Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-21
NEW WAR BOOK CRIES
"yTvE La FRANCE
Distinguished Correspondent
Writes Interesting Descrip-
tion of Trench Fighting
Across France
OTHER NEW 30 oKs

"E3efore the echoes Of the first shot hat
died away came another and vet an
other. They burst to the right of us. t'
the left OF us, seemingly all around us
We certainly had stirred UP the Ger
mans" saws r.. Alexander Powell in hi!
new book, "vive La France (Charlei
Scribner's Sons. New York;. Mr.. Powell
is describing an artillery duel in France
which an accommodating colonel hao
staged for him. The location was "some-
where and the time right there"
"ffave you," continues Mr.. Powell who
has been under fire many times, "eveI
heard shrapnel? Nor Well II sounds as
much as anything else like winter gale
bowling through the branches of pine
tree. II Is a moan, groan, a shrek all
rolled into one, and when the explosion
comes it sounds as though some one had
touched of a stick of dynamite under a
grand piano"
Mr.. Powell has written an interesting
book. It Is the record of his second and
third visits to the front. He describes,
among other things, the bombardment of
Dunkirk, the destruction of Scissors, the
fighting on the Aisne, the invasion of AL
SAGE, the poison gas, the last stand of the
Belgians on the User and the great and
terrible gun duels between the opposing
armies.
Ellen Glasgow, as one to the manner
born, presents thoroughly believable
and intensely interesting picture of a
Southern girls development in her new
novel. Life and Gabrielia" doubleday,
Page & Co., Garden City, L. I).
mo life is so hard that you can't make
II easier by the way you take It," and IT
want to be happy, l have a right to be
happy and II depends on myself'-these
are the cardinal tenets in the creed of
,1,-faI arrt. 1n,, sNf
impoverished family of small Virginia
town. She breaks from its shabby gentil
.tty and applies her philosophy to the
larger scope of metropolitan life. Her
romance in the Southland crumbles, but
she rears new structure of achievement
In New York. Her battle inclines the
reader to warm sympathy, and her even
tual triumph leaves sense of satisfac-
tion after the book is closed.
Rudyard Kipling has immortalzed
France In his latest story of the great
struggle, France at War; doubleday,
Page & Co., 80 cents). Mr.. Kipling has
discussed with his rare charm the nation
whose achievements since the beginning
of the war have amazed the world. Begin
ming with verse of great vigor, he takes
the reader through the cities and country
towns, thrills him with the fire of pa
triotism, graphically describes the sicken-
ing horrors of battle and trench life, ex-
tolls the spirit of the French people and
ends his tale with an account of the ma
tions confidence in its defenders.
It is a little hard work getting into the
story of Margaret Turnbulrs Handle
with Care (Harper & Bro, New York;,
but once the slow tempo of the early
chapters Is passed the movement gains
I'm speed and interest. The establishment
of the premises Is accomplished by eN-
planation outright instead of by some
more active me -hod. 1t is all good deal
like the maids soliloquy in the opening
act of n certain type OF comedy.
But there is much to reward the reader
as the story develops, Briefly, 1t Is the
narrative of n girls successful endeavor
to redeem a man from himself-or rather
his lesser and lower self. Janet Black
thorne erstwhile kindergartener and
later research specialist in a psychology
ical laboratory for neurotic and alcoholic
''cases," takes hold of her mans life and
makes 1t over according to her hearts
desire. But the book Is not a problem
novel or n clinical discussion in the guise
of fction--it is just a plain story, well
told and with engaging characters.
Eighty-four years young, Mrs. Terhune
(Marion Harland) wields pen that is en-
even though in her newest novel she has
gone back to New Jersey of an older day
for a locale. "A Long Lane" (Hearst In
Library Company, New York;
In its brisk narrative and cohesive plot
betokens no vestige of an octogenarian
origin. The story is one that iterates the
ages-long penalty of the wages of sin.
Yet 1t is not sombre or depressing and
its moral catharsis Is strong. The aged
writer's philosophy is, as ever, sunny and
optimistic. Who would expect anything
gloomy from Marion Harland, the first
aid" for young housewives for several
Her writings on the Wo-
mans Page of the EVENING LEDGER to-
day are as helpful as so years ago they
were to the grandmothers of the present
when she issued her noted
Cook Book. the first untechnical and
culinary manual printed in
this country. And her hand as a fiction
Ist has lost none OF the skill which made
'.Alone" the best seller of it's day in the
j0s. Even though written by girl In her
teens. 1t competed with the novels OF the
popular writer's of the New York Ledger
school OF authorship
A woman-ridden government is a rarity; |
In the South 1t seems an impossibility.
But Cora Harris knows the possibilities |
Of crowd and Individual psychology and |
3no Tells IN "Co-C1tlzenS lDOuDleday, |
Page & Co.. Garden City, N. Y.), In her |
simple style OF the aetivi- |
nes of the women of Jordantown and |
now the little community OF women |
hnally run the whole political game in |
he village-all because one Sarah |
Mosely dies and leaves a deal of money |
IN trust with an energetic woman, who |
henpecked her husband into his political |
career; a young girl with a college edu- |
cation and an old Judge. The win pro-
gides the money TO be used in the cause |
Of suffrage. and the schemes which the /
women create and the way they infiu-
snce all their kind form an amusing basis |
,or Mrs. Harris tale. The story wearles |
1 bit In the telling, not on account Of its |
.tyIe, but rather because II is bit too
padded for its slim skeleton.
Stories written around the mining camp
have long been themes OF popular fiction,
tut In THE Lone Fight" Qearsts Inter
Library Company George Wash
ngton Ogden depicts the scenes incident
10 oil prospecting in Kansas with a touch
1f the action that has made Jack Lon
IONS mining camp stories so popular.
X is hard.luek story of the eternal
luest for riches which finally breaks
tight. AIRED Heiskell goes in for sheep.
Duf his father dreams of OIL In a rage
he old man slaughters his sons flock and
Iorees him iRto oil prospecting for nv-