Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-18
Reviews of New Books

person. turns out to be the criminal.
Then one recalls that. at the very be-
ginning, the author, unostentatiousN.
but soundly. made provision for this
consistent outcome. A good story Of
the mystery brand.
chael Sadler. New York Robert
NJ Mcbride Co.
This is the story of youth in his
own encounters with himself along
the way of his growth from child TO
boy. from boy to man. 1t consists in
the turning out to the open those eN-
periences that come into the life OF
h = 'i!;"'v to say nothing even to
hims.t. This is good work. II is
siacare and in-seeing. 1t follows its
own trail with honesty and good
grasp of the values that count in the
boys progress with himself. The
coming of the youth has first place
here-that of the little girl. the wom-
an older than he. the good comrade.
and. finally. the one whom he counts
as the anchor Tor which he has II
the time been unconsciously looking.
The story takes its place with those
histories of inner life rather than
with those of external adventure. As
such it IL keenly alive and compe-
tently expressive.
THE PECULIAR MAJOR. BY Keblc
Howard, author Of "Forked Light
ming" etc. New York: George II.
Doran Company.
THE Peculiar Major" is a chapter
out of the Arabian Nights. brought up
to date in setting and circumstance.
1t is more than likely that the very
and the manner of its disclosure
makes for illusion in this case. Here
is story of eastern wi1ardry put
out in the slap-daSh fashion of the
average reporter. who has no time 10
dress up copy. queer stuf-but true
Take or leave 1t. as you please says
this colloqu!al penman. And You take
it. The performance begins when the
major-on service in historic Pales-
tine-comes into accidental possession
of a magic ring. With the ring upon
his finger, the major fades away be
fore your very eyes. with the ring
back in his pocket. the major prompt
ly takes on his customary corpcreai
visibility. Devote this power to the
killing of the kaiser to tho JiScoN-
cry Of the German war plans, TO the
coming of the kaiser, to the discoV-
cry of the German war plans, TO .ns
complete destruction of the Hun, and
an author has about everything TO ms
hand. This one does. Through whiri-
wind of appearances and disappear
auces. each significant of the majors
grand design, the story pursues lts
exciting course, with war and love
nroiected in q maze of bewildering
happenings. FEASIBILITY? That is not
what the story is about. 1T is lmpos-
sible happenings worked out in line
of beeuiling and exciting adventures
COGGIN. By Ernest Oldmeadow. New
York: The Century Company.
Cosgin is the son of rag bone
man who lives in small town in Eng
land. Packer, the bill poster, Is
radical whose rabid STRINGS of class
hatred leads to the boys examination
for free scholarship. founded by
long dead church warden, for boys OF
the grammar school, but which custom
had reserved exclusively for the sons OF
influential men. Coggin won. LOT tne
rea son that the rector Of the fashlonapie
Episcopal church was unexpectedly
called upon to conduct the contest, ana
in defiance of the head master AWARDED
the scholarship to Coggin because ne
had rightfully won it. From that on
the story of Coggin. the school boy,
keeps step with the story OF the rector
of st. MichaeTs, the way OF both ieao-
ing ever upward. But OF more ooIh-
mating interest is the master UNDER
standing of the man who writes ABOUT
the two From a plot viewpoint the
story is easily briefed, but, for literary
mower. il Is a book that commands COM
peiling reading from its opening line 10
the last.