The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-05
Some Stores fer
the New Yer
DOROTHY SCARBOROUGH.

gated and normal lie Is PICTURED more
naturally than has been the ease for some
time. The stories of the past year were
for the most part strained out Of proper
ton TO suit the demand for the sensational
war fiction and in general were more
feveriSh than inspired. Emotion remem-
bered in tranquility" is perhaps The best
recipe for short stories As for poetry, and
doubtless the memorable war stories will
be written years later.
4 really impressive war story published
this month is Tie Tenth Man. by "Centur-
ion," i'll the Century. 1t seems TO carry
over to the reader the sense of grewsome
and uncanny horror of the desOlate
trenches The atmospheric effects are ad-
mirably achieved, every detail OF deScrip-
ton and of dialogue aiding the impression
of mysterious, ghostly horror. The plot
is well constructed, too. with the clever
acuteness OF detective story, Its unex-
pected revelation seeming yet inevitable.
Mrs. Higgins, Hun, by Stacy Aumo-
nier. also in the CcnturU Is humorously
wrought, enlivening story of plots and
counterplots 10 catch Il German spy. Mrs
Higgins the landlady. l. a resourcetul
parsonage.
The January Harper, Is good fiction
number, with stories pleasantly varied IN
style Mary ard the Van, by Leila Bar
ton Wells. is Il delicate piece Of character
ization, but the method OF narration l.
faulty, a tumble Of letters and diary
entries, which the narrator imagineS dur
ing the telling OF the story by the bag
gageman. The frame of the story il too
wooden and stiff Tor the really good char
acier picture.
The Hjgh cast Of conscience, by Bca-
t-ice Ravenel, also in Harpcr'>. handles far
more difficult material IN a skilful and
telling manner The character portrayal
here is of 4 sophisticated group OF per
sons, hut Is distinctive and convincing.
Two men touched with insanity, who are
vet the sanest members of the family, Il
woman who knows the value OF money
well enough 10 enable her to relinquiSh Il
fortune and two iricled Bo,tonians with
volcanic emotions, are made real TO u.
The style Is Of a polished forcetulncsS
tina, beneath satire conveys u strong sense
Of sympathy.
Ga0m-oad Fife. in .>cribHer'>. by
Harriet Welle>. has IA satisfying finish of
detail and an appealing human pathos,
especially at the end. Mrs. Weles' stories
are always arti>tically wrought and she
1. Il, Ill IL,
and character seem true.
The NiLde>t hammered War. by Ben
AmeS Williams, IN Ererubodp's, Is a mar
rative Of Welsh ronworkcrs. showing the
magic in the savage ore that sets its mark
on those who live by 1t. Here Is 4 sort of
legendary glamour and an epic bigness
that thrill the reader. The story seems at
once unreal and actual. The plot is dra-
matically conceived, especially tle last
scene, where the roaring furnace claims
ITS own.
Hnnseg'S has a couple Of good stories
this month. The Womdns Place. by
Eleanor Ecob, is a readable recital Of com
plications that arise when wives take
active parts in political campaigns coun-
ter to their husbands interests. The end
ing is happier than one would expect,
TIE :>oM Of Her ChiId. by Katharine Met
calf Roof, is IA mystical little account of Il
dream child who dreams himself true. II
is simple and tender.
The Pert Little Hal. by Christopher
Morley, in the Metropolitan, is whimsi
cal and honey account of man who tries
hard to write and a young wife who writes
without effort. Yet-but one must not
reveal the plot The story has humorous
effect because it i, not trying 10 he funny.
The Lobster and the Vase GWp, by
George Weston, IN the Saturday ErenHa
Po,,. is not story Of scinilant. clcc-
trcally Illuminated avenues that It's title
PonI- vc Il opUp