Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-22
IN THE MAGAZINES

( tereSt She calls it The COlOrS. 1t
is one OF those stories you'd like to
read aloud and one that you will prob
ably have to put aside now and then
during your reading Every country in
the world knows this: There is no
news to tell England" he said,
about American unpreparedness. EV-
cry school boy in London knows, likely,
that the army of the United States is
1 about twice the size of the police force
in New York City, an army negligible
! as armies go today. The ammunition
, for coast defense would last a full
half hour The British government. is
doubtless informed with exactness how
much the American navy lacks of
strength and equipment and whether it
stands third or fourth among the
navies OF the world. Without Ques-
ton there is no secret about the
stretches of our shore which lie open
to an invader. Everybody is aware
that New York is. as some one said
lately, as unprotected as a soft-shell
crab and as succulent'"
It is refreshing to encounter story
like Seven Miles to Arden by Ruth
Sawyer, recently published by the
Harpers. The author has high-hurdled
at one bound the conventional ratings
which beset the course of the novelist.
The reader is tempted to rub his eyes
and wonder if this is not some new
and delightful land of make believe
conjured up before him, although the
scene Of the story, as matter of plain
geography, can lie only short train
ride from New York. One is speedily
introduced to Patsy OConnel, late of
the Irish National Players, conya-
descent in a. city hospital and then.
almost as speedily, is whisked away
with her by train upon the maddest Of
chivalric impulses: she is determined
to overtake the young man in the Bal
; macaan coat and tell him that at least
one human being in the world believes
IN MIN. Romance never went its way
more bllthely or capriCiOuSly than in
; this delightful story, for romance here
has caught some of the roguish charm
> of the delightful Irish heroine herself.
and has entered into the spirit of the
whole thing as the author has so art
: fully contrived it. Patsy O'COnnel. in
- man, finds herself set down BY the
train in a lonely place-seven miles
n from Arden. Not one dav. but seven.
is required to encompass these seven
battling miles, and each is a day of adj
I venture and surprises. Patsy encoun-
/ tiers upon the road tinker in shabby
/ state. and they join forces. Gradually
. the tinker reveals himself for what he
really is, and in Arden-When it is
reached at last-P2tsy discovers that
tinker, Balmacaan coat, and her hearts
desire have all, somehow merged to-
gether after climax of surprises for
! herself and the reader. Something of
the very deightfuness of Shake
speare's forest of Arden, and quite as
( understandable, clings about the pages of
, this tale 1t goes forward in a blithe.
picturesque fashion, and the complica-
-, tons develop naturally but most ip-
: genlouSly. 1t is story calculated to
restore ones faith in humanity and the
! world at large, and in Patsy O'Connel
l 1t reveals heart of gold and quite the
most lovable heroine that we have en-
countered in fiction in many a day.
B.. an interesting article by Merle Crowell
about Uncle John Brashear, astron-
: omer and scientist, considered by
Charles NJ SChWab to be the most Won
derful man he has ever met. There
are number of other articles on time
ly subjects, and an unusually good as
: sortment Of fiction. The fiction in
cludes The Cinderella Stuff" by Oscar
Graeve, Hens Friend, the Bear" by
Hugh S. Fullerton, Little Hacks of
= Kindness" another Victor" story. by
;, Sophie Kerr, The Ghost in the Gal
: ley, powerful murder story by vii
2 liam McHarg, and "Annye's Ma" by
: Jack Lait. Between Two Worlds. u
love serial of stage and society peo-
pie, Is continued by Philip Curtiss.
Among the special articles is one en-
titled How l Made Them Hire Me-
by an anonymous writer who tells how
he secured $4,000 job after he was
down and out at AZ. This is one of the
series entitled Your Hidden Powers
and Some of the Keys to Unlock Them. -
Zoe In! by DR.. Arthur r. REYNOLDS.
5 former health commissioner of Chi
l cago, explains why so many feet hurt
ana now TO take care of them. "A Fine
Achievement at Small Cost" by Walter
Prichard Eaton, describes the revolu-
ton IN American drama that has been
: started by the Washington Souare
Players, a group of young and amhi-
uous professionals. Among the
other articles and stories are Can Anv
/ State Beat Iowa." by Herbert Quick
| The Highest Room" by Darragh and
: Rosemary Aldrich, and Can You
Drink and Hold Your Job?" bv Edwin
F. Bowers. The department on Inter
esting People includes an unusual
, sketch of John Hays Hammond and
his SON The results of the contest on
, will power and the department on The
! Family's Money" contain several short
: articles of practical interest.
Sensibility.