Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-30

IT q. WELLS is an unmitigated and
IL. confessed propasandist. Every
one Of his novels in recent years has
been written to further some theory in
which he was interested Mt the time.
He became interested in religious things
during the war and he created new
god whom he described in God the
Invisible King and then In ".rhe Soul
OF Bishop" a novel filled with rcli.
gious discussion, he had dignitary Of
the Church of England discover the
same god.
These two books on religion we're a
depression from his chief interests. lie
is seeking to remake society on a plan
of his own, and he has set forth that
plan In various and differing forms in a
series Of books. His latest, 1.-THE Secret
Places of the Heart" (the Macniil.
Ian Company, is in the form of novel
Indeed, It is advertised as a work Of
fiction. But as q novel It is negligible.
1t is series Of discussions Of the place
OF man on earth and Of the imperative
necessity Of solving the world fuel prob
lem according to a socialistic plan.
The first part of the book is occupied
by a discussion between two men and
the second part 20 a discussion between
a man and q woman. The man and
woman are chance acquaintances, who
remain together for only a few days,
but Mr.. Wells has them fall in love and
separate lest their love should prevent
them from doing what they can,to solve
the fuel problem. But at the end Of the
book the man dies Of pneumonia and
we are left in doubt about what hap.
pened to the woman. But it does not
natter. for she is introduced only for
the purpose Of getting a new point Of
view on the general problem Of the
book, and perhaps to. induce women to
read what he has to say by indicating
that women, as well as men, can be
interested in great International ques.
tions.
The book az q sociological troct u
much moro readable than II Vould
have been II NJ. Wells had not put
his arguments IN the mouths Of dit-
ferent people and thus brought about
clash of ideas.
THE chief character is Sir Richmond
1 Hardy, q British coal operator and
the head of a fuel commission. The
career Of the late Lord Rhondda was
doubtless drawn on for some Of the
detail in the career of Sir Richmond.
nervous breakdown from overwork and
he Is introduced in the Office Of nerve
specialist, who advises that he take
two weeks off from work and tour
Western England with him while they
discuss his case. The discussion becomes
really a discussion Of the place Of man
in the world and the duty Of man to
forget himself in his efforts to conserve
the natural resources for the general
good. And naturally, under the hand
of Mr.. Wells. the way to conserve the
general good is through his form Of so.
cialism. He has the nerve specialist,
who is writing book on the psychol-
ogy of the new age. say that the ICON.
scious getting out OF ones individuality
is one Of the most important and in.
teresting aspects Of the psychology of
the new age that Is now dawning. We,
this small but growing minority, con-
stitute that part Of life which knows
and Wills and tries to rule its destiny.
And as far as we are concerned we are
the true kingship of the world. Neces-
sarily. We who know are the true
king" The discussion continues:
II agree" said Sir Richmond pres
emily. "One does think In this FASH
ion. Something In this fashion. What
one calls ones work does belong to
something much bigger than our
selves. Something much bigger"
(which something we become" tho
doctor urged, in so far as our work
takes hold Of U.S."
Sir Richmond made no answer to
this for q little while. 'Of course,