The New York herald., 1922-10-01

Harbor" is entirely up TO Mr.. Lin
coins own high water mark The in
gradients are simple and familiar; but so
are the ingredients of molasses cookies
The fact is, a majority of readers prefer
for their minds. as for their stomachs
something they have tried and found en-
inently satisfactory. And this MIR. Lin
coin has ready for them. Capt. Sears
Kendrick mariner Of renown. is stranded
and living with his sister and her fam
lily. He is actually a pathetic figure. and
Mr.. Lincoln makes him such; at the same
time the Lincoln humor manifests itself
in the nature of the disaster that befell
Capt. Kendrick. A train went off the
track. but what really finished the Cap
tain was a woman. a 800 pound woman
who fell on him and broke his legs. II
also appears at the outset of the story
that the Captain has lost his little all
'as the expression wenD in badly man.
aged investment Forthwith the habitu-
ated Lincoln reader knows that the Cap
tain's money will be returned 10 him, or
replaced several fold. before the close of
the last chapter. Such foreknowledge by
no means spoils enjoyment. Whoever lost
his appetite because he smeIled the cookies
before they reached the table?
These homely people OF the Lincoln stories
are very recognizable to any one familiar
with the Eastern seaboard Of the United
States. There is little need to caricature
after the style of Dickens. and Mr. Lincoln
does so only slightly. Where he distorts
them most noticeably is in the injection of
humor (of the homely brand) on almost
every page. Yet, very often, the humor
is entirely in character-as when. in speak
ing of the train wreck. Capt. Kendrick re-
marks that the engineer was killed and
the 800 pound woman carried her own
punishment with her. guess likely Any
how. l should call it punishment if / had
10 carry it,"
Now as to the plot: There isn't any. to
speak Of There never is in these stories
of Lincoln's and there ought not to be
a couple Of young people a few perfectly
genuine characters" a pathetic (never
pitiable) elderly man or woman or both
and some bonds apparently worthless that
turn out to be good after aIl-you don't
need much more Plenty OF talk. Yankee
twisted. and an unfailing fertility in small
episodes are far more important than the
most magnificent plot In the case OF
Fair HarbOr" little more was necessary
than the idea OF the institution which
gives the story it's name. This was an old
residence set apart from its neighbors by
a sign Hanging in the arched gateway
which read: Fair Harbor for Mariners
Women. Without. the stormy winds in
crease; within the harbor all is peace >
When. at the conclusion OF Chapter IL
we have seen Capt. Kendrick and Judah
the mariners widows. sisters. SC. the plot
is we'll begun and fully half done
great pity it is that so few OF those
who take pleasure in Fair Harbor'' will
be able to appreciate how well Mr. Lincoln
exhibits his nautical lore He makes nc
mistakes. though perhaps he sprinkles sea
speech little too thickIy in the converse
tiOn OF Judah CahOon: however. it will be
accounted part of the story's humor
There are sea chanteys here and there in
the novel. but. alas. this isn't one Of the
Bubble Books and you can't play tn,
tunes on your phOnOgraph. We woulC
suggest that the publishers insert a few
pages properly perforated for the player
piano. for a sea ehantey without the tune
thereof is a cookie without any mOlasses
GRANT OvERTON.
rnvr AVN usDI,rNrr,Crrrr, O..