Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-27
AMERICANISM IN
THREE VAR NOVELS
Miss TrbeH, Doctor Steiner
and Mr.. Kaufman Authors
OF Notable Fiction

victorious" is the solidest and the
most spirited accomplishment to date of
Reginald Wright Kaufman. It is a
story Of the war, and Of course being by
Mr.. Kaufman, is fiction with -pur-
pose. But IL is not propagandistic in the
sense that THE House of Bondage
Was" II is firmer in its structure,
finer in its characterizing than that
book. 1t is really big novel OF
Americas participation in the war, de.
spite some of its manifest defects, such
us painting the villain lamp black with
out hint of gray in the tone, its some
times exuberant rhetoric, and it's oc-
casional looseness of writing. 1t is
really the Iliad Of a typical young
American. and his Odyssey, too, in his
adventuring to the front to fight his
share in the battle of democracy against
autocracy. He happens to be from the
Pennsylvania Dutch environment which
Mr.. Kaufman knows so well, but as
for his essential and typical Ameri-
canism he might have been from any
other of the sister commonwealths.
Against background of some Of the
wartime inefficiency. of proiteering, OF
privilege and of pull the story Of the
boy who gave his life today that civiliza-
tion might have its tomorrows proceeds
compellingly, graphically, knowingly. 1t
| is novel rich in inspirational Amer
icanism.
Americanism is also rich and full in
The Rising of the Tide one of the
few pieces of fiction by Ida NJ. Tarbell.
distinguished historian, publicist and
! journalist. THE Story of Sabinsport.
| ,e loI oil 6 bn
of a typical American town to the call
and the urgencies and the poignancics
! of the nation embattlcd in defense of
freedom Of individuals and institutions.
! This is Miss Tarbells first long novel,
! but her trained literary sense. her
capacity for fortnight thinking, her
valid philosophy. her kcenness of in
| sight into motive and her almost un-
canny power to analyze and psycholo-
! gize, have resulted in a story notable
for constructive merit and for gripping
magnetism simply as a story. Yet THE
Rising of the Tide is much more than
a mere tale; it has the seeds of fructi
! flying inspiration in it. No American
who loves his country can help being
better for reading it, no American who
is proud of what his country did in the
world war. despite mistakes and
/ :,
son of patriotism. II is particularly
valuable to read now that the war is
over because it is a prophylactic and
insurance against the reactions and de-
pressions of war WEAKNESS and the dis
PEELED illusions which come when the
fine flush of battle for ideals has waned.
Some of the ideals and illusions are
always dispelled in the aftermath of
superficial sclfishness that comes so
naturally in the wake Of great move
ments: Miss Tarbell shows this is not
deeply ingrained. She has written u
big, true, fine, inspiring book and has
written it humanity and well.
DIR. Edward A. Steiner, himself an
immigrant who sought haven from old =
world economic and social expressions
on our free shores, has written the epic
OF the immigrant in "Sanctus Spiritus
and Company. He himself. by his own
energy, endeavor and initiative, has won
his way from humble station to high
estate as an educator and publicist In
this novel he wins new rank as a writer
OF graphic and worth while fiction.
While the book is not autobiographical
1t is none the less born and bred in the
writer own romantic experiences. The
three men of diverse race and religion
who lived IN amity and unity are we'll
drawn. The clash of the old world
ideals with those of the new, the dis
advantages of one and the other
balanced and contrasted, the hope of the
: new nationalism, the largest of free
America-all these are woven into the
story.
NlCToHoCs: BY Reginald Wright Ksurf.
man Indianapolis: Bobbs Merrill 6
THE RISING OF THE TIDE. Hv "a, u,,
Ierxa Tarbell. New York; Macmillan Co,
sANCTUs sPIRIrus AND COMPANY "a,
' Doran Co N' 'eo'se H.