Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-18
HAMMOCK READING
FOR MID-AUGUST
Sprightly Novels, Books About
the War and Other Things
Between Covers

The Russian advance is not altogether
offensive, TO drop into military terms After
the excesses of Artschibaschef II Is some
thing of a relief to turn to Goncharov's
"Obomov," which Is quite rs penetrating
an analysis of Russian character, with much
more humor and cleanliness. "oblomov'
was so popular, and the Russian Is so apt
to see himself in extravagant characteriza-
tions, that the name passed into common
language and dilatory, lazy waster of fine
opportunities was said to be attacked by
oblomovsm AT page 90, II we remember,
the protagonist has not yet risen from his
bed lie has received five visitors, but has
barely slipped his feet into the soft slip
pers that stand just where he can get into
them with the least effort To be sure,
nothing but humor could carry such book
along 1t Is not full OF punch or action,
and the author must have had some deep
purpose in mind, because the introduction
of types is n bit stited and infelicitlous.
Goncharov stems from the older tradition
Of Russian writer's, but Is secondary. That
Is why his book destined never to be a
TORCH shines with a pleasant and enjoyable
light The translation is easier than most
from the Russian and goes to the credit OF
c. j. Bogarth. The imprint Is that OF
Macmillan.
War books, presumably, are to continue.
Mr.. Frederic Coleman. an American mo-
tor enthusiast, took a car Into France.
ana IN FROM MONS TO 1pTeS WlNn btIci di
French" no tells what happened to him,
but so quietly and with such a riot of Incl.
dent that the story Is really of what hap
pened on tho famous retreat to the armies
of England. 1t is very seldom that the
reactions of an ordinary man are told In
an ordinary manner. War stories are all
too special. This one is regular Mr.. Cole
man has normal fears, hopes and, II any
thing is abnormal about him. It is his ca
pacity for taking things in. The book is
sadly written, but to make literature of
1t would be TO take away part of Its at
mosphere of reality The author served as
chauffeur and later In other departments.
He writes with detachment as far as feel
ings for the enemy go, but his admira-
ton for those who took part In the retreat
is justihably unbounded. Tho little stories
recall Ian Hay. The whole Is vivid and
interesting II ono is UP on the war; Dodd,
Mead & Coz
More than one excellent book have been
published recently about Rudyard Kipling
The best is by John Palmer, little, In
cisive study packed with meaning. The
other extreme is reached by Mr.. r. Thurs
ton Hopkins, whose long, discurslve and
| somewhat pointless literary appreciation Is
published by Stokes, 1t can be said for Mr..
Hopkins that he started to form "com-
monplace book and inadvertently fancied
himself doing criticism. OF the latter the
| anecdotes are interesting. But the book
bears an air OF intellectual snobbery. We
| expect our attention to be called to the
sun and the stars. which, as is commonly
| known, seldom appear at the same time.
| No one will find in the book any glimmer-
| ing of an idea concerning Kipling as a
| phenomenon in England and in English lit
| erature. The semi-scandalous successes are
| mentioned, but the meaning Is left out Mr..
| Hopkins might make n good realistic novel
| ist of the present school. For pointless
| massing of detail his work 10 master
piece. In fairness 1t might be said that
| the work Is interesting. Ninety per cent
| OF that goes to r. X.
war book about which there seems
| to be no end of controversy is PASSED
| by the Censor" by Wythe Williams, of the
| New York Times. 1t is not a story of
fighting, but a story of how a good corre-
| spondent stayed in Paris and covered the
| STORY" the biggest story In the history
| of Journalism. Naturally 1t lacks much.
traordinary merit and some very moving
descriptions. Many of the pages are re-
printed from the paper in which the stories
first appeared. They are often soppily
written, but more often the writing is sim
pie as the story. The author does not
protrude himself. France and its spirit are
the effective agents throughout (E. p.
Dutton.)
Mrs. oliver Onions (Berta RuclS) has a
formula, clever, adaptable and amusing.
I'm Another Girls Shoes is built on that
formula and is the story of an official
fiancee. Whether the other works Of this