The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-08
By DOROTHY SCARBOROUGH.

sion Of efforts at escape. Some run away
from home, some from duly; some run
from the country TO the city and some
from one town TO another; some 60 alone,
many elope. Hence all can understand
the characters whom Louis Dodge has
drawn for us in his new novel, The Run
array Woman.
Susan Herkimer's escape is different
from the conventiOnally unconventional
elopement, for she runs away alone from
the city 10 the country to seek adventure
and TO get away from mOnotOny. She
does not dislike her husband, but she feels
she can no longer endure light housekeep-
ing in one room. 1t Is hard! She has
dreams of the country rs place of pleas
ant fields and kindly>peOple, where there
is plenty of room and where she can be
happy. She finds the rural districts some
what different from her expectations, hut
she escapes monotony, undoubtedly, for
her experiences are novel and exciting.
Every one who has felt the longing TO
60 gypsying will enjoy this book, for it
pictures outdoor delights of which most
persons nowadays are ignorant. From it
: one learns or remembers the delights of
catching little fish fresh from the stream
and frying them on rocks in the open; of
drinking coffee made in a tin can; of
sleeping under the stars; of wandering at
will through country lanes and of asking
loJr ~ a.
Whoever begins 10 read the book will
finish it, no matter if he disapproves of
certain passages The novel has genuine
interest of incident and the plot unfolds
dramatically.
Coot Mann-whose name sounds less
like an appellation than an exclamation,
as he says-Susan Herkimer's chance COM
rade in her journeyings is also running
away. He is surprising blend of tramp
and cavalier, of humorist and philosopher,
of big hearted man and boy that refuses
to grow up.
Mr.. Dodge, who has led varied and
interesting life, having been a newspaper
man in Arkansas, Texas and Missouri and
having served in the Philippines during
the Spanish-American war, is still so lit
tie known as TO make what he has to say
of himself of general interest.
any favorite psstime, exercise and work
is-writing," he writes. 81 think I've al
WAYS been inspired or moved to write not
by what I've read, but by what I've lived
or experienced. Everything-everybody
seems story to me. think my prefer
ence is to try to create female types. You
know my three published books consist Of
studies of two women and little girl. II
there's a reason for this it's because /
think the status of woman is less fully
eomprehended and appreciated than any
other big human subject. Possibly you
will unkindly suggest that it's because |
don't know anything about them and that
in writing about them 1 have unhindered
room for imaginative work. Il am a
bachelor and 50 confirmed a one, and so
restricted to bookish point Of view, that
when meet lady and wish to ask about
her parents l have TO be on my guard
lest / ask, How are your publishers? A
beautiful lady is 10 me holiday edition.
Shall I add that know a few whom
consider best sellesi-or, that, being As,
/ lean with increasing fondness toward
cook boOksf / delight in shopwOrn vol
umes, the kind creatures who are so ac-
cessible and really more delightful to me
than the unyielding new tbngs in modish
jackets.)
- MY philosophy touching women is that
they are very much like men if you make
proper allowances for the difference in
environment, occupation and training. /
am convinced that the human virtues and
vices are not a question of sex and that
women are as kind and wise and coura-
gcous and industrious and honorable as
men-just as much SO and no moro. 1t
wouldn't be worth while restating these