New-York tribune., 1922-01-02
Books p.,s, Hammond as

TO the inhammabe and optimistic
imagination the title of Three Low
ing Ladies' (The Houghton Miffin
Company is likely TO prove a false
promise. There is nothing Of the
robustiously physical to be found be-
tween these chaste covers. The affec-
tions of Susie, Chips and Dicky Full
ton, respectively the wife and daugh-
tcrs Of humorously philosopbic Brit
ish general, stationed in a grubby
English seaport, will never spur the
censor to action. Compared with the
burning flappers who heat, if they do
not illumine, our up-to-thc- minute
literature, these three are decidedly
mild amateurs Of the amatory. One
loving lady imparts moro thrill, of her
sort, to a single chapter of "The Sheik'
than does this trio to an entire novel.
:t u
Chips, tho eldest daughter loves her
fathers aid, particularly upright and
detestable person. Dicky, her junior,
ontertains a tcpid passion for the poor
until an eligible rich man comes along.
Susie, the mother. loves herself and
correct conversation. General Fulton
seems to love them all, which is no
mean achievement. There are many
and shrewdly depicted minor charac-
ters, including the son of war
millionaire, whose dialect, polished
and disemvoweled by course at Cam
bridge, is an unparalleled etymologi-
Cal curiosity, Nobody does anything
specially noteworthy in the story. Life
flows logically, with marriages and
births and kind of desertion, con-
Guiding in a correctly climactic re-
habilitation of the parted family. Yet
there is distinct flavor to the quiet
tale. If it is not strong liquor it is
at least pleasant and sound light
wine for the mind. 1t may be doubted
whether the book will claim a large
army of readers; but it is fair guess
that it will remain pleasantly in the
memory Of most of those who do read
1T. 1t is essentially rememberable
thing, if only for such occasional bits
as the quietly satircal Generals OBJ
servations upon life, love and ladies',
with special reference to his immedi~
ate environment.
Very few women," says General
Fulton to his wife (who wonders what
on earth he means) "know how to 20
on as they meant to begin.
They meant to begin with Carnival and
to end in Lent" Which, as con-
tribution to the philosophy of mar
riage, is not without it's merit.
The authoress of "Three Loving
Ladies" is, as set forth in full upon
tho cover, the Honorable Mrs. Dowdall.
This idea of ornamenting literary
achievements with ones titular emolu-
ments has always appealed strongly
to me, and I never could understand
why 1T has not spread to other lines
OF artistic endeavor, such as sculpture
or motorcar manufacturing. Suppose
that the recognized leader Of the auto
world, even though he be an American.
received his due need of recognition
from an appreciative England; who
then could resist the temptation to
own Sir Henry Ford?
One thing to be said of DR.. Thomas
Dixon is that, unlike many historians,
he can write Of the "Lost Cause" with
the cold neutrality Of an impartial
Judge. Though one of the most senti-
mental Of the unreconstructed, he al
ways follows the Socratic injunction
hearing courteously, answering wisely,
considering soberly and deciding with
out prejudice. The above encomiums
are the result of reading page in the
doctors biography of John Brown
which is entitled, oddly, "The Man in
Gray"-a page which tcmpts ono to
study tho entire book, 80 soon as he