Evening star., 1923-01-28
Reviews Of New Books

people. move quickly, into ssohool days
and out again, then into personal pur-
suits and adventures that drive across
70 British and South America. where
tho writer recalls matters OF infinite
variety and fascination. A captivating
man. q charming book.
TALES OF LONELY, TRAILS. By
Zane Grey. author of "Riders OF
the Purple Sage" etc. illustrated.
', New York: Harper & Bros.
Sometimes Zane Grey writes fact
and sometimes he writes romance.
And both of these are equally outside
the experiences OF the average m2n.
For both the romance and the fact are
drawn from the far places which the
, average man never reaches, or never
would reach were 1t not for the long
and lone wanderings and the picture
west. The book in hand is fact--but
II might equally well have been the
sheerest creation conjuring up out
of-the-way places, difficult to reach,
dangerous to get into, impossible to
set out of-and all the time SO Beau
ing to q mere human as to prove ire
sistible. The table of contents reads
like another-the letters OF the words
stay hitched all right-one wonders
such mild information as Colorado
Trails" ''Tonto Basin," Death Vail
ley" and something else. Once inside
these tnnocuous-s phrases.
though. they begin to reel with ad-
OF color under the sun. to rock in
hugo Laughter over the blessed free
dom of the thing. And yet Mr.. Grey
tells 1t as plainly and internationally
as he can. The effect is in the thing
itself-in the secret spirit OF these
lonely trails.
THE MAN OF GOLD. BY Rufino Blan-
CO FSmson, TrSnsatea 2nsE by Isaac sass
A belated little book that comes
as another evidence of the zeal and
scholarship OF Isaac Goldberg as
these are applied to the business Of
promoting among US better ac-
quaintance with Spanish American
ginning of this book Mr.. Goldberg
gives a sketch of the life of Ruhno
Blanco Fombona. This emphasizes
his gift as novelist, poet, historian,
indicates his general motive. the deep
origin Of his writing power, and sets
out the qualities that give him liter
ary individuality and distinction. Then
piece Of realism, which serves as the
vehicle Of q dsep spiritual truth. This
Ia the study of man who IN a worlf
of many allurements, many beauties,
many Nne ana sQeSlrdDle tnlHSS 10
do, chooses, instead, to keep his mind
and heart and eyes steadfast TO the
design Of gathering money. A humble
man, Of a small occupation, but this
Is no hindrance to the puruit of get
ting money. 1t makes the effort hard
er, and this goes into the singleness
of purpose that dominates and finally
consumes the man himself. An unusual
piece OF realistic literature.
THE ALTAR STEPS, BY Compton
Mackenzie, author of Carnival"
etc. New York: George II. Doran
Company.
This is the story OF Mark Lidderda1e
from little boy to boy and then on
to young man. 1t closes with that
stage Of his career that is indicated
by the title of the book. 1t sums to
a study OF the effects of religious con-
troversy upon the mind and soul of
one born into this atmosphere and
nourished upon it. An interesting
fact, and perhaps a natural sequence
of events, that more than one Eng
lish novelist is turning to the study
of youth in it's various phases under
the stimulus Of English national life.
These studies cover the public school
In it's effect upon the ideals and out
reach out to include, further, the
quality of English life as a whole
In it's educative influence. Mr..
Mackenzie's story. however, deals
wholly with the church-divided and
controversial and bitter-in its effect
upon a sensitive nature of religious
leaninGs. No one will read this as a
story. Rather will few appreciate
1t as a sympathetic and knowing
study of youth in it's reactions to an
environment of special character and
appeal.