Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-05
THE ROMANCE -
OF 4 GREAT SOUL
Conrad, in "The Rescue" Has
Paid a Tribute to the Charm
of Fair Women

The basic thcme of Joseph Conrad's
new novel, "The Rescue" has been
used in one form or another by scores
of writers. The difference between
Conrad and the others lies in the differ
ence In treatment and the difference in
setting.
The book is a study Of what happens
when two strong and original charac-
ters, one man and the other n woman,
are thrown together where there must
be some dependence of the one on the
other. Tom Lingard Is the man whom
Conrad has selected to come in the
sphere of influence Of the woman. Lin
gard has appeared in "Almayer's Folly
and in IAN Outcast Of the Islands," but
his adventures in these books came after
the adventures described in ''The Res
cue.' The woman Is q new charac-
ter, Edith Travers, the wife Of distin-
guished Englishman, whom she mar
ried because fate seemed to hold no
great passion for her, and she decided to
make a marriage of ambition. Conrad
whimsically calls this successful
mistake" Lingard is engaged in re-
storing to his throne a native rajah in
one of the Javanese islands. He has
pledged his word, and as he is man
VI si"piC hOuOE ut piotctus " N. = -
When his plans have reached crisis he
learns that an English yacht has been
stranded just where its presence will
complicate his problem. 1t does COM
plicate it, for Mr.. Travers. the owner
of the yacht, who had left his wife on
board and had taken guest on shore
with him for walk, is captured by ma
tives plotting against the rajah to whose
fortunes Lingard is committed. II it
had not been for the presence OF Mrs.
Travers the situation would have been
simpler. But Lingard sees the woman,
and is impressed by her beauty. 1t
arouses his emotions as they had never
been stirred by any other woman in his
life. His only love had been his brig,
He cannot tolerate the thought of this
woman falling into the possession OF
the natives. SO he struggles to keep his
word with the rajah and to rescue the
woman's husband and his friend. The
woman perceives the effect she has had
upon Lingard, and she beginsto feel the
fascination of his strong personality.
Her, husband calls her a primitive
woman and complains to her because she
was never interested in political or So
cial success. But the husband is not
primitive man. He is merely an lnves-
tigating instinct walking about on two
legs.
Conrad handles the situations as they
develop one after another in quick sue
cession with almost superhuman insight.
He makes Lingard the personification
of honor and loyalty, and Edith Travers
Is feminine charm in perfection, COM
bined with calculating intellect. If she
had been a mere animal the ia le would
have ended differently. Conrad wished
to preserve the fine idealism of his hero
and prevent him from the betrayal OF
any one, and SO he had to make the
woman such as she is. 1.-THE Rescue"
is a great tale of adventure for those
who like that sort of thing, but it is also
a great psychological study. 1t is the
romance of great soul packed into
seven or eight days. Conradians in in
creasing numbers will find it very much
to their liking.
THE RESCUE. BY Joseph Conrad. Garden
City: Doubleday. Page Co. 81.