Evening star., 1919-04-27
Reviews of New Books

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men. regardless of rank or race or any
other accident. are. one and all. cru
saders. And the world is to be somei
thing better because it's individuals
have gone through this baptism OF
fire and death. Like all Of his work
this book is finely uplifting and heart
ening.
THE CITY Of COMRADES. By Basi
King, author of The Inner
Shrine" etc. New York: Harper &
Bros.
A new kind of city comes into being
by way of this dramatic story. Its
inha bitants are of the down -and-out
breed. It's location is within the
larger limits of New York itself. Its
history hinges, largely, upon the ca
reer of certain young mana young
Canadian gone wrong through drink.
son of Sir Somebody Other The
story opens with striking incident
that of the entrance of this young
man. as a thief, into a house and into
a web of circumstance that turns him
away from his project of robbery.
Soon after this he makes his way to
the city of comrades" house where
certain down-and- cutters have started
on the upgrade of fair living. So.
while this is the story of an indi-
vidual-a story that involves romance
and war-it is. primarily. the record
of an enterprise that might come un-
der the head of social welfare" work,
were it not for the fact of the unique
character of this particular enter
prise. Mr.. King. like many another,
has SEEN the fatal element of con-
descension that lies inherent in the
actual movements toward social bet
terment. Now, condescension plays
the very devil with the down -and-out.
He would rather stay down forever
than to be lifted by hands that smell
of sanctity. SO, the city of this in
vention is a city Of comrades. Every
one in it knows what reforming him.
self feels like. Out of the woods. one
of these, in a complete fellow feeling,
helps a couple Of his old friends along
the new way. These in turn take on
friends c. their r'own-and SO the city
grows along a natural level of under
standing and effort. A good story
here is not spoiled by a preachment.
the sermon is here for
the use of those who feel the futility
of much Of the social work that is
being forwarded in such q preponder-
ance of zeal over its practical good
sense:
ANCHORS AwEJGH. BY Harriet
Welles. illustrated. New York:
Charles Scribner's Sons.
A dozen of the Harriet Welles short
stories come together in this volume.
Plain human interests lie at the foun-
dation Of them all-meetings, part
ings, patiences and revolts-human
stuff, all of it. set here in full real
ism. Splendid workmanship shapes
this material into definite, colorful.
coherent views Of human nature. The
for these stories is the
ings, of sudden departures, of uncer-
tain returns. The whole is bathed in
the atmospheres of the sea and many
Of the tales are stepped in the flavors
OF strange and alien ports-Hong-
kong. Manila, Guam. These are in
tensely interesting adventures and
studies in an area that has not been
already overworked by writer's
THE LADY FROM LONG ACRE. by
Victor Bridges. author Of "A Rogue
by Compuleion," etc. Illustrations
by Ray Rohn. New York: G. P.
Putnam's Sons.
London and Livadia hobnob in this
of events. Any prosaic per-
son knows where London is. The ro-
alone knows the geography
of Livadia. Between the two, however,
the reader makes shift to know
where he is the most of the time
london centers here in Sir Antony
Conway, supported on one side BY
The clever and aristocratic old aunt
without whom no Englishman can get
along at all in story, at least On
the other side of Sir Antony is the
equally clever and not at all aristo-
cratic Molly Monk of the music halls.
As Tor Livadia. that is one of those
revolutions race in never-ending
game OF tag between disappearing
smperors and appearing presidents.
1ictators and other brands of poten-
late. The lady figuring in the title
y this rushing and highly colored to-
40 Is queen, II you please. the de-
oosed Queen of Livadia. Like most of
he other fugitives in the world she
$, at the moment. using London as a
house Of refuge. Sir Antony comes
lpon the lady in a moment OF dis
fess and danger-and from this point
ne story is of. 1t is a story Of in
rigue and pursuit. this very nice lit
10 girl-the Queen of LivadiaIbeins
he center of truly diabolicaI machi-
nations. Sir Anrpny is the knight
,rrant. The music hall, on the one
lano, and the castle hall, on the other
DIN with him in chivalrous support
u the Queen Of Livadia. As for Liya-
ia itself 1t does all kinds of reyo-
utionary turns-tail spins. nose dives
Thatnot. Then war gives way to mat,
rimony. and everything is over. A
noneensfcal invention. all of whose
ightweight stun Is carried or enter
lalnlngiy through the Irresistible per-
,onality of Sir Antony Conway. whom
It Is a sheer delight to know.
THE TIN SOLDIER. BY. Temple Raj.
ley. author Of Contrary Marv"
etc. Illustrations by r. Vaux vii.
son. Philadelphia: The Penn pub.
fishing Company.
A very tragic hsure-that of the
nan who ought to have gone to tho
var. but who did not 60. No matter
low much he may have wanted to be
n it. no matter how good his reasons
or keeping out may have been, he fs
inder suspicion and the accusation of
'owardice looks out from the APP
raising eyes of his companions. Upon
his foundation Temple Bailey builds
he story Of The Tin Soldier" The
central figure Is a likable young fell
ow. with wealth. and position. and
friends to his account. An idyll,c
owe story 10 marred here and there
~ the brooding facts of the boys
during the general call.
fringe of minor happenings supple