The Washington times., 1921-11-06
BOOKS i'm BRIEF REVIEW
ssTHE MARRIAGE OF SUSAN


published by Doubleday, Page
a Co.. like the authoress
other novels. deals with the
intimate life OF a Pennsylvsnia
Mennonite community. a subject on
viii IN she possesses close grasp
Susan, itr heroine. educated above
her class. is cruelty disappointed In
love and forced by circumstances
with a marriage that holds nothing
but poverty for her, and II is not
until the approach OF middle lie
that she again realizes happiness.
This bare description scarcely
does justice TO the charm Mrs. Mar
tin has woven into the narrative.
Neither does II reveal such homely
gems OF dialogue that abound be-
tween it's two covers. OF which the
following. a neighbor's description
of the heroine, Is a delightful ex-
ample:
"Susan Schreckengust amt
proud. She's very nice and com
mon fur all she's so grand an edu-
Gated that way. Yes, Susan
took lessons already In both vocal
and both instrumental, an stiu
she's wonderful common"
All of which was intended for .
wonderful tribute to Susan, from
the standpoint of the class known
as Pennsylvania Dutch"
CLOSE upon the heels OF her
first success. "Jan," and fully
confirming the expectations raised
by that work, comes Miss M. Nor
gan Gibbons THE Alternative
published by Doubleday-Page. Un-
doubtedly the time is fast approach
ing when 1t will be entirely unneces-
sary to mention in connection with
reviews OF her works that she 10
the talented sister of Percival Glib
bon.
Unlike Jan" the field OF action
for THE Alternative" takes place
In England, instead Of Wales. but
as in the other work the principal
character is a determined young
woman of distinctly original char
acteristics. Her discovery Of the
fact that there were two ways Of
living and that all alternatives had
their origin in this fundamental
one. leads her to the eventual
choice.
The delineation Of the character
of Helen. the strength and the sub
tlety, the originality and charm Of
it, forms a source of delight to tho
reader; a point that makes the book
well worth while.
A NEW edition Of that perennial
delight to all lovers of liter
ary caricature. "A Christmas Gar
land" that was woven by Max Beer
bohm nearly ten years ago, has just
been put out by E. =. Dutton & Co.
The sure touch with which the au-
thor parodies the mannerisms Of
nearly a score of the best known
English writing authors of the time,
the cleverness with which he docs it.
the subtle sense Of humor through
out each article and the smiling au-
dacity of the whole performance
nave made the volume a favorite,
ever since it first appeared. with
those who enjoy skill and cleverness
and humor in the literary as well an
in the pictorial art of caricature.
This new edition will bring tho
book once more upon the counters
of the bookshops.
IT Is not generally known that l..
NJ. Montgomery, novelist, Is III
private life a minister's wife, and
writes her books amid the duties OF
a Canadian parsonage. Her hus-
band is the Rev. Evan Ma cdonald,
of Leaksdale. Ontario. Since her
creation of Anne of Green Gables"
before her marriage, Lucy Maude
Montgomery has delighted an ever
growing public with her novels.
The newest Is "Rilla of Ingleside"
(Stokes).