South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-10

Some time since an American
publisher invited a group OF men.
including among others Roosevelt,
Barnes. Spears. Connolly and the
writer. 70 select the six greatest ro-
mances or the sea The Two Ad-
mirals" was the one OF Cooper's sea
tales included By a unanimous vote
Well does the book deserve it's
selection for II is without question
the greatest Of all the novels OF the
sea. all OF which have read and
not a few OF which 7 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 a
ships deck than Cooper-not even
Marryatt And all his knowledge
OF the great deep. the way OF ships
therein, the habits and customs OF
sailors. has been utilized in full
measure IN this immortal story. It
rings true alike 10 seamen and
landsmen.
There is a subsidiary story con-
corning the love affairs OF a gallant
Young sea officer, Sir Wycherly
Wychecombe, and Mildred Dutton-
Bluewater. a damsel as lovely, as
delicate and as inane as Cooper at
his worst could describe. When
ever she appeared she was either
sufflsed with bushes or bursting
into tears. on one occasion she
wept steadily for above one half
hOurl
The supposed daughter OF a
drunken. retired officer and a wom-
an Of the middle class. Mildred
turns out 20 be the lawful niece OF
one OF the two Admirals. just I'm
time TO soothe his dying hours;
while her husband. a Virginian,
turns up in the nick OF time with
the papers in his hands 10 prove his
succession 10 the ancient title and
lands OF Wychecombe. All OF which
is excessively tiresome
Fortunately tho greater part OF
The book IS taken up with the doings
Of the two Admirals. The puerile.
e-mid-Nictorian romance will
der will richly repay the reader.
In 1745 when George II reigned
in England the young pretender.
Charles Edward, made that daring
and unsuccessful dash for a crown
which came to n bloody end at
Culloden in the following year. II
is that abortive but gallant effort
which furnishes the motive for the
action OF the novel.
Vice Admiral OF the Red SIR
Gervaise Cakes commanded a we'll
fitted. we'll officered, well-manned.
homogeneous fleet OF ships of-the-
line which had been cruising in the
Fay OF Biscay. Associated with him
was Richard Bluewater. Rear Ad-
miral OF the White. second in COM
mand. These two men, both we'd
ded 10 the service alone, had been
shipmates and friends. during a
naval career OF nearly 40 years.
Cakes was a typical English ad-
miral. "a superb sailor. a downright
fighter; Bluewater his complement
and opposite. a subtle thinker and
a brilliant tactician. The combina-
ton was ideal as was the COM
pleteness OF friendship. not TO
say an affection, as sincere as IT was
lasting Nothing had ever broken
il; nothing. IL was believed. ever
would break IT,
In but one point did the true
friends differ. Cakes was a Wing.
Bluewater Tory. II did not seem
possible. however. for political con-
siderations 10 interrupt their warm
relations. The bold adventure OF
Charles Edward babe fair TO do
that very thing. however. For
Bluewater. frank. unworldIy sailor
that he was, cleverly played upon
~ politicians. began 20 waver be-
tween the House Of Hanover. whose