New-York tribune., 1919-09-27
Sisters Is First Class
New Novel by Kathleen Norris Tells
An Interesting Story With Great Skill

sharp turn. Martin is her passenger.
Alix is killed, and Martin so badly in
lured that even when his life is saved
it is evident that he will be a cripple
for the rest of his life. Nothing can
be the same again. Cherry returns to
Martin. the husband whom she does
not love, and Peter, after one vain and
rather half-hearted attempt to con-
impaired, goes away forever.
We are perfectly willing to admit
that the emotional appeal of the cir
cumstances might we'll induce Cherry
to stick by her MANNED man. But we
quarrel with Mrs. Norris when she en-
oeavors to convince us that in this
sew found duty Cherry discovered
peace and happiness which were greater
shan love. And even if she did, which
We gravely doubt. we do not like an
author to ask US to applaud it. There
vs. nothing very inspiring, from our
point of view. in the woman who gains
>lessedness and loses her own soul.
We may be ,prejudiced unduly by or
swn philosophy of life into a skepti-
sism concerning the convincing quality
of the conclusion which Mrs. Norris
has wrought, but even beyond that
prejudice is the undeniable fact that
Me author who calls upon death to
solve a problem has slackened in in
ventive powers. We all know that the
most poignant and interesting prob
lens of the world are those concerning
people who just go on living.
Novelists make a mistake, we be-
lievc, in endowing heroines with too
great a beauty. 1t comes between the
reader and the heroine. In such cases
we always find ourself tempted to be-
lieve that the character in question is
no real person. but young miss off
a magazine cover. There is also a GER
tain sense of dissatisfaction with the
perfect beauty. She is too complete to
be interesting. We would have felt
more keenly the joys and the sorrows
of Cherry if few tints had been
omitted
Her beauty, as she pushed her plate
aside and leaned toward him." writes
Mrs. Norris. "was so startling that
Peter, lighted match half raised to
a fresh cigarette, put the match down
aimlessly, and looked thoushtfully at
the cigarette, and laid that down, too
without the faintest consciousness of
what he was doing. The day was warm
and there was little dampness on
Ner Wnlle 1OTeneaO, WNere tne ROlQ
hair clung to the brim of the dropping
hat. Her marvellous blue eyes were
ringed with soft violet shadows, as if
sooty finger had set them under the
dark brown arch of the brows. The
soft curve of her chin, the boyish
shortness of her upper lip, and the
crimson sweetness Of the little, earnest
mouth had never seemed more lovely
/ than they were to-day. She was youth
incarnate, palpitating, flushed, un
spoiled"
Such person. it seems to us, would
be disturbing companion. 1t is ad-
mitted that she interfered with Peters
smoking. 1t is more than likely that
it would even be difficult to read the
morning paper with such a person
abou. ihe house. And then, beyond ana
above ail that, no woman who lived
up to Mrs. Norris's description could
possibly have a grain Of sense.
The passage which we have quoted
seems to US rather fluffy and over opu-
lent. but it is by no means typical of
the book, which is smooth and skilful
almost throughout. Indeed. we have no
hesitation in recommending SISTERS"
for it is the most distinctive novel by
an American which we have come
across in good many months It is a
/ fascinating piece of work.