The New York herald., 1922-03-12
Continued rom Preceding PG0e

tine passage sometimes detachable
and we'll nigh perfect in themselves.
one is constantly coming upon keen.
deeply thought out bits Of philosophy.
OF observation. sometimes OF proph-
ecy. but they are rather overwhelmed
IL not wholly lost in the complex ot
q somewhat hectic narrative. The
framework OF the plot is just little
cheap for its underlying theme. Pos
sibly an intentional concession to
conventionslity, but a not altogether
happy one.
The book opens with a contrast
between the extravaganza and lux
ury of the very rich. the yiciously
idle Of society tin New York; and
the very poor or unfortunate. An
age old theme. OF course. but one
ever present and ever dangerously
alive. There Is further contrast in
ideals between Nara Alexieff, the hall
Russian. half American refugee girl,
who barely managed TO get out OF
Russia alive after the revolution, and
the clear headed, but not hard headed
young old doctor. Claveloux. who be-
iieves in science. and certainly does
not believe in the fairies. Nara says
10 him: You love facts-cold, hard
truth-too much TO suffer any fllu-
sions." 10 which he retorts that "soms
OF US must remain to form bulwark.-
But she asks, Against what?" and
the question permits him to state
the central themes OF the book
He spoke for a moment passion
stely. his large hands clenched, rest
ing with their backs upon the edge
Of the table. He said: Against what?
Why. against this world OF people,
drunk with illusions. Against silly
religions. Against futile nostrums1
q stateeraft. Against spiritualisna.
Against the claptrap the world has
reached out TO take as relief from
It's own responsibilities
Obviously, a large order. Obvious
~. too. there can be no comprehen-
sive. categorical answer to the prob
lens thus raised. even in a novel.
Nera's reply Is to ask. you do not
believe in magic-the magic, of life?"
That indicates the next step
which is a divergence toward Nara's
way Of looking at things. Her earlier
story is retailed. something as
-Eneas reeounts he story of his life
. Dido-the characters being rc-
versed. covering her trials IN Russia.
Il is a vivid incidental glimpse OF the
early Bolshevik days. a complete
short story in itself and tremen-
dously effective, as a detached
episode.
Then the book turns TO Nara's
peculiar power of healing. by 8 sort
II laying on OF hands. She at first
relieves wholly in il. but does not
pretend 10 understand. Naturally,
sae gets into trouble with the doctcr
and other materialistic objectors. A
fakir turns Up who successfully uses
a model to impersonate her and
works cures that are just as good as
TIE guaranteed article.
She comes to see that success In
healing. as in many other things
depends upon the faith of the patient
himself rather than upon the teacher
or healer. An epidemic Of infantile
paralysis drags her back 10 work
among the people. but she makes
the mistake Of trying tc tell them
ne truth when they ask her for
miracle. She Is mo5bed. even hurt
y 4 missile thrown at her as the
roWd denounccs her as a witch
Thereupon the doctor rcenters. ard
hey are duly scheduled to live hap-
ply ever after-each one having
sausht the other something. lie tells
her: You were right. There Is
ssrnething that people can the heass
-. u IS close 70 that fact that
The magic Of life is found-the thirG
you meant when you said TO me once
hat life sas made BY the soreery OF
something in the soul-that the un-
real became real"
II Is a solution Of the originally
vrepounded problems that is more
csnventional. more poetized than one
expects from the earlier parts OF the
hook. Or Il IL simply \ romantic.