The Washington times., 1922-07-30
POOR BUT PROUD
E ARE NICK AND
%.
SUSY
Each Is Bent on Making a Mar
:riage for Money, but Moon
and Mrs. Wharton Decide
Otherwise, to the Edifica-
:ltion of the Reader.

"A pMIRERs OF Edith whar-
A ton will rejoice in "The
a u Glimpses OF the Moon"
tkppleton), which has for its
characters members of the smart
set OF New York. in the delinea-
ton Of which she is unsurpassed.
Then, too, the story told is one
OF power, one that reveals GER
Tain typical phases of the lives
-ef the men. and women: who make
up that world whose central
thoroughfare is Fifth avenue,
hut whose paths wander to New
port and to the holiday centers
of, Europe. AS she portrayed the
Eocial scene of the 1905 in The
Age of Innocence" which won
.the 1921 Pulitzer fiction prize. so
!N is the social world of today
Which she makes real IN "Glimp-
Ses of the Moon"
Her central situation is inter-
.ssting. Here are a young man
and young woman, both firmly
placed on the highest rungs OF
sthe social scale, both of whom
find it impossible by force Of
Sctrcumstance to keep up with the
1sxtravagance OF those about
Them. Both are forced to accept
Ynyors and to make themselves
alseful to those whose houses
aSid estates can give them the
Entertainment and ease which
ahey desire.
z Youth and attractive person
Mites make them welcome and
valuable additions to their circle.
The hope of the one has been to
harry some man whose wealth
Mill give her the safe, command
hg position which her friends
bossess; of the other that he
might marry some girl whose
riches can insure him permanent
place in the social scheme.
Z Mrs. Wharton shows these two.
each bravely and skilfully direct
thg the little bark of his or her
fortunes in the deep social
waters, where the larger craft
Bly, serenely with strict regard
for their own particular well
being.
: The other characters Of the novel
admirably fill in the picture, en-
phasizing those possessions which
the two central figures lack. anil
Yet which are the essence Of the air
they breathe.
= Such is the world Mrs. Wharton
Depicts, a world in large measure
dedicated to a ruthless pursuit OF
diversion at all costs, where moth
Ing Is given for nothing. whore
fevertsh desire for experience Is
mated with observance Of outward
form. A full depletion Of this So
ciety is the groundwork Of the bril-
liant fiction which she has con-
eeived in this story.
To bring out the full significance
Of the story of susy Branch and
Nick Lansing just such a keen
visualization Of their world is need
ed. From the swift life Of this
complex society stands out the
sharp clearness of the central
theme.
There is simplicity in the lives
Of these two. Both are young. both
are born to their social world, but
both have resources too small to
more than just enable them to keep
m the social round. Yet ridicu-
IousIy, as far as their friends are
concerned, and with a fantastic
recl1lessness, they fall in love with
zach other instead OF with the ex-
pected sources of wealth for each.
It is the theme of love as the be-
trayer Of self.interest and hard
bid plans Mrs. Wharton has
chosen, and she proceeds to show
tust how possible the Towering OF
love is in the face Of the insidious.
temptations Of modern society.
, The same facts OF existence sur
Found Nick and Susy during their
honeymoon in the loaned Italian
villa Of friend. But now there is
another personality to note such
compromises as each may find II
necessary to make. A single hand
could be played with audacity in
Society, with a reliance on chance
Ind with the justification OF what
aver end was in view. But now