New-York tribune., 1922-09-10
Charles Rex
BY Kathleen Field


Miss Dell ''the novelist who
never had failure Further
nRore: "All other novelists, no matter
what their fame, have slumped--never,
DELL" Reading this encomiastici adver-
tising we feeIneed of new definition
for success"
1t is the story of one Lord Saltash,
called "Charles Rex because of his
kingly ways. gt is limited that '"The
Merry Monarch" may have been one Of
his forebears. As ii Charles, the
Second could help Lord saltash's being
q rotter.
Saltash is. ugly with the ugliness
that Charlotte Bronte gave her heroes.
Also he is of that naughty prickliness
that women Gn novels) adore. But
Miss Dell has gone the gifted Bronte
one better; her hero's simian char
aeteristics are stressed upon through
out some 375 pages.
The story opens: Saltash's yacht is
lying in Mediterranean waters before
the Italian town Valrosa, where a
carnival is in progress. Saltash is
presented to US, bored to safety with
the good things of the world. He has
emptied all the cornucopias. At thirty
six he felt old, Miss Dell says. But
tonight he decides to 60 ashore to see
what "gift the godso have in store.
We read that "he moved along the deck
with a monkey-like spring that was
curiously characteristic" At the car
nival ''he felt very ancient and rather
dilapidated," but he manages to save
a hotel page from further fopging, and
kisses few village maids with the
! idea that he is being very devilish.
Later that night, after his yacht
puts out to sea, he finds the bruised
| little hotel page in his stateroom. The
stowaway, Toby, implores him to be
allowed to stay--forever. Saltash
doubts his own decency to bring up
a boy Between Tobys nuzzling
against his employer much of the
time, and performing the duties of a
paid valet the story goes on. Saltash,
and cat-o'-nine-tails the waif brutally.
Toby, who has acquired the habit of
laying. out his masters things, "has
his riding switch all ready to hand"
After the fogging Toby protests un-
dying. devotion: "And you can kick
me-do anything to me and I'll never
say word" How different! Over
here "hired help" would begin court
action.
The yacht is sunk In a collision.
Toby is saved by Saltash, who has
found out his valet is girl. Scan
dalous tongues begin again. AS nur-
sery governess Toby is placed by Lord
Saltash with his old love, Maud Brian,
now Bolton. Saltash still feels pas
sion for Maud, whose brother Bunny
promptly falls in love with Toby
Toby, abjectly adoring Saltash, be-
comes engaged to Bunny. At this
point the author changes the hero
ines character. Up to this she has
had the flavor of vanilla drop cake.
Now you detect taste of lemon, or
is it lobelia? "If a woman hasn't the
spunk to defend herself she is better
off dead" says Toby, the once meek
valet, to Bunny, her fiance. At the
Bottoms she can do everything better
than any one else, and of the three
men loving her each is too much of
gentleman to be curious about her
unknown past.
Bunny, hearing slight murmurings
on the social seismograph, determines
to know what he Is taking to wife.
Toby fees to Lord Saltash and in
sists on remaining with him--as any
no longer rotter-and. the plot
thickens.
The usual properties are assembled,
yachts, castles, ramparts, decorous,
adoring servants, and a hidden room.
The book Is dedicated "To G. T. s.
In Remembrance of a Winter Day."
1t seems to us that some women ere
foolishly grateful for twcnty-four
hours Of cool weather.