New-York tribune., 1922-12-10

W
W. Z. Henley traces his descent from
King in Babylon who wronged Chris
- tan slave, and in later age met that
love now hardened into a sheath trampling
his bloody and even how'd pride The pres
tLee Of Christian slaves in Babylon is a
sufhcient cause for wonder: but in addition
We are asked 70 share the gr.ef of one who
has wronged another innocent one in an
early epoch and isn't permitted to atone.
No such regrettsbie situation eOnfrOnts
tho cha ae;crs in Richard Dehan's latest
novel, The Just Steward" Pbra the Pbe-
reian didn't wrong any one and have TO
Wait th. usand years before he might
cleanse h.s soul OF guilt. Through the cen
turiss he wandered happily enough, losing
ks head Oh a sacrIficial altar and finding 1t
lg,in 10 Menie England. But the Semitic
,erise. Hazsel, inadvertently betrayed his
rsuer, The pIetor Fabius, converted 70 the
CArstan faith and therefore decapitated By
tic ROnars Hazael was burned to dca.I
h hsndits; but that wasn'renOugh. As his
hssss hsd served the house OF Fabus under
~ Emperor Diocletian, so the House Of
EGssl must eerve the House OF Forbis dur
kg tbs Great Var.
Ever since the first Hazael had met death
On TIE desert the papers had been kept; and
wen papers are kept there is no getting
s5t Of it, Nor did John Hazael wish TO get
sst Of it. In rescuing the brother Of Ksth-
srne Forbis from a Turkish prison camp. IN
sissntangling the ineXpiesble conduct Of
Eaharnes shell-shoeked lover, in providing
Necessary funds John Hazael got distinctly
irie i until at the last lie did more than
The aeolone pledge required and died from
wounds inflicted by unspeokable Turks.
OUR romantic novel,s;s have long been
" haunted by reincarnation in its various
Tuises and DISCUSSES. In Aigernon Black
woods best short stories and worst novels
The hero either atones for an ancient wrong
or reyenges a no less ancient slight. Rich
ARD Dehan is stealing whole chunks Of Black
weeds thunder and mixing it with plenteous
Hood. OF course. no one in his right mind
urges scientific objections against a reincar-
nation novel. because in reading such an in
wrfion one isn't supposed 70 be in his right
mind The suspension Of disbelief in a trust
company limited) scrupulously foated
through the ages may be great triumph
ti literature as the imposition Of obvious be-
LEI in girls who ftincture their rose-red lips,
OF ea,s who stay out az night. Yet even
nelodrsnatie and mystic art must not TOO
leudly rattle the chain II has sought 70 rivet
On human eredulity. No one cares whether
reineanation can be proves" true or untrue
N hetioh o. violate the consistency Of It's
eonjuTcd mood, or do any Of those things
which make you suddenly suspect that you
are being showed rather than fascinated
INTO an adventure relatively unique in hu-
nan experience.
he critic who called Dcfoe the greatest
y N history paid him as an artist the
's'tsi praise. And even in fiction less real
e shan Defoes the invention must appear
ara and inevitable rather than trick Of
Fsous legerdemain. There is nothing un-
r'e or absurd in the mad tea-party IN
Ahee IN Wonderland" or the trafic of-peers
&c peris in "lolanthe." These histories
snow line and rhythm peculiar and consist
shi Tor their own purpose. "The Just Stew
'ie however, is grotesque fairy tale top
ping from cheer weight OF words and rivea
mass Of chaotic antagonsm. Soldier argot
''~ers into the pattern music Of the Testa-
1ensi gorgeous bombast flames round an
0~o0rate and interminable detail Of name
-"a place.: lurid melodYaina lies buried be-
A'a'n wreekaee Of hugeous dialogues and
'as' iedium o. plot development; religio-
s''heo mysticism in the worst manner OF
A'ngsley and Bulwer-Lytton invades scenes
.''n army life as exactly inventoried as
s'sphone directory. These adversaries sit
tttff hv fc~-l