The New York herald., 1922-03-05

pany
40 aspiring American writer
M need fear that he viii be
crowded out. geographically
speaking. no matter how many have
been before him in the same area
There are so many different aspects
OF life In any community in this
far flung country. the units making
up that thing we call American life
are so many and so varied, that the
genuine talent can always find room
for its particular Offering.
Louisiana has seemed exclusive
Cable territory for so long that any
new writer venturing into that field
would be hard put to it to find some
thing different Not that It is so
necessary. this last point. The great
mass of readers are like the great
mass of playgoers. they love the
dear old faces and the dear old plots
But there are others However
Louisiana is a rather large State. All
Of which means that Nevil Henshaw
has found some interesting novelties
for his story of Louisiana He keeps
US in New Orleans but for a chapter
or two. then takes US into the queer
life OF the marsh trappers. modern
,ypsies who wander with the sea-
sons and seek their meat from God.
We see isolated wood settlements,
crossroads shopkeepers and glimpse
at the last the beginnings of land
lordisu. among the cane planters
But it Is the marsh folk who are the
real contribution to literature.
The story that holds these various
phases OF Louisiana life together Is
told in the first person by its lead
ing character This is John Marsh,
and he asks US to stay with him
from his tenth to his twentieth year
Much happens 10 him during tha
time. His experiences are limited bS
area but greatly varied In spite o.
this and intense from the demand:
made on the boy by the changing
surroundings Into which he Il
thrown.
When we first meet him he Is
lonely child living with his father II
a lodging house In a characteristic
street OF New Orleans. The fathe
works early and late and is
crushed and broken man. The DO.
Is left TO the companionship OF bus.
Madame Therese. who loves him bu
has many cares. The pages tina
tell of the fancies of child left Z
amuse himself in high ceiiinged oil
rooms, ring very true. When job
is ten his father dies. Papers
his desk prove him the son OF Gei
Marsh. q wealthy planter OF one
the parishes a son disinherite
because OF his marriage. Goo
Madame Therese sends the boy to n
grandfather in charge OF one Duga:
n shopkeeper OF ST. Pierre Bt
Gen. Marsh will have none of n
boy. Afraid of Dugas. who Is N
traditional miser and low cunnin
villain Of the romantic novel. job
runs away. braving the terrors
the marsh. Good luck throws hi
into the hands of two marsh trai
pers. n giant known as Papa Tor
and a clever little hunehhack. Jea
Ie Bossu. Afraid TO tell his re
name and ancestry the hoy says
is Jean Trouve" The men take nj
to the marsh huts where they Ia
and where there Is a charming lit
girl. Toinette. He casts in his
with the marsh folk. living their u
OF rough surroundings and ha
work during the short and mi
Louisiana winter when the huntiI
Ia good and peits valuable. Th'
there is the lazy summer on the IN
drifting about. fishing or huntinc {
food. calling at hidden coast viliag
for supplies. a true gypsy exis'en'
rather fascinating in its way. odd
hear of 10 us more practical folk
the North.
This is the r:Jst interesting pa
Of the book One may doubt wheth
life in these little marsh encam
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