan Com
pany, New York;, by st. John g. Ervne
The play is a tragedy with not much relief
from the atmosphere of misfortune from
beginning to end. But Ervine has the fac
ulty of restraint under perfect command.
His characters are the enduring north of
Ireland peasants. They endure and suffer
just as they make merry with but little
outward sign of what RACES within them.
There is a fine depth about Ervines char
acterizaton of the Irish peasantry He por-
trays beautifully the tides and passions
evoked by the many tragic events which
center around n religious invalid, John Fer
guson, who for only one moment loses his
firm stand on the rock of salvation. Every
bit of description of the types, from the
half-witted beggar to the selfish mother
who to save her household wants her daugh-
ter to marry man she does mot love, is
done with tenderness and beauty.
To those who like work. Harold Bell
Wright's when n Mans a Man" (Book
Supply Company, Chicago), may reasonably
appeal but 1t is doubtful IL even the Wright
devotees can rate this latest story of the
West as high as THE Calling of Dan Mat
thews" or THE Winning of Barbara
Worth" Mediocre will be the term many
will apply to H. though haroldbellwritish is