The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-22
BY WALTER D. HICKMAN
AIN STREET is not always a
vi lane of sunshine and smiles

In ri AIN STREET IS hOL dAWdyS
IMI lane of sunshine and smiles.
Gene Stratton.Porter knows
fun well that, there are clouds and
shadows on Main Street. Every one
is not a PoIyanna relative on that
street.
The author Of ''Freckles" has given
the novel reading world a new one I'M
der the title of 1.-THE White Flag" 1t
is published by Doubleday, Page &
Co. I obtained a copy for review from
the book department of L. s. Ayres &
Co.
Many are the skeletons tucked away
in the homes of some of the d.stin-
guished citizens Of any Main street In
any little town of the Middle West.
I feel that the Main Street in 1.-The
White Flag" is not many miles from
Indianapolis as both Indianapolis and
Ft Wayne is mentioned.
Gene Stratton- Porter has written
sort of melodrama, but touched with
some true but cruel character draw
ing. We who have lived on Main Street
recognize such characters as Mahala
Spellman, the model child of the lead
The merchant was 100 per cent
egoist; IN fact, he thought he was all
Of the little tin gods in the world rolled
up in one. His rival was Martin More
land. a banker, a pillar of the church.
a tyranical member of the school
board and. above all. the prize pos
SCISSOR of a large collection of family
skeletons. He had a son. Junior, who
was to inherit his fathers fine collec
ton of skeletons.
n Then we encounter the children Of
destiny-Ellen Ford, Jason Peters,
Becky Sampson, the bearer of the
white flag; Edith Williams, Marcia
Peters and others
Every Tool of Story
Telling Used by Author.
Gene Stratton-Porter knows the
shadows Of Main Street and in her new
book she has used every tool known
to writers to develop a powerfully dra-
matte tale. melOdramatic at times
but powerfully effective.
Before you start the first chapter
your eye viii rest on the caption,
List of Characters" in which the
author right off the reel introduces
you to all of the principal characters.
I believe that I know my Main Street
because lived for years just around
the corner of a real Main Street of a
small Illinois town. I know that
Main Street is not a path of roses. I
know it is life filed both with sun
shine and clouds. with April showers
and winter storms, and above all,
know that men and women Of Main
Street have their desires, battles. de
feats and even death.
In considering the merits of 1.-The
White Flag" I believe that the au-
thor did not deliberately attempt to
write Main Street, but rather to write
a powerfully interesting melodramatic
story. Gene Stratton-Porter has
given US real Main Street characters
and I believe that most of the dra-
matte scenes recorded could happen
On anybody's Main Street
There is much action in THE White
Flag" but I believe that the author
&has given us real characters touched
~up here and there with liberal dashes
of Imagination. Some of the "chil-
dren of destiny may suffer a little
too much for the sins of others, but
I believe that is the rule these days
To me THE White Flag" is a mas
terpiece in melodramatic story telling
because it puts real human characters
through situations which are not al
together impossible. The story is
powerfully told and when once STARTED
I am sure that no reader will want
to stop until the final page is turned.