Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-04-17

,nc carry Gays III IN. sheep country.
II is ;:n epic of tho shccplands.
MYSTIC ISLES or THE SOUTH
SEAS l'y Frederick oBrien. The
Century Co. New York
In point Of time this new book
properly comes before the authors
White Shadows in the South Seas"
which happened 10 BE- pnblishcd first:
lie among the people Of Tahiti.
whore ne lived before he wen, TO the
MarGucsas. the scene Of White
shadows" and he actually wro,.
Mystic Isles first That was several
years ago. ne recently revisited Ia
hiti TO check up his material. and
ih.n wrote the took over again.
Travellers approaching Tahiti Catch
the hnc faint fragrance or !ts' mil
lions of flowers before they see the
rrccn-hucd land or romance and
charm; And Tahiti--thc capital ISL
and OF Frances Pacific poSscss.ons-
IL the seen" OF most of Mystic Isles
OF the south Seas" AMI the author
makes the reader So" and feel 1t.
Mystic Isles % the South Seas" is
hook OF that happiness for which
most humans long: "A simple sun
warmed existence with tim" TO dream,
to sleep. to think. 10 fccl--evcn time
I" play; OF soft airs, waving palms.
- surge OF wild" waters against Il
coral reef inside Of which IS peace.
la 1t are gentle, wonderful play
mates. men and womcn-Lhc women
rs frankly friendly as the men, and
not one OF either who dare not
stick rose behind the ear" In 1t IL
the plac" where "Rui." or Robert
Louis Stevenson. lived in the house OF
tri-a-pTi. and the fine dirnihcd say
age himself with whom the beloved
writer changed names as Il brother
pledge. The facts Of old monuments.
language and legends have sympath-
cite light thrown on them and the
story of the scourC" Of the whites
Cp1n this happy life is pas!onat"iy
Like his white Shadows" M-.
. Bficns new volume is more than
II marvellous travel boOH II also ~
hL'nor and romance. and many or us
I chapters have the narrative drive.
the lyrical phras. ana the dramatic
'uxrcnse OF frst.class fiction.
THO book IS thickiy set with IL
lustrations from photographs.
), FOLKS Ey Victor Murdoch. The
Here are. set down accurately the
nrrrcs OF the men ana women OF "A
n!f-cpntlncri boom town The book
was written with the idea of tearing
aray much of the stage trapping
vested Tho folks "ho appear here
are all truly Western: they are men
AMI women Nth ono DONNA, ns
passion. to build Il city and develop
ar empire around IT,
Thus il happens mat there runs
through these stories OF folks the
larger story Of an ambitious ,own.
IL successes and r.verscs |o;or i
not added TO thc tales, aud Z, : OBJ
.iris that color 10 not needed. Wen
ohc remembers that the section under
sn:H.y received people from The civil
Wa. North ami south. the California
foriN-n.ncrs, the Indians, IN" cX-
slaves from the plantations. the cow
hcys from the range. the po!!tica!
town bulders--;h. stories >: all
these. together. pak. the stcr; Of
the prairies in their evolution from
tho western edge o: the East u the
eastern edge o: the West.
MY son. by Cora Harris. George
II Dorau Co, New York.
ny SON - Peter. whose father.
Wi!!iam Thompson. was the hero OF
euit Riders Wife" This book carries
on the story OF the other worldly
c!rcuit-rihcr Of his charming. witty,
This worldly wife. ana Of their son.
VINO spanned the distance lctwcen
the two diverse spirits.
Mrs Harris seems TO have put Il
great deal OF her infinitely wise ami
comfortable self into this story 1t
abounds in the vii and subiIet,
which have made her one % the best
known and bcst-DcloVed writer's IN
IN" United states. Peter. after the
death of his father and contrary TO
his mothers expectations takes up
the cudgcl Of III. Methodist ministry.
sut where his father was AN itincrant
preacher; Peter j. tho pastor OF
fashionable Southern congregation.
and the first part of his ministry. up
to his marriage. is the field OF this
story
Cora Harris lives In Rydau. Ga.
Her late husband WAS circuit rider
an !tincrant Methodist preacher. and
she has taken u great deal OF the
material Of her books from life Her
personality Is very striking one.