Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-05
ROCKS THAT PEOPLE READ

BOOKS THAT PEOfbE hEAu
Mr.. Zane Grey, prolific writer OF
tales of western adventure, and one
J. Caesar, author of Caesars Gallo
Wars" furnish the most popular read
ing matter for our soldiers in the oc-
cupied territory in Germany, accord
ing TO a report which the American
Library Association has made public.
No higher tribute could he paid to
Mr.. Grey than TO have 1t stated that
his thrilling stories. in which the
"villun" always gets his in tho neck,
and virtue triumphs in the last chapter
share honors with the old Roman who
wrote his stories of martial conquest
nearly 1000 years ago.
The popularity of translations or
Caesar is accounted for 10y the fire.
ouent mention OF places on the Rhine,
with which our soldiers are now IA
miliar Ruins of one of the bridges
which Caesar built across that river
can he found not far away uom
American headquarters Thus the
works Of the man who penned that
most simple, and yet most dramatlc ol
all military reports, II came. saw l
conquered" serve as guide books 70
the men who helped to mako history
| in the twentieth century.
While western stories are proving
( nopular with our men abroad. II is also
| true that the old-fashfoned thriller is
! sailing by the hundred thousand in
| America today. While authors Oh es-
| tabiished literary ability. such as
| Conrad. Hardy Wells. Iiergeisheimer'
| Gertrude Atherton and others are
writing books which bring them onN
small recompense. the authors or pam
| tales Of the old west, told in simple
! manner and without any pretenco OF
| style. are making fortunes.
A certain portion OF the public viii
| ALWAYS prefer the novel which shows
a clear insight into life, skiilful
| dalineation Of character, and com
p~tsnt analysis Of the mighty forces
which s,lrround every human soul, Buj
the great majority viii prefer the good
stnries we'll told as Professor William
I,von Phelps Of Yale defines popular
novels
Perhaps the latter are not true to
life. Maybe they are not always proper
for young and imaginative persons Y
read In this case it is the duty "i
narents 70 steer their children $ read
ing into safer channels.
II is strange. but nevertheless tru"
that the greater man becomes ~ NE
the more simple are his reading tastes
as a rule. II is a known fact that th'
late Gladstone enjoyed novels 81 ~,
cheaper type President Wilson Is ~
ar8ant devotee OF the modern detective
story. A certain very learned justice
who formerly sat on our supreme
Bench IS said 70 havb spent H'any ~
hosm reading the exploits Of 'oid hIh1
Brady" and Nick carter
Such preferences 40 not imrly tha
the men IN question are devoid "
literary taste Far from IL. But the'
find a certain amount Of relaxation u
stretching out comfortably before
winters fire. and opening hook whicl
holds their attention from the opentnI
TO the closing charter. They delight 4
chasing the villain UP one page an
DOWN the other. and IN trying 20 solV
the problems az the blushinG youn
, heroine. such reading offers an e.
cane fron the problems Of the every
drv world and carries tho reader int
ranciful sphere where everythtn
turns out right often all too ofte'
: things do not go right in this worl
$ ~ ours X j. well that we have
{ form or lr+erature which offers 20 q
g ~ 10 q chance 10 escape teuporaril
r rom all the troubles which bese
mortal man.