The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-03
Camilla"
By CONSTANCE MURRAY GREENE

NoC don't need to be told that Eliza
Il beth Robins is a Southerner, as
every page Of Camilla makes you more
sure that the funny, subtle little manner
isms with which the heroine is endowed
are remembered rather than observed. 1t
Is more than likely that much of the 'rag.
ging" TO which Camilla is subjected by
her friends in England is reminiscent of
the authors own experience after she
became the wife of George Richmond
Parks.
We have not had such true art from this
author before, although some of her work
has been more serious. There is broad
ening and mellowing which come inevita-
bly, to one who has been in the path of
great events. No one can write in quite
the same way who has been in England
during the war, however unconsciously
the change is revealed, however remote
from the war and its effects the story is
kept We are told that the writing of
Camilla took place in England after six
teen months of war, and was often inter-
rupted by Zeppelin raids. and who can
but admire the concentration and pluck
which have gone into its preparation at
such time? 1t is concerned with "things
that will still be of moment when wars are
DONE according TO the dedicatory note.
In the midst of war, in other words, We
are in divorce. There is less said about it
perhaps than formerly, but isn't this due
In part to the great number of other
things there are to talk of, and more to
tie fact that divorce proceedings cannot
be carried on against men in service?
Enough are left TO prevent the germs dy-
ing out, and after the war-what then
Will it have prospered or suffered from
the worlds upheavalf In the meantime
camilla furnishes one of the most en-
crossing divorce problems that it has
been our good fortune to meet.
Camilla, the woman, aside from the in
terest which clings about any beautiful
and young divorce, is vastly worth study
ing as a portrayal of that enigmatieal
character familiar TO each of us, the silent
sort, who Is in turn adjudged deep, diff,-
dent, disagreeable or stupid, according to
the mood and intelligence of the Juror.
but who never fails to arouse great dis
cnsSlon. The first part of the story is
devoted to Camilla as the divorce, lovely
and seemingly Ohtuse, but much loved of
Michael Nanearrow, son of an old and
formidable English family. When she
decides TO marry him she finds herself
haunted by a past which becomes an OBJ
session.
1t is not strange that these chapters
should ring particularly true, those in
especial which deal with Camilla's en-
trance into the Nancarrow family. The
author sees the problem from both sides
aud does each full justice. The Nanear-
rows, PLAYING true TO type, preferred al
most anything to divorce. even what Lady
st. Anant, MichaePs sister, event in forn
as the alternative, but when it once be-
came clear that Michael loved in deadly
earnest. following lifetime of giving in
to his desires, they accepted his fiancee
so wholly as to make it bit suffocatinc.
In self-defence, to escape the over
gracious Nancarrows and to have time for
quiet thinking and graphing with the
memories, Camilla leaves for America. At
this point the author does a most unex-
pected thing, the cleverest imaginable.