Evening star., 1921-10-23

that--but not both. This complex Of
alternatives takes on point ana
meaning here In the story OF Helen
Marsden. Modern. from little GIRL
in her aptitudes and actions. Aelen,
to the end Of this story, Is continually
cepted behaviors on the part Of WON.
ankind and such behaviors as suit
her free nature and untrammeied
outlook. AS little girl. big girl and
young woman, this matter Of either
conforming or breaking away con
Marsden. This writer makes most
i interesting character of the giri.
!. with admirable discretion and fore
sight she lets her go and holds her
back in just the right measure 10
| bring her. finally, to the point WneIe
to go the old way Of being In love,
and getting married, and having
home, and the rest Of it. The high
point Of this work is that OF creating
belieable people-people. too. Of IN
believa BILE people-people, too. OF IN
physical.
BEN THORPE. By Arthur Crabb. au.
thor OF Ghosts" etc. New YORK:
The Century Company.
When one meets Ben Thorpe, mere
lad. he Is just passing out OF the
gang and New York slumdom into the
wise and friendly hands Of John
Thorpe. whats your manner" asked
John Thorpe. "Ben." Ben what?"
"That's ALL" And this Is how he came
to be Ben Thorpe. The story follows
American boys, through school ana
college. and, finally. into his profes-
sion, that of doctor. The college
life of Ben is, in particular. rich IN
the fine associations and interest that
progresses and direct young fellows
of that period. That which sets Ben
off from the rest is his ingrained
hatred Of women-a repugnance that
goes back to the slum quarters OF
New York for its informing and un-
changing intensity. This trait. you
can easily see. serves to complicate,
desperately, the inevitable surrender
Of the boy to that which is as certain
as death, or taxes, though 1t is not
counted in this short list of inevi-
tables. AS matter of fact. this
i'd osyncrasy on the part Of the hero
throws the love making and the pro-
posal entirely upon the girl. fine
girl. who carries of her manifest duty
with courage and dignity. Ben
Thorpe, though unusual in a single
matter Of deep-seated source. is a
genuine American boy who is brought
out and developed by means of ster-
ling story of much that is best in
American life.
THE; BIG MUSKEG. By Victor Rous-
seau, author of wooden Spoil,'
etc. Cincinnati: Stewart Kidd Com
pany.
Reading this adventure OF the north
west, one gets the impression that. per-
haps, Victor Rousseau found himself
bit overloaded with material for Its
making. There are very few breathing
places in it, few easy stretches where
one may stop to think over the stress of
happenings through which he has just
come. for more urgent incidents crowd
him forward into a turmoil Of conspir-
acy. and crime, and pursuit. and mo-
ments Of ,circunhventfon that are
venture to get ahead. The story opens
with shot, from nowhere, and the i'm
mediate death of one Of the two men
who are prospecting for the completion
of a new railway connection. 1t Is mod
ern business rivalry and competition in
road construction that lies at the root
of this matter. The methods pursued
and claw variety, murderous and re-
mote. at least remote from the regions
where roads are commonly run. A pio-
neer road, this one, cuts across the
primal instincts. relating these to
the primitive and cruel character Of
the road Is making fits uncertain way.
AS adventure that never stops q min
ute, this Is of kind to appeal to read
ers who thrill over the austerity and
relentlessness Of both nature and hu-
man nature. One may scold. little.
over its crowded pages. but he goes
right on reading it all the same.