Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-18

QOm out Oh SUCH pOAllS<1A
shreds and patches as characterized the
Balkan region prior to 1912. This was an
Inspired choice on the part OF Mrs. Rine-
hart The unexpected was the essential
stamp of this motley of kingdoms at that
period. Therefore, a writer of the easy
dexterity of this is able to make
very believable kingdom out Of such ma
terial. And she does it. too. Events and
incidents. in an astonishing variety. fol-
low swift upon the heels of one another
in brilliant and exciting procession. At
the center of this kingdom is little boy:
heir apparent to the throne OF his grun
and lovable and Germanish old grand
father The little boy. Otto TX, is an
adorable little American boy, despite the
claim of royal European blood that is
made for him. Between him and his
grandfather Is a group of more or less
royal folks. Nearest to him in heart and
sympathy are a young couple who supply
the love adventure Of this kingly enter
prise. They. too. are essential Americans.
The really convincing and interesting
people of this romance are all American
in essence, though they are ascribed to
a princely European origin. One does not
the part of the writer. or whether it is her
own Americanism creeping unconscious
ly into these foreign creations. There
is really only one fault to find against
enough Of the young Otto in it-for he is
SO worthwhile-a lonesome, neglected,
manly fellow. whom it does one good to
meet. Mrs. Rinehart has made no mis-
take in the qualities of this boy, even II
she has set him in obviously alien sur
roundings. 1t is a captivating story
much above the average.
ARLINGTON ABBEY. A Novel. BY Arch
ibald Marshall, author of water
meads," etc. New York: Dodd, Mead
& Co.
Live people are scarce - almost as
scarce in life itself as they are in books.
In books they are rare. The fact that
Archibald Marshall is able to produce
really live people and to make them.
within their sphere, interesting people
that makes his novels looked for and
welcome. To be sure, his field is mar
row one, an unchanged one. But Is it
not infinitely better to work a small
plot with intelligence and artistry than
it is to ramble from acreage to acreage
in a slovehly and makeshift cultiva-
ton? English country life. embodied In
a typical English family, is the con-
slant theme of this writer. His English
folks are scrupulously tubbed and sun
ned, reservoirs of light and air and en-
ergy-active folks, engaged in the alb
sorbing interests of their estates and
London for the urban touch Of music
and pictures and contact with the great
electric currents of life. This story
does not differ from the others in its
general outline. Personally. we think
that his English gentlefolks have never
before been quite real nor quite SO
charming as they are here. One fam
ily-really the family that makes this
story-would be hard to. surpass in in
telligence and charm, in a wholesome
front upon life, in good humor and gen.
uine humor. in physical beauty and a
fine common sense. The thread of in
tent that holds ones interest to a
steady focus Is the unconscious selfish
ness-the vanity. to be plain about it
of the father of this family of girls.
Here Is an absorbing desire on the part
of the father to keep himself the CEN
ter of an adoring circle of daughters
One cannot fail to see in real life how
fathers are forever refreshing them
selves by an unconscious and loverlike
gallantry to their own daughters suf-
fering jealousy and all the other NAL
aides that affifct enamored SWANS. OF
course they are unconscious of this
for it's roofs are far back OF the institu-
lions of historic times. In very sub
tie and artistic way Mr.. Marshall has
taken this fact of parenthood and EN-
bodied it in this social drama. Another
quite remarkable. character here Is that
Of the vicar, whose pure human nature
is distressingly complexed by the acct.
dent of his calling. It Is not a story Of
happenings. It's essential charm lies In