New-York tribune., 1920-11-28

re- 10 NoiH W ucNJ HUdillIiS Uc1OiC
Is the vast bulk of The Hyphen, by
Ida C. Schem (Dutton). The .
original specifications seemed to
call for three decker, but some slight
concession to modern fashions has per-
suaded the author to modify it into
novel consisting of two thick Volumes
The story's emanation from the war
IS only too evident in the title. 1t is
plain from the first that its people are
not devised for life of idleness; they
have a heavy cargo OF message 10 un-
load, and under the authors unremtting
vigilance they do it thoroughly.
We begin with the hyphenated hero's
remarkable antecedent history. His
grandfather was a political exile from
Germany, an idealst of the '48 revolu-
ton. who on the failure of that move
inent forswore Germany and all her
works, became an ardent American and
fought in the Civil War. His son has
q more sentimental regard for the home
land, and the order and prosperity of
Germany when he visits it seem to him
to justify his feeling for it. On this
visit he meets Russian princess, a
Nihilist. They marry, and observing
that their extraordinary opposing intel
lectual natures must make for an un-
usual child, they dedicate this child
while yet unborn to the task of solving
the political problem OF the world, to
reconciling their opposing points Of view
in some ideal manner. This politically
cugenc child is the hero.
Whatever pranks Fate is accustomed
to play on such occasions she vas this
time thoroughly cowed by the deter
mination Of the parents and produced a
child to order.
| He is a frail child, but even in child
hood gives promise Of an extraordinary
| intellectual power. The circumstances
Of his fathers death and his mothers
, German American community in this
country. 1t is his mothers wish that
he should be brought up in this country,
and educated in such a way that he will
:, be free from all political bias, and SC
better fitted TO discover the Messianc
truth.
, Of course, nothing in the develop
,ncnt Of such child is insignificant.
The influence Of the German community
o. in which he lives, the traditions Of this
r. country and the pressure of foreign
" political beliefs indirectly cxerted by
a his mother are the chief factors in his
,t education, His fathers regard for
70 Germany on the one hand, and his
ie mothers radicalsm on the other are
j. the Scylla and Charybdis between
ID which h, must steer when he grows to
10 young manhood.
t. The goal Of his mothers teachings
rs would have been paciiism and social
1T ism and his fathers sentimentality
G. would have Influenced him to pro-
y. Germanism on the outbreak of the war
c. But in all the tests on his integrity he
ki emcrges triumphantly 100 per cent
20 Since it is his destiny to search out all
/; the political creeds Of the world in
le search Of the perfect one, he ex-
yoi iicHSeo all ShaueS VI po!llicdi luedl-
y ism-only to find at the end that the
~ the true ideal is the existing political
ol Faith Of America. His faith is un-
~ dimmed by the fact that he is doubted
x AMI scorned through the war-that
a. America indiscriminately Jumps him
v with less grateful aliens~he proves
q his loyalty by merging all his opin-
~ ions in the feeling Of his country and
- y going forth to fight Germany.
And coincident with his search 70.
political faith is his quest for a re-
;; ligious. faith. Here, too, he proves
,, his worth by ranging through all d
- young mans philosophc doubts and
-
~ 6cath Qf tho Cnu. o.. -. .-.-.--,1.