Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-18
Reviews of New Books
Pa; J. b. Lippincott Co. Price, 100,


Pa; j. b. Lppncott Co. Price, $l.90,
net.
This story shows sympatheti. APP
prehension Of life and an unusual attain
mcnt in portraying il. 1t deals with such
subjects of universal appeal as rationalIsm,
religion, society life and morals, and prob
lens of married people. In a series of
little pictures, inspiring and llfelike and
always interesting, the author has develop
cd an original and wholly delightful story,
prescribing great deal of kindly sentiment
and right feeling.
The clever and self-willed Anne is truly
an original conception, whose charm is
her unexpectedness. Impulsve, yet low
able, the logical lead of her wh,ms carries
the reader through scenes of both comedy
and tragedy. She provides motives Tor
most of the doings Of the other chai acters,
often to save her from the consequences OF
her own rashness. Yet with All her adj
venturing, she exhibits a sense OF honor
that claims respect and power OF WIN
ming love that captivates the reader rs ut
holds the devotion of he. friend.
So well does John Halliday perform his
duty n, her guardian that his old landlady
is led to remark Indeed, sir, and the
Almighty missed making good mother
when he made YOU a gentleman. instead OF
a lady" Whicn tribute rs a clear insight
into Johns character. He has a capacity
ior devotion and sacrifice that Gilbert
Trevor, who becomes joint-guardian
could never achieve, nor even desires. 1t is
easy to recognize the hero. Great ex-
periences are Johns ot-disappointment
and trouble, but he emerges triumphantly
with satisfying code o. theology that
repays his quest.
Anne is long time growing up and
even motherhood .ails to make a woman of
her. Her impulsive marriage leads to
distressing misunderstanding and un-
happiness and she seeks balm in a career
he success, of which is surprise to her
friends and a contradiction of her butter
fly character. Tears and laughter follow
closely in the many touching scenes where
her llttl G son appears. Through deer
trouble she at last realize. her womanhood
and her last dramatic adventure leads tC
happiness and the unexpected. but fttinl
climax which crowns this beautiful story
Received of the publishers.
"The Vanity Girl" BY Compton Mac
kenzie. New York City: Harper *
Brot hers.
1t is a strange, but moving, tale Of th,
vanity of woman and the tricks i
played her, that Mr. Mackenzie presents
in "The Vanity Girl" She was Moral
Caffyn, the very handsome and dream,
daughter of secretary of a British
church society, living n rather poor lif,
with large family. She branched out IL
!, a stage career first in the chorus, anc
later, rs she had some talent and mucl
| beauty, to a part in ''1hc Vanity Girl,
a great popular success in London. Her,
| she attracted the hot fancy of witles
| young lord and became the Countess o
! Clarehaven.
But wealth and title failed TO satisf,
her. Tony, her titled husband. was
gambler and spendthrift, and in a few
years lost his pat rimony by plunging IL
horses and at cards. Her assured socia
position, gained by her tact and beauty
was severely shaken. The war was break
ing out at this time, Tony yielded TO tn,
manhood that lay dormant in him ans
went TO France, where he was most con
veniently killed in battle soon afterwards
I Meanwhile she had almost sold her homo
to a grasping Jew fnancier for money
The countess, after bringing forth
posthum0us heir To the title, married th,
Jew fnancier, whose deliberate scheme,
had wrecked her husband financially
through race course tricks, and had pur
chased his ancient home.
The story is richly told, full of interest
ing detail Of the life Of the stage, Of tht
old English nobility in country an,
town, Of the racing and gambling world
and filled with various lively personalities
But it shows plainly how hollow are tn,
results when a woman seeks to gain rea
happiness by such means. II does not ap
pear that this beautiful and ambitious
young woman ever enjoyed such hap
piness, for she did not love her husband
or the man whom she subsequently mar
ried IN order to rec over title to his ances
trail estates for her ennobled son.
Received of the publishers.