The Washington times., 1924-08-26

1
Read copyw
"Oh, yes; used to read copy on
Atlanta Journal" Eye-bNsiness
perfect, but SWALLOWED again.
(LiG1 again..
Captain Laurence StdLLings got
the job. Read copy with twisted
leg proppcd on chair, or e0en or
top of desk beside him. Took C.
1Oeek off taOO or three times to go
to hospital. Came back cussirg
doctors. Finally:
"I'm going out there and hare
this DAMN leg chopped off. If they
sOon't do it, PH wreck the lOusy
hospital"
Then took it off. Came back
stOimging a netO tangled leg that
hung from the shoulder and
squeGked bit.
Happy as hell" he spOore.
Ought to Wrtte a book about
4OGr," somebody said.
"Naw," he grunted, and saOGt-
lOiUed. (Lidr.)
.Drifted to New York. Wrote
a book review column. Wrote a
book.
1t takes a volume like "Plumes"
to emphasize how empty ana feeble
governmental agencies are when
applied to the returned soldier
whose adjustments cannot be card
indexed or set down in red tape
blanks and formulas.
One who has lived in Washing
ton and had an opportunity TO OBJ
serve casualties of the Great Con-
| flict, five years after the afmtstice,
drops this volume with some appre-
citation of the mental reactions
which might lead a disabled soldier
to physically attack the director OF
the Veterans Bureau.
One releases this book of post
war fiction with a firm conviction
that nobody but he who had actu-
ally suffered the torments Of a
peace time hell could possibly have
written 1t. The sufferings penned IN
"Plumes' have a depth and back
ground which spring from nothing
but cold experience.
This book tells of Lieutenant
Richard Plume, back from the war,
lshrapnel afflicted, but determined
to adjust himself to the world he
had dropped, without mention or
acclaim for his service in behalf of
democracy. AS tender a romance
as ever bloomed on printed page is
woven through his experiences, and
Esme Hozier Plume, exquisite gentle
woman of the South, stands forth
as one of the real unsung heroines
of the Great Adventure. Esme's
efforts to understand and appreci-
ate her husbands changed perspec-
tive on armed combat and the
causes which lead 10 international
strife strike a, note that Is bound
to make this book a controversial
story.
There are those who will insist
| that "Plumes" is subtle propa-
ganda for the pacifists. There
are others who will find it hard
to believe that the book was writ
ten by a man who served as cap.
tain with the U. S. Marines al
Bellau Wood. On the other hand,
there will be thousands who will
accept 1t at face value-as a well
written, graphic tale from an au-
| thor who can speak with authority
on war. For each 100 percenter
who turns thumbs down there will
be Walter Reed patient voting
AYE"
Stark tragedy frequently looms
from the pages. and the most
hardened will find the eyes moist
at the passage which describes his
collapse on the sleet-swept street,
his bitter remorse, his abject sur
render to fate, his reluctant and
pitiful confession Of failure. There
is scalding pathos in the bitter
plea to Esne that he alone should
carry the remnant Of shattered
hopes. In the delirium which fol-
lows, the horrors Of the zero hour
are graphically penned in powerful
and blunt language.
The average Washingtonian will
read with sympathetic understand
ing Of the 1919 futile journeys
through the Capitals highways for
little home of two rooms, kitchen
and bath, tenantable for refined peo-
pie, at SIS per month. There are
other touches Of intimacy in the
Washington locale which breathe a
neighborliness that adds 20 the
charm Of this volume.
President Harding's Inauguration
and the farewell public appearance
of the lamented Woodrow Wilson
have been, beautifully lined-handled
with a delicacy and def touch that
voice the conflicting opinions of two
who viewed that memorable spec
tacle.
"Plumes'', must soon take It's
place on the shelves reserved for
the best sellers. 1t is a postwar
story Of distinction. notable for
splendid treatment of a mooted
theme. It is a thoroughly courage.
Gus expression on a great subject
and measured by purely literary