Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-14
AN ENGLISHWOMAN
WRITES LIKE A MAN
Richard Deh,dn's Latest Book
Sustains Her Reputation as
dNoreIist of Great Power

with each book Richard Dehan writes
the wonder grows that this can be n
woman's work. II ever a character
istically masculine touch was displayed
IT was shown apparently In Between
Two Thieves" and, to n lesser extent. in
The Dope Doctor" Possibly this Is
due largely to the authors obvious
preference for big canvases with great
splashes OF color, eschewing entirely the
miniaturist work that the world---per-
haps altogether njustly--associates with
the woman fictionist.
That Which Hath Wings" the latest
of the Richard Dehan novels, Is quite
as big as the biggest Of It's predecessors,
and this is not due entirely to the fact
that 1t treats of the biggest OF all pres
ent-day subjects-the war or the great
mass Of war fiction the mlniaturists have
contributed more than their share, while
most of those who have attempted the
great canvases have attained only
moderate success. Measured by popular
ity, 1t is yet to be determined just how
successful That Which Hath Wings
is destined to be. but as an artistic
achievement II is certain to take a rank
in current literature far above the
average.
A synopsis of the story would sound
very conventional First OF all there Is
tho conventional German spy, who at
tempts to abscond from England, as the
war starts, with n military secret or
vital Importance to the safety Of the
British Empire. What with the Open
helms. the Gibbses. the Chamberses ana
others of that ilk. the spy story has
been sadly overdone. Fortunately there
are other angles and other Incidents in
Richard Dehan's novel that stand out
30 prominently that the triteness of this
I h, fNr0iynp For nNannlp.
there Is the incident of the little Boy
Scout, kidnapped from his home ana
| forced to be the constant companion or
German aviator. Nothing anywhere
in war literature more truly pathetic
than this part of the story can be
| found, and could II be separated from
| the rest Of the tale, 1t would be an ad-
mirable and, undoubtedly. popular story
for children. Unfortunately, however
the context Is little adapted to the YOUTH
| full mind. In fact, there are some
things in "That Which Hath wings
which older readers may find DIT
shocking. for Richard Dehan, despite
very noticeable religious tendency oe-
lieves In calling a spade spade. Inc
experiences of Patrine SaXham. VINO Is
the nearest approach to a heroine to be
found in the story, are told WIN
frankness that is most unusual.
| Incidentally. lnat winch
Wings" introduces American readers 70
what Is apparently the latest English
slang, approved by the elect. Time was
when English writers chided Americans
for their slanginess, but such criticism
can never be fairly leveled at us again
if we are to accept the argot haoituaii!
employed by some of the charac'ers ~
thjs book as at all true to Nfe. Ever
Eew Yorks East Side would stand ap'
nailed we're It to hear but a 1.-THE OF the
strange patois that these English So
ciety people use with so much gusto'
THAT WHICH HATH WINGS BY Richar'
iehan. New York: G. p. Putnam's sons
G0