Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-07
Books and Authors

mand for fiction after the war In a
recent newspaper review he said: AT
the present time when the magma
tion OF every one is beinE fred daily
by the stories emanatinE from the bat :
tie front. the use OF fiction has de-
creased to certain extent because the
imaginative demand Is already met.
The stirring events OF the world his
tory during the past two years have
read very much like fiction indeed
But al the close OF the war there Will,
be gradual return to this light read
ms. The close OF the war will
bring an enormous demand for fiction
The people have been fed on the war
and its attendant horrors for years. to
say nothing OF the daily suspense Of
waiting for our own participation in
the conflict. and they Will return to
Action for relief.
The fourth edition OF Fl. G. wells's
God the Invisible King" tMacmillans),
has already been required. although the
hook was only published on May 10.
Here is volume which promises to
provoke as much discussion as did the
novel which preceded II. "Mr. Brittling
Sees 1t Through" In fact. it's nature
is such as to presuppose a reading by
all those who enjoyed "Mr. BrSi ling"
For in this book, which has be aptly
described as study OF Mr.. Brittling's
religion, Mr.. Wells pursues further and
to interesting and significant conclu.
sons. the religious ideas which were
80 powerfully presented in the closing
pages of the earlier volume. Apparent
~. God the Invisible King" is to make
many friends as well to arouse the
opposition of many who do not agree
with Its contentious. This il indicated
In the New York Tribune's review:
There will be widespread dissent from
much OF Mr.. Wellss belief. But there
will be general respect for 1t and we
shall expect to see his statement of
1t provoke and stimulate much discus
sion among the orthodox and unortho-
dox, and among all who think seriousiy
soul OF man."
The World Peace Foundation has is
sued the Central American League OF
Nations" which is the first connected
story and Interpretation in any Ian
guage OF the recent history Of the FIVE
Central American States. Following a
summary of the efforts of Costa Rica
Guatemala. Honduras. Nicaragua and
Salvador to establish a union, the his
tory of events leading up to the Cen
trail American Peace Conference at
Washington in 1907 is given. This con-
ference. which was held under the aus
pices OF the United States. provided
for a court OF justice. now situa ted
at San Jose. Costa RIGA, an Interna-
tional Bureau situated at Guatemala
City, and a series OF Central American
conferences to work out various prob
lens common to the five States. 1t is
in the interest OF these efforts. in con-
nection with plans for international or
ganization after the European war,
that apparently has encouraged the
peace foundations to publish the work.
The operation OF these institutions is
summarized; and In an appendix a
careful summary is given OF the con-
troversies between Costa Rica and
Nicaragua and between Salvador and
Nicaragua. arising out Of the canal
route treaty Of the United States with
Nicaragua.
1.-The Definite Object" by Jeffrey
Farnol, has just been issued by Little.
Brown G. Co. This story OF American
people and places. laid chieny in that
part of lower New York known as
Hells Kitchen. shows Jeffery Farnol
at his best. His hero is young
American millionaire, Godfrey Ravens
lee, skilled as amateur boxer and
automobile racer. but weary Of living
without an object in life To his home
burglar, who is caught by RarensIee
Seeing opportunity for adventure,
Ravenslee agrees not to turn Spike"
over to the policeman, and accompanies
the young touSn nome 10 MuII1San S
Flats, on Tenth Avenue. Here he
meets many people. among them Spikes
half-sister. Hermione. needle expert
and good angel of the neiGhborhood:
Bud McGinnis. the evil companion Of
Spike. who would have Hermione for
his girl: Mrs. Ann. Angelina Tapes, the
widow who takes Godfrey to board
and Spider Connolly, good-hearted
prize fighter. Adventure on adventure
follows. The tale is written in high
spirits. and Farnol is as thoroughly
at home when describing a fist fight
at O'Rourke's as he was in his previous
books when unfolding medieval con-
test at arms. while his knowledge Of
Tenth Avenue character and vernacu-
lar, acquired during his lean years
as a scene painter in New York
studios, is marvellous. The reader will
follow with zest tho Quixotic career
of Ravenslee through Hell's Kitchen
until he wins and makes secure the
love Of one of Mr.. Farnors most ap-
peAltue bsroinsk