Evening star., 1917-09-23

delicious fairy story of modern life.
Not altogether modern either since 1t
became necessary to call upon the pow
ers of Columbine and Harlequin to
bring this matter to it's proper issue,
for. YOU see, the heroine is Pierrette, a
young woman who declines to hold her.
self within the metes and bounds or
conventional behavior. A gentleman
vagabond, as vagarious as the spring
time itself. and a bewildered but will
ing young business man OF the latest
cut and pattern, are the elements out
of which this charming little story
grows into the happiest and most care
free views of the really serious busi-
ness of being alive. The book pro-
vides an engaging hour off from this
over-seriouS task.
MISS HAROUN AL-RASCHID. BY Jes-
sic Douglas kerruish. New York:
George H. Doran Company.
Everybody likes the touch of per-
sonal gossip about writer's. So, it is
interesting to know that this is not
only the authors first novel. but that
it is, also. a prize book as well. bring
ing a $4,000 reward into the pocket
book of Miss Kerruish. The story itself
is lively with adventures that keep the
reader on the jump, unless he expects
to be left behind in the onrush of Miss
Haroun Al-Raschid toward her own
destiny. and that of as many helpless
associates as she is able to gather in
her train. Miss Al-Raschid is herself
the servant of her fate-a fate forecast
by her parents in the marriage of a de-
fenseless Oxford assyriologist with an
irresistible oriental The crowded Incl
dents of this exciting story are placed
in Asiatic Turkey. To the lightning.
like escapades of the heroine herself
are added the characteristic activities
Of concourse made up of robbers.
missionaries, rival savants and wise
men. eastern princes and overlords. to
say nothing of the oriental ladies who
add amazingly to the color and move
ment Of the whole. A young American,
sturdy and determined according to his
kind, looks most efficiently after the
romantic side Of this part-colored ad-
venture. landing the seemingly incor-
rigible Miss Haroun Al-Raschid finally
within the safety-within the tenn
porary safety, at least-of matrimony.
This is what may be called in all sin
cerity a moving tale.
ALEXIS. BY Stuart Maclean. New
York: D. Appleton & Co.
Alexis" is the study of a musical
temperament set in an atmosphere OF
music. Obviously. the writer is him.
self prepossessed with interest in this
art In the person Of Alexis. the son
of a washerwoman and her hardwork-
ing man, he portrays the gift Of music
brought across from some far eastern
strain Of ancestry. Supporting this de-
yelopment is the renewal of an old
love episode whose interruption and
revival become a part of the move
ment that carries the young musician
forward in his career. There Is deal
of talk about music here-about its
effect its schools its special means OF
communication. The great musicians
come and go under the discussions for
and against them by these ardent
partisans. One has the feeling that
the story is designed to be the medium
of certain opinions-and not always
seasoned opinions-on the subject,
quite as much as it is design to
the lines of his gift. That Is. the book
lacks focus, or, rather. it Is weakened
by the control of two points of CEN
tralization, instead of one. Another
book and another will take care OF a
mere flaw in construction.
LIGHTHOUSES AND LIGHTsHIPS OF
THE UNITED STATES. By George
r. Putnam. With Illustrations. Bos-
ton: Houghton Miffln Company.
In his official capacity Of United States
commissioner Of lighthouses. the au-
thor has had access to all authoritative
data on the subject Of which he writes.
His descriptive ability adds interest to