Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-16
FALL BOOK SEASON
HAS Varied FICTION
LoUe, Mystery, Romance, Ad'
Uentre Are Themes of Es.
tdblished Writers and
Newcomers

! The death last week Of G. n. Will
Hanson adds melancholy interest to
The Second Latchkey," which may
be the final production of those capital
collaborators. Charles Norris and Anna
Muriel Williamson. Mr.. and Mrs. Will
Hanson first came into popularity years
! ago as the pioneers in automobile nc
tion. THE Lightning Conductor set
n new style in outdoor tales and for
a time the co-authors wrote nothing
but this kind Of novel, in which motor
car was really one Of the principals OF
a story of adventure and sentiment that
well.
Latterly they have been writing
stories of sheer romance and also OF
mystery. OF the latter type is The
Second Latchkey." Judging from the
dash and vim of the plot and narration
It is hard to believe the biographical
statistics that came out in c. \. WI
liamson's obituary. namely that he was
as old as sixty. There is no aged touch
to the style. The principal figures are
a beautiful English girl and an Ameri-
can millionaire, whose knightly nature
undergoes curious change TO caddlsh, :,
ness after he has won her heart and
hand. The mystery of the story Is the
compulsion that makes him assume TINS
characteristic and, Of course, it is solved
to the satisfaction both of the heroine
and the interested reader.
Olga Hartley's Canine" is a most
unusual girl, whose difference with
many a distinction gives her the ire
ouent charm Of unexpectedness. Miss
Hartley has nice sense OF character :
I hn truits md i'm l.
pulses Of her heroine cleverly and con
vincingly, There Is more to her than
mere quaintness and oddity and in the
showdowns of life she rises to real
worthwhileness. Her story, with its
sentiment and romance. has scenes that
are successivcly thrilling. humorous,
tragic and pathetic The book Is really
one of comedy, but is touched with the
usefulness Of tears at times, which only
adds to its charm.
1.-THE Green Gods Pavilion leads thu
reader to exotic environment. it Is
thrilling novel of the Far East and th'
Philippines. Mabel Wood Martin has
STEPPED her pages in the elusive mys'
tcriOusnnss and mysticism of the Orient
She also interprets, through her Ameri
can heroine. "spritc like, with moonlit
hair and eyes of jade the real sou
and spirit Of the East, its insidiou'
ways. its battling hOstilitics (sonetimcs
camouflagod, but always pcrsisting al
bottom) to things Occidental, its shift
ing opalcscent panorama, it's inscrut
ability to western vision. The author
takes n pessimistic view of America
atruistic aspiration for the 'uplift'
of the East; she sees the menace Of thu
half -slumbcring, half aroused Asiati'
giant.
Her novel, however. is not propa
ganda. but fascinating story. Readers
will be cnthralled by her descriptions
and gripped by her bewitching heroine's
clash with the green god.
"a World to Mend" is likely to be
a satisfying story in these days of so
cial and industrial unrest. Margaret
Sherwood, author Of several notable
short stories and novels, has writer
Of a workingman. 1t Is the day to day
record Of the meditations, reflections
and experiences of symbolic "cob.
bier" The book is really the "pcn.
sees Of thinker. who can stimulate
with his cogitatiOns and views on home
citizenship, humanity. 1t gives fin,
views on the real meaning of democracy
Many problems that are disturbing lib.
erals of the day are Scarchingly dis
cusscd by the author under the guist
of her cobbler.
"Firewood." by Joslyn Gray. Is
notable for its real folk. She make
them the inhabitants of story that ha!
both charm and appeal without any sen
sationalism or mawkishness. the two
roads upon which many novelists lost
their way. Miss Gray'S route is The
homcly, natural path and the people on'
meets along it are we'll worth knowing
1t might almost be described as a home,
spun romance. though it is not of tn
'b'gosh" school of fiction. especial!
remote from that in the possession .
literary distinction of style.
f. f. Mills Young has written