Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-10

Id
sense it is-it would take its place with
the substantial citizens that belong to
evsry locality. These spend their time
doing worthwhile things in worth.
while way: The book does. too. with
neither Of these is there need of this At.
t.Su9e. or that gesture. to advertise the
Inc story il an unpretentious piece Of
artistry on generally familiar theme.
IL faces broadly upon marriage in re-.
spect 10 the motives prompting q young,
To present this important matter cons
cfeteiy the author puts into a well knit
drama the social life Of a small town
here class lines are not too strictly
0rAwn. Here in respectable middle
class family is beautiful girl whose,
native aloofness of manner and reti.
cence OF speech and gift for suitable
adornment beget charm that savors,
clearly OF good birth and careful breed,
ing Across the town is a youth. who. in q
more fortunate class, really does possess
!! these advantages. With remarkable;
degree Of feeling for the workings Of
the heart Of youth--of the young girl as
well rs Of the young mantle writer
works out the social life Of the Titles
place. just to make record OF the devil
ish web Of trivialities that support. orr
ultimately fail to support. the institute
ton Of marriage in its individuaf exam-
pies. Accidental meetings. Illusions
rooted in a fair exterior. imagininks
without foundation. oppositions that
stimulate desire-these are the founda-
tons Of the marriage choice. Once
Of honor and the possible bond OF
parenthood are all that remain Of the
fair dream Of undying love. It is with
this matter OF conscience that the real
az In srtr IN, y,r.p Il - A. .
is all so much a part Of life. so true a
portrayal in every respect, that ono
! must waken himself now and then to
the fact that he is reading a story in
stead Of actually looking on at the set
of inconsequences that commonly un-
derffe the matrimonial choice.
JOAN 4 CO. By Frederick Grin Bart
lett, author of THE Trihers," etc.
Boston: Houghton Mimin Com
pany.
From the title you are supposing.
no doubt, that Mr.. Baftlett's new
novel Is a bit Of life drawn In photo,
graphic realism from one Of the In
Vulnerable successes of the latter-day
woman in business. AS a matter Of
T, fact it is nothing of the sort. II 10
pure romance. Joan knows less about
business than a fluffy yellow chicken
just out Of the she'll. Much less. for
| the chick almost Immediately begins
to scratch and pick like a veteran,
And while Joan does become. after y
fashion. member Of a nrm. II 10
neither a firm nor a fashion that
could stand five minutes Of actual
business pressure. Still. this is a
pretty story. Joan is very beautiful.
She is also very lovable. That she 10
rich and clustered and fncapacitated
Is not her fault. Neither does this
| her out from a world OF generous i'm
pulses. 1t IL only when the impulses
crystalline into financial action that
| the reader rejects the story as quite
too thin to bear any sort Of weight.
AS a romantic story-one wherein
| the good old staples of beauty and
rival 7suftors and love are paramount
1T Is charming Only when Mr.. Bart
Of modern business does 1t make one
unhappy. The people are admirable
One likes their honesty of intent,
| their cleanliness of life. their sense
of honor. their good manners. their
general wholesomeness. 1t 10 their
medium that is at fault. Joan as q
tbutiness woman is joke. And
Dicky's father comes near to being
l1ne also. However, why cavil at a
s se OF when n. 80 ~ ssa s rsa @or
is SO openly. out Of joint.
RAMSEY MILHOI;BAND. BY Booth
Tarkiugton. author oof "Penrod."
-etc. Illustrated by Gordon Grant.
New York: Doubleday. Page and
Company.
Ramsey Milholland is own brother
to the other two boys who have made
Booth Harrington SO great Joy to
everybody-male or female-who has
ever been a boy. Ramsey is farther
along the road than either Of the
others. He has gone to colleagues.
and to war, too--rbefofe one feaves
him here. but in all the essentials Of
boydom he fs quite the equal Of the
does lhate that bright girl who in 1t =
the coIed with him. How he despises
the clear cast 81 her mind and tho
ready resource OF her tongue. Such
Colossal ihatred, such invincible CON-
tempt, cab md only one possible sat-
isfaction, This comes 1t the very end :
Of the story, when Hahsey-despite
the pacifist platitudes to which the
girl treats him, In season and out
marches away with the rest OF the
boys. all soldiers now. Hatred and
love are SO close together, you see.
that they are forever getting mixed
in identity. That is about what hap
Apened here. IT WIRE no more than d
secret admiration and a speck OF jeaf-
ousy that were making such fierce
manifestations on the outside of Ram
sey. 1t Is boy all over at that special
point in his growing up that TarlS-
ington has set down here so deli
ciously. One laughs sort Of haR
lauEhs-just as he did over ''Penrod"
a mi oyAr ssSevepteep" Thu = ~ th.rx