Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-18


Johnson. Illustrated by George W
Gage. Boston: Small, Maynard q
Co.
~HIS story of boys enslave-
ment to drink is used to tell
another story-that of sur
passing love between father
and son. Subordinate to this
particular love story is another one
that of the boy and Narcissa. his lovely
young cousin. The vicissitous anu
troubled course of both rests upon the
boys seemingly incurable dring SICK
ness. There is a curious contradiction
in this romance Save for the one girl.
it deals with men alone, and with
theme that implies anything rather
than delicacy. Nevertheless, the at
mosphere of the whole is that of elu-
sive subtlety. The girl is vision OF
rure witchery. But that is easily ac-
counted for. Girls are. But with half
a dozen men, some of them Davies
companions and others bent 10 ms
rescue, there is the same air OF aiool
refinement Evidence of Davies state
is not lacking. but one never sees nun
except when he is fresh and oeautltus
and penitent. 1t is the father hlmsel1
who tells the story of Davie ana MN
self bringing out in wealth. OF IN
tuitively keen affection the re.a.ion s
effect of unrea1ity is that that 1ather
is a mother-not a father at all Had
he been cast in his rightful role, that
Of Davies mother. this would nave
been a document. sort or legal evil
dence of the yearning. jealous. monop-
olizing affection that mothers have 1or
their sons. one. too, that sons OF
Davies quality meet In Satisfying
rapture of response. me story Is
one had it not been for the writer's re-
luctance to deal squarely with this
case.
FROM THE HOUSEHOLDS. By George
Barr McCutcheon. author of The
Prince of Graustark." etc. 1llustra-
tions by F. Graham Cootes. New
York: Dodd. Mead Co.
In place of becoming Braden Thorpe's
wife. as she had agreed to do. Anne
Tresslyn became his grandmother. at
the very outset of this new Nc
cutcheon novel Two million dollars in
her own right, and every reasonable
nrospect of a speedy widowhood made
the consideration underlying this shift
of contract. Anne was bent to the ex-
acting task of eating her cake and hav-
ing it too. Old Thorpe was working
out a uuixotic scheme calculated to
save his beloved grandson. young Dr.
Thorpe from the rapaclous family or
Tresslyn. A man really does not marry
his grandmother. According to Anne's
full expectation, the old man died. put
out of his age and horrible suffering by
his grandson, whose bold professional
contention was that in cases of incur
able disease and hopeless physical
agony it is not only the right but the
hnyr
tients quietly into what is commonly
supposed to be an easier world. one
need not stop here to elaborate the fact
that this revolutionary young doctor
was not burdened with patients. Even
though a man might, after all, marry a
grandmother like Anne Tressiyn
Thorpe. surely he might not do this
after making away with her husband
starting point and basis of story that.
taking into account the prodigious
handicap which the author accepts.
OPENS out into adroit and energetic
representing likable or hateful folks.
are substantial in their reality and
consistency. The action, while it strains
credulity, does not actually break it.
happy sort. that causes the average
reader to pass favorable and even en-
thusiastic judgment on a story. And
even the captious critic must admit
that, considering the task he set. Mr..
McCutcheon has rather outdone HIM
self.
NATIONALIZING AMERICA. By Ed
ward A. Steiner, author of "The Con-
fessions of a Hyphenated Ameri-
can" etc. New York: Fleming H.
Revell Company.
This book Is a Joy and an inspiration.
It is, at least, one answer, a stirring
patriotic answer besides, to the sus-
picious queries that tho urge Of the
moment is putting out concerning the