New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-15
ROCKS @ AUTHORS
VIEWS AND REVIEWS
OF CURRENT FICTION
r,,k Londons Benevolent Superman-A Comedy OF
Uneasy Wealth-"The Fifth Whee'-Tales of
German Victory and Our Unpreparedness
,sr LITTLE LADY OF THE BIZ
HOISE.

TIE LITTLE LADY of 'hh n'''
..--,r lady OF TIE BIG HOUSE By
~ ~-f~1sr l.uo - 's- I"s MA '"'''~
lsrgA-s
~. ,e,dulum Of Mr.. London's ar
i"V 80 swung between the Super
. and the submerged In the no
North. a. sea. on the se.Fedge o.
~ .,;-st;on. he has celebrated the
80 Of men and circumstance; ihe
~ conouerors r. the primitive phys
'- H'tts,.iss Of life. And he has pleaded
o '1 b~rriuc Indignation the cause Ok
~" rrft whom civilization. having
.-s.te6 them. vet cOmpcls 10 sur
=. ss.sr miserable fashion. instead
" ,1,;rr chem upward and on. Burn
Nnsyiigh. is one % London's super
- Sea-Woli IS another. and iu
s'.' ,sg hook Of his he draws the pct
ns s.ill a third. but OF q different
~ raternahstic despot, serving
VF.,,-.rv and his people after the
- 80 NJ Nh. Weiss samurai.
~ Forrest. Californian multi
'r:o,eire. has devoted himself 10 the
go 80 ~ the country's agriculture.
90 sheep and log breeding and
- vsisivg. 90 irrigation. intensive
s',nine. 20 the Development OF pros
a., and wealth. His draught-horses
y. IN demand -hC country over 50
- bis cattle. and his sheep have I'M
wed the quality Of Australian wool.
~, go 0OO-acre ranch IS a model IN
....r,ion: what is more. - Is proht-
~. That u.s.. indeed. the mans su-
80. test OF efficiency. He directs
80 one Of his undertakings himself.
:. master OF all their details; and
d. his control works al army o.
experts.
49, G. thirteen. when. an orphan,
!, rsn away from home. and for three
,,,,. led rowing lrfe. in cowboy
,'-r, in mines. on the road. At six
,.., /, returned. mastered a college
,ourss in a few weeks. demonstrated
"a MS bewildered guardians ms ability
"a axe care Of himself. the purpose
,,ln,ss OF ell his actions. and then,
wing had his fling FOR year, set
lid down 20 his life work. He mar
I'D the Little Lady. a Superwoman
IN her wonsnliness.
Vow. after twelve years. she wavers
9, her ALLEGIANCE. She falls in love
vi another man. but continues TO
owe her husband "in q different fash
on sdmiring him still. jealous still
~ his honor. In a way she is now IN
love with two men. though the ult-
-,tts outcome is not IN doubt Three
solu.iors confront her: her HUSBAND S.
Who holds the theory that love is free
and uncomfortable: the other mans.
which is divorce and remarriage. and
her ozn. Her decision furnishes the
climax Of the book.
This problem. L familiar one in nc
ion. bu. solved i'm g novel way, IS
bu-ied beneath the details Of the man
,rsment and The life OF the model
-srch. NJ London's imagination runs
rot with the efficiency and the luxury
ard the charms of the outdoor pursuits
and pleasures IN that blessed climate.
Tie house is always filed with guests;
Torrss. supports a colony Of philoso-
rhsrs. who philosophlze without END
IN fact. the main situation is delayed
ard obscured rather than advanced by
,Ils whose supposed brllhsncy often
Is forced and boresome. And the com
parry hss queer tastes IN the matter OF
psrlor games and practical jokes.
The book is TOO long, unnecessarily
complicated with non-essentials. Il Is
ovsicrowded with technical detail IN
evidence o. its hero's super-eficiency,
ard u has too many minor characters
rat Go not matter. But as an ideal,
4 overlooked, picture % luxurious
c,sntry life in California u has real
charm; and i,s problem IS dealt with
CT az honorable plane.