The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-09-18
BOOKS i'm BRIEF REVIEW

has written a story Of powerful
appeal. Heralded as a novel
OF marriage" the book proves to
be rather q novel of remarriage.
as the propriety Of divorced per-
sons marrying again Is the subject
which occupies the greater part Of
Mr.. Norris work. .....
BRASS" finds a number Of young
couples beginning welded life
under varying conditions and sub
sect to different influences. Some
are victims Of interference by
friends and relatives. others OF
circumstances amid which they
grope blindly. aware only that
something Is amiss. but unable. to
perceive a way out. One couple
only. living a life Of dull content.
ment on q ranch, provides an ex-
ample of the ordinary happy mar
rage.
Mr.. Norris provides no abtruse
analysis of the subject Of unsuccess-
full marriages. His men and women
enter into no long harangues about
long-sought soulmates and being
misunderstood at home. They start
out with the best Of intentions, and
seemingly are destined to sink into
the dull, respectable routine Of the
average married couple. only to be
driven. by forces beyond their power
to diagnose. into a blind alley with
no outlet save by way Of separation.
Brass" is not an attack on the.
Institution of marriage. Rather 1t
Is plain statement of everyday
occurrences. told in a way that en-
courages the reader to devote serious
thought to the subject. with no at
tempt to provide solution which
would require a substitute for mar
riage.
,TIs refreshing to pick up such
stirring outdoor tale Of Eng
land in its youth as Cedric the For
ester" by Bernard Marshall and pub
lished by D. Appleton & Co. 1t serves
to bring back to our minds those
old days when we read half the long
wintry nights in G. A. Henty's i'm
mortal works Of sturdy English lads
making men of themselves on the
broad fields of Britain's military and
naval endeavor.
Apparently written for boys. ICED
ric the Forester" has its message
for older folk. For the blase read.
er surfeited with sex puzzles. or with
political intrigues. or with psyche
logical studies, the very simplicity
of this story clears away the fog.
It is a cool breeze that blows from
the West marches to our desk.
It was a blithe spring morning
when the dastardly Gray Wolf Of
Carleton lay siege to the castle Of
the Mountjoys In the absence Of It's
lord. who was away serving his king
against the Scottish foe. And that
siege brought forth all the bravery
and knightly spirit Of the Lady
Mcuntjoy and her serving men.
: And when the siege was raised and
the young Mountjoy was waylaid by
his enemy. the Carleton, It was
Cedric who saved his life. Thus did
the Lord Mountjoy find himself in
the lists. defending by trial Of bat
tie the life of the humble forester.
Cedric. Gadzooks. twas q noble
passage at arms. my brethren. De
Latiere, the Norman. was q master
of fence, yet he was overcome by
the champion of Mountjoy whose
blade fairly pierced the Norman's
body. And so Cedric. cause Of the
trial. came to dwell at Mountjoy.
The young forester was skilful
with the crossbow. q weapon long
since passed into history and such
tales az this Of the ancient days in
Merrie England when knights were
bold. He proved It in his test with
old Marvin and from then on he
proves It again and again.
And when the Welsh overrun the
West Marches. then comes the
great battle at the Pass Of the
Eagles. How stirring is this old
time battle with sword and spear
and mace and good crossbow!
And how kindlins are the deeds Of
Cedric and Of Godfrey and of the
young Mountjoy. withal a goodly