Arizona republican., 1919-02-02
LITER ATURE AND ART
 =. Conducted by LEW HEAD

| V BIRDS OF PREY,". by George Bronson Howard, is only what you can make out of it. It isn't worth reading ! and it is. It isn't fit to read and it is. It is a literary paradox, so far as it's | worthwhileness is concerned. From ! the point of view of a human study ! of the female leeches of Broadway, II may have some educational value; as literature, it is like a coffin, or Q sepulchre, or a sealed jar of alcohol merely a receptacle in which to pre- serve a type. But who cares to pre- serve type such as Bronson-Howard pictures.
 There is a 'foreword" to this book, in which Bronson-Howard reveals the fact that he is on board Steamship sol, June 3rd, 191S,' bound to join his majesty's forces. When I read this foreword, after I had read the book, 1 could not escape the thought that the author was doing well to escape the criticism that would. follow the publication by W. J. Watt &5 Co. of this Birds of Prey" We did, that is those of us who knew what Howard had done and could do, expect more from this young author than this.
 These are narratives we would ex- pect to see vividly illustrated in the Police Gazette" or the old Standard or, just perhaps, in Smart Set''as it was when Willard Huntington Wright was editor. or even now, in 'Pari- sienne." In "The Parasite" we have a realistic picture, without doubt well written and undoubtedly true to type, but Then, in "Ladybirds In ,aHr Of by these chorus-gir persons that read like fairy tales, but again, undoubt- edly, are true in type and fact. Rut
 Of course there are those that gloat over stories like this; books of this sort will always sell; will always be taken away from the bookstore wrapped up. You will never find them on the library table; always in the boudoir or den. The amazing thing 10 me, however, is that Howard should have attempted to use his own name to popularize this book. Books of this sort need no authors name to sell them. They are the sort that some public libraries classify as nuts to crack" and put away under lock and key. only to be circulated when re- quested. Much rather had Howard
  Percy Something Other" and pre- served his reputation, than in his own name, to preserve a type.
 BRUCE OF THE CIRCLE A is one of last years books that may be judged from two angles,-knowledg that the author, Harold Titus, was formerly a Phoenix resident and em- ployed on the Republican; and as a contribution to the fiction of today. From the former view point, the book is intensely interesting as all the ac- complishments of friends and neigh bors are interesting; from the latter, not so much can be said.
 If you can imagine one writing the denouement of his book first, then go- ing back and following the distinct footprints that he made on the way to that end. you will have the skeleton of Titus story. Is it not a fact that we all think lightly of any tale that discloses in the first chapter the final outcome? Start reading this Arizona sketch and within fifteen minutes, you are aware of the fact that Ann Lyttor is married, that Ned, her husband must be gotten out of the way before Bruce Bayard can marry her; that Benny Lynch, with a grudge against Ned is necessary to put him out ot the way; and you have the itinerary ol all the characters as plainly set dowr as an automobile map shows the route from here to Prescott.
 Yet, it's of Arizona. That's it's sal vation. The first line of the bool mentions the name of Phoenix Yavapai is familiar; the desert, tho mountains, the forests, the mines, tht ranches, the characters,-these are al intimate friends of ours. We like t read of them, just as we like to reaI of the accomplishments of those WI known in the daily newspapers. To tha extent, Bruce of The Circle A" vii hold you to the end,-because of tn local interest, in spite of the story
 Ann Lytton, an eastern girl, seekin' a renegade husband in the west, find him wounded and unconscious Through the aid of Bruce Bayard Lytton is kept ignorant of his wife sudden appearance, removed 2 to hi own ranch and there nursed back t health. Meanwhile, Bruce become enamored of Ann and, although loya to his obligation, cannot resist hi growing devotion. An old grudge borne by Benny Lynch pops uT Benny claims a mine that he accuse Lytton of having stolen from him During Lytton's convalescence, Lync goes to the mine, lying in wait fo Lytton, to kill him. Lytton appears O. schedule time, as do Bruce and Anr A quarrel ensues. during which Lyttor of course, is killed by Lynch, ostensi bly, while defending the life of Bruce Then follows the old, familiar conclu sion.
 There is not book written that i not subject to criticism of a funda mental character. When the perfec book comes along. we'll have tn -great-Arncrican novel" Titus has no given us the best Arizona book W have read. nor. yet, the worst It i worth the price, worth the time an has a beaithfui, helpful morality tha enobies the cowpuncher type, much a Red Saunders" has been made tn typical, nobie-hearted western hero It is-a Small. Maynard & Co. produc ton
 BCOKS READY for ctrculatio Monday. February 3. 1919, at the Phoe nix public library:
 Adult Fiction
 Kentucky Warbler, by James Ian Allen.
 Hearts Undaunted, by Eleanor At kinson.
 Front Lines, by Boyd Cable.
 Great Heart, by Ethel NJ Dell.
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