Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-02
Reviews of New Books

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scouting. Many Of theae are packed
with information-usefu informa-
tion-done up in q style that carries
mediate and spontaneous contact.
Good company-the best Of company
is assembled here, besides. Men who
have done thfngs-business men. sol
diers. writer's Of the considerable
makers. and even President Wilson
himself-think it well worth their
while to put in minutes of time and
touches Of association with the scouts
by way Of this fine year book. The
father Of all the scouts-Sir Robert
shing. to mention only a couple of
the magic names that appear. The
book is addressed to the 100000
boys of scout age in the United
States" 1t is gathered into this per-
manent form by Mr.. Matthews chief
lea Let US hope that Christmas day.
at the latest, will find every one of
the 100000 boys for whom this book
is designed with copy of it in his
possession.
FROM MIDSHIPMAN TO REAR AID
MIRAL. By Rear Admiral Bradley
A. Fiske, author of 1.-The Navy as
a Fighting Machine" etc. Illus
trated with photographs. New
York: The Century Company.
This is record Of forty-nine years
in the United States Navy. by Rear
Admiral Fiske. It is q record of per-
sonal experience and achievement, an
account of service through all the
grades of the profession. An organ
izer, an inventor, a writer. a strong
advocate of naval aeEonauties, Ad-
and these gifts to the service of the
United States Navy. This is a mat
ter of common knowledge. as it has
been recently a matter of common
comment. The book itself treats these
achievements with reticence. Rather
of the Navy as this has been gathered
out of almost half a century of devo-
ton to this branch of the military
establishment. In this respect the
record stands as one of great his
toFical substance. The writer pos.
sesses 2 vivid memory. His power Of
seizure of illuminating Incidents is
complete. His ability to keep to the
main line of events, enriching this at
every turn with knowledge, Feheetien
and deduction, serves to preduee a
volume that is as valuable to the an
nals ct this country as it is faseinat-
ting to the general reader Of current
events.
THE WILD GOOSE. By Gouverneur
Norris. author of when Ship
Comes H." etc. New York: Charles
The wild goese-so the legend runs
having chosen his mate, remains
faithful to that choice through the
years OF long. long life, even though
bereft of his mate in his lusty youth.
This factor is it legend?-of nat
ural history. Gouveneur Morris makes
the basis of this admirably construct
ed novel of modern life. Yes, this does
strain ones credulity-this notion Of
a mans loyalty to his first choice. But
MT. Morris surrounds the anomalous
situation with a FEASIBILITY of cir
cumstapce that rides the whole mat
ter safely into anchorage of ones
complete acceptance. 1t is the mod
ernity Of the matter that saves the
story. For it is conceivable that a
Observation-Disclosures of a
motley OF half-baked notions, might
hold herself above convention and
/ CAD of into the domain of absolute
personal freedom, regardless of any
bond that husband and child are sup
posed to set upon the ordinary wom-
an. Diana Manners is an arresting
person. She is dead wrong every min
ute, but there is a sincere and even a
ings. that give her consequences
an artistic and helievable creation
to the reader. Francis Manners is a
beautiful and pathetic character One.
however, doesn't want a man to be
either beautiful Or pathetic: Loving aa
enc desires ardently to push him out
of the matter. substituting for him
regular cave man who would deal
with the frai1 Diana exactly as she
should be dealt with. Founded upon
one aspect of modern social fact, the
story develops in a good measure of
realistic method and in an unusual
artistry, both of which serve to place
the novel among those OF the exclu-
sive and worth-reading class.
THE SEA BRIDE. BY Ben Ames, au-
thor Of All the Brothers Were Va
liant" New York: The Macmillan
Company.
One likes this sea story-in the first
place, because 1t actually goes to sea,
instead of lettering. like SO many of
its class, of the coast of New Eng
land, tricked out in sailor toys and
using an unintelligibie jargon as
mode of speech. Moreover, it sails
away upon a definite and exacting
business-that of whaling. There is
substance and fresh undertaking,
therefore, at the bottom of this ro
nance. Vast sea plains-remote,
mysterious. exotic-support the en-
terprise and deepen the romantic ap-
peal Of the adventure. 1t is, however.
for the little world aboard ship that
ones keenest interest is excited. This
cruise of the Sally Sims differs from
it's earlier sailings in that it COM
bines a honeymoon journey with its
customary business Of loading it's
Foomy hold with whale oil Capn
Noll Wing has taken q wife. So, Faith
Wing is aboard the Sally Sims. And
these two are of heroic pattern. Noll
Wing reminds one again and again of
some old Viking strayed out Of the
past. Faith Wing 10 dnely compact.
steadfast, intelligent-modern. And
there IL Danl Tobsy, second mate.
smiling, smooth feilow-sinister as
was q little girl. With these three
writer creates romance whose vari-
Gus stages blend the human and per
sonal element with the ardors of the
enterprise itself and battle the whole
in an atmosphere Of sea magic, The
story is strongly reminiscent Of "Au
the Brothers Were Valiant" but it
10 better story, and that is saying
great deal for the one in hand. You
may not care for the average sea
st0ryf-but this is not average. And
you &Fe more than Xix elv to att nm ~