Putnam patriot., 1922-08-18

sGIimpse. of the Noss sy Edith
 Wharten
 4 new novel by Ess Wharton Is aH event to al ressees af sst5on. and ,o the aiseriminatlEe aa aaeQualle3 delight. Her iasezt Her51e IS quite ap Go her standsH4 As 5a former books her delineatIaH af New Works smart set is iHeaa It Is sn- terest5aE to conpaHe fl l1 tht society pictured in .fhe Age 5f Innocence. where with nasteHF skin she shows us New York society of 3 eyecut genera tlan. h the present book ii i~ mod rrr lr the extreme Fac eharaetgrs. with one CT two exerftiens. are uu- speakahly deeaaeHt aA moral sense Is lacking Iu their makeup. Tde eNcep- uous are Grace falmer who iu spite af al matrimonial and financial vicis- sftaass. holds fast se her ideals of marriage. the here. Nicholas Lansing. and Susy. his wife
 The most vitalis interesting feature of the book is uef fhs story. thrilling as it Is. but the psychological and spir- ifuai development = Sass
 In many ways you are reminded of Lilv Bait. although here we have character that achieves final redemp- tiou through her love
 From che first you are sorry for Susy. even while you condemn her for her friyolity. false values and mode of livine. which is one th8t f continued will eventually kiil aH pride and self respect. g1zn and bred in society. she Is without means te support her self T tte luxury she considers neces- sarv ta her existence The only way open tu her. being what she is and liv- ing among the only class of people she knows. is to live on her friends. spending her days iH m endless round of visits and accepting presents of all knds. for which she makes payment in the most degrading ways Her mar rlaee Co Nicholas Lansing. who Is as poor as she. although hc makes more or less successful attempt to support himself by his per. was hy way of be- inr gamble Together they plan Co get all they can from their friends The first harvest Was good, beyond their widest expectations. Houses galore were offered them for their honeymoon, while the cheeks which Susv with great eieverness managed 70 extract from her friends as we'd ding presents. We're considerable; in fact they decide that with care they can live in luxury for year at least on their i'll gotten gains.
 Nicholas. however. had higher ideals and an innate sense of honor and iude- l Ipendeuce; his soul recotls al the lengths al which susy will go 10 pro- cure what she wants. even when she wants t only te add to his comfort and pleasure. They agree thut at any time either one sees an opportunity for further worldly advancement by marrying someone else, the other will pass from the scene by way of the di- worse court The result of this mad arrangement can easily be seen. but not the ending of the story. which is in rather an unusual key for Mrs. Wharton
 But as before stated, the wonder of the hook lies not in the plot but in the portrayal of character. and in the background To the provincial mind the low moral tone of fashionable so- eiety will seem too vile to be accepted a. a true picture of modern life. while the more sophisticated will be filled with disgust and feeling of depres- sion T. is a tribute to the cleyerness and subtlety of Mrs. Wharton's style, to feel its charm as you do, even while ! she is taking you through the mud and filth of this phase of life
 The most encouraging feature of the story. that association with a man ! of higher standards awakens in Susy's soul horror of her life. and fortu- nately before t is too late. teaches her what things are of real and lasting value
 FLORENCE n. WILEY