The New York herald., 1922-08-06

schoolboys, only Is, and still in
school when the war came-the best
and finest human material that fell
to the war god, own brothers to
those from the analogous sections of
American and Antipodean life. And
IL would be we'll for US in America To
remember that whereas but rela-
lively few OF our own youth were
allowed to act this part, the war
made a horribly complete sweep of
the young men of England.
The author of this story has mod
eled his two young people more or
less closely and frankly upon Rupert
Brooke. the poet. and the action OF
the tale also in some measure follows
his career. Probably no finer model
could have been chosen, and Mr..
Raymond has done his work so we'll
that the book is a not unworthy
monument.
1t is emphatieally war story. yet
the war itself. confined to the Gal
Iipoli campaign. fills but a minor
part of the action. More than half
the story is taken up with the child
hood. school days and preliminary
experiences OF the three young men
whose careers it follows. These
school chapters are among the best
in the book: fun of humorous under
standing of that strangest of all hu-
man animals. the adolescent boy;
realizing as The noisy old doctor puts
IL. that they're the most important
things in creation" and that the
specimens under consideration are
among the best of their kind. There
Is nothing of the hackneyed. conven-
tional school life story about this
section of the book. though it uses
the usual machinery of games. rag
ging" and conflict between boys and
masters and projects. 1t is familiar
material handled with a surprising
AhCoAAhCSS anu NlAdlll.
The three youngsters. Rupert Ray.
Edgar Doe and Archie Pennybet are
swept into the war machine. The
third. Archie. is rather foil to the
others; more sophisticated variety.
He passes out OF the story. in France,
while the others are still in training.
Thereafter they go TO Gallipoli and
Doe u killed. but Rupert survives to
the end OF the war. only to meet his
death. which is implied. in the clos
ing words of the book. at the last
moment. The real theme OF the book
is not the event or the excitements
OF the conflict. but the spiritual
growth of the two young warriors.
1t is impossible to give in a few
words an adequate analysis of Mr..
Raymond's concrete handling of that
very subtle theme. II must suffice
to say that his young men do respond
to the call, simply and with the high
mindedness Of the crusader. Perhaps
Padre Monty's phrase best sums it
up when he says. '.Idealism is might
iiy abroad among those who shall
make the England that is 10 be :.
after all. we have sovn the world
with the broken dreams and spfSed
ambitions OF a generation OF school
boys
Ii is a fine contrast TO the morbid.
self-centered. analytical fiction. with
its preternatursl sex avidity and
eynicism. that has flooded the Eng
iish reading world for the last four
years. 70 find this clear, clean. alto
gerher yirile statement of the en-
during immortality Of these broken
dreams and spilled ambitions" of the
young men. VINO. one dares to hope.
may not have died wholly in vain.
This is a truly inspiring. nobIy con-
ceived and nObly executed book. and,
withaL an engrossingiy human and
\ interesting one.
HENRY WALKER.