Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-21


ONE Out of the Kitchen"
$$A is clever, swift-moving
comedy of compact work
~ manship and a noticeably
correct and discriminating
use of the English language. Fresh
accident good fun and trimming
fumor spring spontaneously out OF the
circumstance upon which the movement
takes color and shape. This circum-
stance is the taking over of an OLD
southern mansion for the hunting sea-
son by a rich young fellow from New
York. Transferred with the mansion
Itself is the body of house servants. be-
longing to it, and il is upon the lido
svncrasies of these servants that the
story relies for its most amusing situa-
lions and such slight mystihcatlon as
the comedy contains. Jane Ellen, the
cook is, as a matter of fact, the nero
ine Of this tale. as Burton Crane. the
rich young tenant, is its hero. Beside
Ellen Jane, there are Smithheld, the
butler, and Lily, the maid. and Brindle-
bury, the useful boy-an astonishing
group whose projections and imperfec-
lions serve to keep the houseparty
above stairs and the reader as well,
in an unbroken to-do of expectation
and excitement 1t is not fair play TO
reveal the identity of this group. since
IT is quite worth any readers while to
follow the course of this vivacious and
witty story. not only for its well man
aged surprises. but for it's finely de-
veloped romance also.
INSTEAD OF THE THORN: Novel.
BY Clara Louise Burnham, author of
THE Leaven of Love" etc Boston:
Houghton Miff1in Company.
The Coast of Maine for atmosphere
and setting, a handful of down-east
Yankees for local flavor, summer So
journers of proper number and quality
for the romance itself and a thread of
one or another of the forms of new
thought for direction and control
these are the elements that combine to
make the formula of Clara Louise
Burnham novel. The one in hand Of
fers no fundamental exception to this
formula. Its wholesome intent is to
bring out the essentially robust quail
ties of girl whom the circumstances
of wealth and indulgence have reduced
to the appearance of very engaging,
but none the less complete frivolity.
This purpose is fully indicated by the
title expanded to the whole of Isaiah's
saying, Instead of the thorn shall
come up the fir tree; and instead of the
brier shall come up the myrtle tree"
Mrs. Burnham has many admiring
readers. These will find in this new
novel the same youthful and happy out
look, the same engaging ingenuity of
plot. the same preference for open and
above-board characters. the same feel
Ing for the Maine coast, as they have
already found to such an enjoyable de-
gree in all of this writer's work.
NAN OF MUSIC MOUNTAIN. By Frank
H. Spearman. author of Whisper
ing Smith, etc. illustrated by n.
c. Wyeth. New York: Charles
Scribner's Sons. Washington: Wood
ward & Lothrop.
family of outlaws-the Morgans
of Morgans Caps the storm center
of this western adventure. To clean
up the Morgan clan is the job that
opens out here in exciting swift
ness and variety of scheme and coun-
ter-scheme. Soon. too, this already
strenuous issue becomes even more ex-
acting by the fact that romantic ardors
must needs insinuate themselves into
the comparatively plain business of
hunting down and roofing out nest of
troublesome lawbreakers. Nan Nor
gan. of the tribe. is comely young
woman. Henry de Spain. leading the
crusade against the Morgans. is also
young. and pcrsonable also. to a de-
gree calculated to interfere with the
family fealty of any girl So where at
the beginning the story is ready and
energetic enough to suit any reason
able person. it, under this new electrii-
cation, actually huns and crackIes with
enterprise. and throws off sparks of
special foolhardiness of daring at
every turn. This is not an unfamiliar
outline for story of rough life in
the west. The writer however handles
the much-used theme in a fresh way of
his own. He makes much of the back
ground here. Of the big country be-
h!nd the event, a severely beautiful and
Impressive region with which he is
upon terms Of intimate UNDERSTANDING
The adventures are often with the
place itself in one or another of its
woods and phases rather than with
She not pursuit and ready attack of
man and man The keynote of the ad-
venture is courage and skill pitied
fgainst equal courage and greater skill
altogether " is a workmsnly and dra-
snatic novel. bound to rouse 4 keen in
teTeGt IN lovers of adventure
ALONG NEW ENGLAND ROADS. Bv
W G. Prime. LIZ D.. author Of Il
Go A-Fishine" etc Illustrated
New York. Harper & Bros
Any one reading this book is reason
ably certain, upon reaching it's last
chapter, to whip out pencil and pad
for careful note-takinE The chap
ter is headed Hints for Carriage TRAY
ei." And by The time one has arrived
st this point he is determined to dupIi-
rate. by hook or by crook, DR.. Primes
experience Of seeing New England by
the easy and leisured intimacy of a
carriage and pair" This is a CAN'T
waiting book Of happy ups and downs
along New England roadways. stopping
at pleasure. lingering at will, explor-
ing inviting corners. visiting with the
chance folks along the way. putting up
at summed. eet-smelling houses,
where bed and board are balm and oil
TO happy WEAKNESS and a healthy
hunger. With Europe closed to the
tourist, America is certain to come into
a large share of his attention A jaunt
like the one SO attractively presented
here Is sure to make an irresistible
appeal to the traveller IN fact and to
the stay-at-home also who travels at
second hand in the company of genial
and sympathetic guide like DR.. Prime.
THE ROMANCE OF THE COMMON
PLACE. By Gelett Burgess, author
of Love in Hurry" etc. Indian
apolfs: The Bobbs-Merril Com