South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-11-21
THE WASTED ISLAND"
By Elmar O'Duny.

Thbs IS a strong story II latter
6ay ireland. There rs power In
az its graphic pages and a savour
OF bitterness throughout g. all
Above everything 70 IS a book writ
ten for the few who appreciate the
history and aspirations OF the peo-
PIE with whom IL deals. BY such
Il can be read, enjoyed and ponder
cd upon as a distinctive novel.
II Is the story Of a young irish
boy who e. reared in Ireland IN an
English atmosphere amid the most
respectable environments land they
are very respectable in that coun-
try.) he is denied tho legacy of
HIS countrys history. Then he -
sent 70 an English school where
snObbeTy prevails ana narrOWness
OF mind fiourisncs and where the
Empirical concept Is impaired 70 IN
tlatorsA minds Bernard falls utterly
70 appreciate the idea OF Empire
and upon his return 20 his native
land, becomes aware of his sense
Of his nationality He learns the
truth for himself that he ia irish
and not English and with this feel
ing enters the revolutionary ranks
and becomes one OF the leaders
The author surely knows the peo-
pie of HIS blood. He paints Dublin
with a true touch-the city OF gen
tlemen's houses and slums. He
knows the mind OF the 'IntelleC-
tuals': end exposes the shallOwness
OF the academies and the Anglo
Irish who are looking through the
windows OF Dublin castle.
He has a knowledge Of the d;f-
fereut types OF Irish character. He
-
the swaggering and outspOken Nc
Gurk, the anaemic mystic Austin
Mallow, the cynical and trenchant
Moore, and the untractable Dwyer.
Then We have the two brothers. the
gentle Eugene and the diaavOwing
Bernard, who are very different even
for children OF the same family.
Bernard is an extremely hkeable
character. The story OF Cuchulainn
OF Muirtheme moves him deeply.
The songs OF Ossian are in his mind
and the love OF Caolte in his heart
One would have liked to see him live
instead OF coming to that terrible
end distorted and paving the air
with a boot"
such an ending as this book has
seems to be the sine qua non" Of
all the recent books OF Ireland. OF
course. 70 Is true to lifa The strange
faulty OF Irish history Is reveal ed
in the untimely deaths OF her sons.
Eugene, the quiet gentle lad, falls
in death on the fields of France;
Sandy comes home from GallipOli
broken in body and spirit for he was
IN the Dublin Fusiliers; while Nc
Gurk sinks in his blood and dies like
a giant Crusader upon the bodies
OF his victims on the streets Of Dub
lin.
And through Il all runs the bit
ter thought which Bernard express
es in his musings 20 himself and his
ina Tlnary enemies. "Great God!
The wasted. wasted EFFORT What
might not we have done for the
world had this heavy hand been
lifted from u.s." And creeps into
his bed and dreams of fertile val
leys and fragrant. waving meadows
and standing in them strong healthy
men and fair women and over ev-
crything .he spirit OF freedom and
peace. That was the warm vision
he had in his heart OF things to be.
Indeed it is a story of strong
youth breaking through the mist Of
painful days; a tale OF intrepid
seekers In an age-old dream. To
read IL is 20 admire and love the
people whose words and deeds have
inspired its pages
T.. F H