The Washington times., 1922-12-03


luster by the rays of setting sun,
stretched away into the distance"
S"THE REVOLT OF TIL e
OYSTER" the title story OF
Don Marquis's new book Dou-
bleday, Page & Coz is Il dra-
matte climax in the struggle be-
tween man and the oyster for
supremacy in the Darwinian sys-
TEN Of evolution. Probably ArbO-
real. the nonchalant lover: Slightly
Simian, the literary critic, who
pointed his opinion by the use Of
his club; Big Mouth, the poet who
suffered martyrdom for the sake
Of the first experiment in vers
libre, and the mammoth oysters
who watched the battle between
Probably Arboreal and the masto-
don Of their species that clung
tenaciously to his toe. are remark
ably modern in their modes OF
thought. There are other stories,
among them the tale Of the leon
inc and magnetic poet Mr.. Wimple.
who preferred reading his works at
women's teas to doing the twins
washing. and of how Hank signed
the pledge-and kept 1t.
HELEN r. HULL'S Quest"
(Macmillan). is a commendable
first novel. In II we have youth
emerging from it's chrysalis, curl
Gus and eager in a new world,
instinctively seeking expression:
youth wary and sensitive tight.
ening up defensively as its gifts
are trampled on. its illusions. OF
beauty shattered; youth baffled
and wretched, yet reaching out
under the sheer impetus of the
life force to life, knowledge, love.
Quest. II Is the very
process Of growth that Miss Hull
has described in this story of
Jean Winthrop's girlhood. devel-
oped in vivid. impressionistic
fashion entirely from Jeans own
reactions to the world about her.
Intensely sensitive, she suffers
from her parents unhappiness
and lack Of sympathy; friends to
whom she has given herself prove
untrue; love" disappoints and
eludes her; yet finally she sees
straight and clear through all
these heart.breaking illusions, sud.
denly aware of "her' strengths.
her youth. unutterably potent"
RoLAND wHATELY." by
Alec Waugh (Macmillan), is
the first American published novel
of n prominent member. Of Eng
lands younger literary set. 1t is.
we honestly believe, an unusual
novel.
Roland Whately was a popular
young man. Very agreeable, de-
termined to avoid disa greeable
or difficult situation, extremely
adaptable, following the line Of
least resistance and greatest
pleasure in his affairs with WON.
en- as in everything else, nothing
seemed to take root in him. And
then after he has easily passed
from his parents circle, wherein
also dwelt the girl he. was to have
married.. and has gained an envia-
BILE social position and a charm
ing wife. he suddenly finds him
self very lonely. Spiritually un-
attached.
This portrait is painted rather
than sketched, as apparently art.
less and smooth as life seems to
be, as complex and subtle and
sophisticated as life really is.
A CRITICAL FABLE. Anony-
nous New York: Houghton-
Miffiin Co. 81.
IT is seventy.four years since
the appearance of James Rus.
sell Lowell's "a Fable for Critics"
Two generations have passed and
the last decade has witnessed the
rise of poetic movement of ex-
traordinary vigor and originality.
That the second stage of this
movement is upon us, this new
Critical Fable" makes us fully
aware.
Joyously adopting Lowelrs model,
rs he had adopted Leigh Hunts
and Byron's, an anonymou author
has set this latest generation of
American poets on the high stage
Of satire, q compliment greater
than any other. for satire is bat
the reverse Of the medal of fame.
Under the guise of q iampoon,
there is sympathetic and shrewd
criticism Of the most important
poets Of the day. .A