Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-10-07
AS L LIKE 1T. BY william Lyon
Phelps. New York: Charles

NE expects William Lyon
Phelps to say interesting
things about books and au-
thors. Expect 1t, because he
always does 1t. The scholar makes
himself unfailingly welcome to read
ers by the unpretentious everyday at
titude of the man. Books to him are
friends. as the folks across the lawn
are friends, to be treated with SYM
pathy and courtesy and consideration.
He refuses to fight certain books as
enemies, or to punish others as cul-
prits. His notion is that letting alone
is the most efficacious treatment Of
undesir ables in this field. The book
In hand covers no end of things that
Mr.. Phelps thinks about, all sorts. OF
writing and many sorts of writer's.
Much Of 1t follows the beaten path,
but there are delectable by-ways
here that are as fresh as the morn
ing. Information, for which every
body appears to be in urgent need. is
provided here in abundance, but with
the careless hand and easy speech OF
one to whom the strict business of
imparting information would be an
obnoxious job. The very best-where
everything is so goods the authors
delight in his own way of life. He
fairly shouts for JOY over~the fact
that everyday opens anew to him the
happiness of his extraordinarily
teaching, lecturing.. writing! What
more could man desire? The last man
in the world to deliver a message"
But that, nevertheless, Is the effect
Of "As I Like It."
MIDWINTER. BY John Buchan,
10 a
York: George II. Doran Company.
turing off anywhere in the company
of John Buchan. The road, wherever
il may lead, is paved with the GER
tainty of keen enjoyment and the
promise of all manner Of strange
things adding. Back to the middle
with him this time, in the immediate
company of one Alastair Maclean, ar
dent In the cause OF Charles Edward,
seeking, by right of the Stuart line,
to overthrow the Hanoverian Georges,
usurping the throne Of England. A
clear Buchan theme this. wherein the
romance Of history shines, warm and
glowing, through history itself. The
adventures of Alastair Maclean, rid
ing west England on his princes err
rand, become our own adventures.
Dangers follow on all sides and close
in to the front. widening out for a
scant emergence that almost at once
trails the heel of new danger and
more biting adventures. Every man
Is an enemy. maybe; every highway
and true men meet and separate here
in the GREATNESS TODD of young
princes claim to the kingdom. A
lovely lady adds to the labors and
heart burden of young Maclean And.
by and by, the great emprise falls,
and one, almost in tears, bids the de-
jected young Scotsman. Alastair Mac
lean, goodbye. He's been a grand
companion In a greatly stirring time.
oh, let's not attempt comparisons
no doubtful "Greenmantle" is ones
first love in the Buchan line.
SPAIN IN SILHOUETTE. BY Trow-
bridge Hall, author of "Californian
Trails" New York: The Macmil-
Ian Company.
Sixteen thousand spectators are
looking with ardent eyes, thrilled
with emotion as the horns time and
again brush against the spangled cos
tune. At last everything seems pro-
pitious and Granero, the idol of the
people. draws his delicate sword from
beneath the muleta, raises IL to the
height of his eyes, takes careful aim,
and filings himself between the horns
lowered for attack Man and beast
u
quered? Contrary to the usual animal
instinct. upon which the fighters base
their strategy, the bull Unexpectedly
raised his head. Impaling the tall
glittering figure. he lifts 1t aloft.
shakes 1t for a few seconds as a
child might a discarded doll. and then
losses 1t brutally against the barrier
where. with a last shiver, the body
lies motionless. Another gladiator
victim to the blood Sust of the arena"
.s,,:.f
Vulnerable pictures that this traveller
gathered on his wayfarings through
Spain. An admirable illustration. too.
of the dramatic effect of Mr.. Halls
work throughout this book. The
whole country is, to him. drama OF
preston exactly fits his conception of
the country as a whole. A book that,
for picture, daily events. settled Gus
tom. history and total effect, Is filled
pictures and q good map indispen--
sable for the travel reader, round
Spain in Silhouette to a finely COM
plete achievement
ARAMINTA. By j. c., Snaith. author
of The Undefeated." etc. New
York: d. Appleton and Company.
Sheer emptiness. fifty beauty. fifty
-Araminta's blend. Up from the
country to London. Araminta gives
that beauty has everything and plain
sense nothing-to do with the en-
snarement of the male. Under the
protection of her aunt, Lady Caroline
Crewkerne. Araminta becomes the
London rage. Lords and dukes sue
for her. Artists flock to paint her.
A gay bit for foolery on the part
of Mr.. Snaith carried off in mood
of quiet laughter, with touches of
satire SO genial as to appear sa
and briIliance from the terrible Lady
Caroline, keen of wit, sharp of tongue.
fearless, assured, shocking - but
altogether refreshing; One wonders
would do without this awful old
dowager to help him out. She never
falls him for, when she does appear
that is. II the author Is at all up
shape. John Collins. Smith is always
worth while, even when he goes away
nlaying as he has done here.
ANOTHER SCANDAL. BY Cosmo
Hamilton. author of THE Hustle
Brown & Co.
Trying to make go of matri-
mony, Beatrix and Pelham Franklin
The special difficulties of this ever
difficult performance hinge upon the
fact that Beatrix is mounting the
last of the feathers of what must
of fiapperhood. A trying time for
her-most trying for the bewildered
and distraught husband. Beautiful
people. both OF them. and certainly
bound for happiness ultimately. Be
tween that point and the time when
the story opens, however. there Is
a series of Observation-Disclosures that
make happiness about the most dis
tant thing imaginable in so far as
these two are concerned. Uncom-
monty we'll has Mr.. Cosmo Hamilton
seized upon the secret vantties and
tyrannies that prompt the spoiled
young woman to injustice and
cruelty toward the best beloved one.
Vanity pure vanity. at heart. Tn
commonly well, too. has he portrayed