The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1919-07-14

Some time since an American pub
Usher invited a group OF men, includ-
ing among others Roosevelt, Barnes
Spears, Connolly and the writer. to
select the six greatest romances OF
the sea The Two Admirals" was
the one of Cooper's sea tales in
cluded by a unanimous vote.
Wen does the book deserve its Sc
lection for it is without question the
greatest of all the novels of the sea.
all of which / have read and not a
few of which / have written.
II has more Of the best of Cooper.
and less OF his worst. than any OF
his naval or other romances. No
writer was ever more at home on
ships deck than Cooper-not even
Marryatt And all his knowledge of
the great deep. the ways of ships
therein, the habits and customs of
sailors. has been utilized in full mea-
sure in this immortal story. II rings
true alike 70 seamen and landsmen-
There is subsidiary story con-
cerning the love affairs OF gallant
young sea officer. Sir Wycherly
wychecombe and Mildred Dutton-
Bluewater, a damsel as lovely. as
ielicate and as inane as Cooper at
mis- worst could describe. Whenever
she appeared she was either suIused
Nth bushes or bursting into tears.
On one occasion she wept steadily
for above one half hour,
The supposed daughter of A drunk
en- retired officer and a woman of
he middle class. Mildred turns out
10 be the lawful niece of one of the
-wo admirals, just in time to soothe
MS dying hours: while her husband.
4 Nirginian. turns up in the nick of
lime with the papers in his hands to
prove his succession to the ancient
title and lands OF Wychecombe. All
IF which Is excessively tiresome.
Fortunately the greater part OF the
book is taken up with the doings OF
the two admirals. The puerilc. pre-
1lid-Victorian romance will easily be
forgotten but the remainder will
richly repay the reader.
In I745 when George II. reigned in
England the young pretender. Charles
Edward. made that daring and I'M
successful dash for crown which
came To a bloody end at Culloden ir
the following year. 1t is that abor'
tive Dul EdlldHl tlOil WHICH AAA
lishes the action Of the novel
Vice Admiral of the Red Sir Ger
yaise Cakes comma nded well fitted.
well Differed. well-manned. homo
geneous fleet of ships-of-tne-line
which had been cruising in the Bay
II Biscay. Associated with him was
Richard Bluewater. rear admiral of
the White. second in command.
These two men. both welded TO the
service alone. had been shipmates
and friends during naval career OF
nearly forty years Cakes was A
typical English admiral. superb
Sailor. a downright tighter: Bluewa-
.er. his complement and opposite a
subtle thinker and a brilliant tacti-
cian. The combination was ideal, as
vas the completeness of a friendship.
not to say an affection. as sincere as
4 was lasting. Nothing had ever
broken il: nothing il was believed,
ever would break it.
In but one point did the true friends
Infer. Cakes was A Wing. Bluewa-
;er a Tory. 1t did not seem possible.
however. for political considerations
% interrupt their warm relations.
The bold adventure OF Charles Ed
yard babe fair to do that very thing,
however. For Bluewater. frank. un-
worldly sailor that he was. cIeverly
played upon by politicians. began to
gaver between the House OF Han
aver. whose commission he held. and
he House Of Stewart, to which his
ieart inclined.
To bring matters to a head NJ. lie
Vice Admiral, le Comte de Vervillin.
yailed from Cherbourg with a fleet
II such ships as fairly entitled him
% challenge the English fleet of Vice
Admiral Cakes for the mastery of
he narrow seas.
The latter. more than willing to try
,ut the matter, at once put to sea in
heavy gale of wind. his capital
hips weighing anchor in succession
with long intervals between them so
Is to spread a broad clew to inter
.ept the French. Bluewater with his
iivision brought up the rear. The