The sun., 1916-09-02
THE RISING TIDE. (Harpers.) b
Margaret Deland. (S1.35.)

NNTGuTCu DcIuuus ~
The modern young woman is put
under the microscope and dissected
by Margaret Deland in The Rising
ride, and for one reason at least ad-
mirers of Mrs. Deland will regret that
she has been touched by the epidemic
that aiilicts the purveyors OF fiction
this season. Mrs. Deland has hitherto
used charmingly the English Of edu-
Gated II somewhat old fashioned Amer
cans. avoiding precosity and subtle
distinctions. In this book she feels
obliged to use the language young
people would be likely to use and dis
plays an amazing command Of up to
date slang. Her heroine is discon-
tented, that Is her chief attraction. The
ugly aspects OF her revolt against all
things are smoothed down by the
humorous and patient comments of a
middle aged bachelor, who Likely the
girl and is an amused observer Of the
various women's agitations. The girl
objects TO her family, not because she
has some reason for II. but because
the family Is u burden on the indi-
viJual; she flies deliberately into the
face Of conventions for the sake Of
shocking the community; she talks
sex In season and out and shows her
ignorance OF what she is talking
about; she takes up the real estate
business in order to do something, but
refuses 10 take the trouble to hit her
self for n steady occupation: she
Is a fervent advocate of the suffrage
and So on. Her views are extreme
as those of young people usually are.
but she has also "a streak of hardness
that holds off the readers sympathy.
With her and the necessary foils Mrs.
Deland is able to discuss all the
woman questions without committing
herself TO either side. 1t is rather
grim humor that makes the heroine
think herself in love with a youth who
admircs her but Is easily won by On
ordinarily wuinaIiiy girl, and makes
her ask him to marry her. 1t may pos
sibly do the MODERN young person good
to discover how she appears in the
eyes of her elders, but Mrs. Deland
seems to take her far too seriously and
none too kindly. 1t Is "a bright and
entertaining book, in which the touches
OF tragedy Jar.
THE SHELTERED SEX. tJoh.
Lane Company.) By Mndge
Mcnrs. IsI.25.D
The craving for independence at any
price has possession of the new Brit
ish girl also If we may believe MadSc
Mears's The Sheltered Sec. A young
girl in an English provincial town,
without accomplishments or knowl-
edge that can help her to earn a liv-
Ing, gets to the point when she can
no longer bear the dull responsibility
Of her family. She gets "A little money
together and leaves town with a skat-
ing instructor in whom she has con-
iided and who undertakes to protect
her against herself. A railroad acct
dent sends him to the hospital AND
she has a hard time making a living
among some Quecrly disreputable and
shiftless people. Her chief aim In life
seems TO be To ruin her W reputation
IN order that she may express he
scorn for society's standards OF
morality. but the people about her dc
not interfere with her. \ stupidity
straitlaced youth makes love to hei
and is ready to forgive her supposed
immortality, but when she suggests
that she is dishonest in money matters
also. he is scared off. This enables the
author to he sarcastic about sins that
people will forgive and lesser sins
that they will not. She has been moth
ering her sick protector all the time
after u while they have a chance tt
emigrate to the colonies. they conclude
that they love each other and reluc'
family marry. 1t is to be hoped tina
they accept local conventionality II
their now home.
THE CHORUS. (E. +. Dutton 4
Coz ny sylvia Lynd. (s1.35.l
Tho wholly immoral atmosphere
What British literary and artistic cir
cl"s affect permeates Sylvia Lyndi
The chorus. a wealthy craftsman
who is a master in every form OF ar
he chooses to take up. has his workshop
IN his beautiful country estate, wher'
D. has established the wife he married
for her beauty. All sorts OF writers
and artists frequent the place as wei
as the rich people who buy his prod
ncts. Among these are the severa
varieties OF modern girls. y beautifu
child of sixteen with deplorable ante
c"dents and knowledge OF the ev!l II
the world, but apparently clean, fall
I'm love with the rather elderly crafts
man and he Is ready to lose his hea'
over her. Several women watch tn
affair, comment on 1t and debat
whether they shall interfere. Sh'