The New York herald., 1922-01-08


| ers.
| A MOTHER book on the Soutl Sea
"A Islands, Yes - but this one
happens to be worth any six
others chosen at random. The ran
dom choices would probably be liable
to classification as either too superb
cial or too self-sufiicient. "Faery
Lands of the South Seas" is neither.
The authors have not written their
chapters during the rush of Cooks
tour, nor have they lived so long in
, Polynesia that they have forgotten to
write for those who have not shared
their knowledge.
In consequence of all delightful eX-
pepiences vicariously enjoyed by the
stay at-home reader. are to be recon-
mended these voyagings of Nordhoff
and Hall among the islands for two
years after the war. The initia. para.
graph of the book promises much:
II don't remember precisely when it
was that Nordhoff and ! first talked
Of this adventure. The idea had grown
upon us, one might say, with the
gradual splendor of a tropical sun
rise. We were far removed from the
tropics at that time. We were, in
fact. in Paris and had behind US the
greatest adventure we shall ever
know. On the Place de la Concorde
and along the Champs Elysee stood
rank on rank of German cannon. 81
lent enough now, but stIll menacing
heir muzzles tilted skyward at thai
ominous slant one came &c know
so well. For a month we had seen
them so, children perched astride them
on sunny afternoons, rolling pebbles
down their smooth black throats; vet
Grams in soiled and faded horizon blue
with the joy of this new quiet world
on their faces, opening breech- blocks,
examining mechanism with the skill
of long use at such employment with
a kind of wondering hesitation in their
movements, too, as though at any
moment they expected those sinister
monsters In the fantastic colors OF
Harlequin to spring to life again"
It is this sympathetic observation
which within a few short sentences
begins to bring into focus the shores
OF Tahiti. Thenceforward there is
unrolled u continually changing pano-
rama of the South Sea Islands, color
ful, realistic, as seen by the two
writer's. who separated in order that
their adventure might be more com
plete. The experiences of each, their
meetings with the many islanders.
native and alien-the voyagings which
lay between the islands, and their fell
low voyagers-the tales told them In
the scented tropical afternoons OF
magic and of foklore--are interviewer
with the practical PHILOSOPHERS of the
authors, who viewed each epicode of
their adventures with humorous sym
pathy. 81
"Faery Lands of the South Seas" is
truly a book for the weary for the
worried, for the overworked and for
the lazy. No Anglo-Saxon, it is safe
to say, will close the volume without
an envious sigh at the final para
graph. Hall and Nordhoff, reunited
in Papeete after a year of their ad-
venture, are discussing their future
what are your plans?' / asked
Our year in the South Seas is up
Where are you going now?'
at have no Plans he said, except
that 1 doubt IL l shall ever go North
again. 1 may be wrong. but believe
I've had enough of civilization to last
me the rest of my life. We are happy
here. Why should we leave the
islands,"
"T fancy the South Seas have
claimed the pair of us
CORNELIA p. LATHROP.