Evening star., 1924-01-13

fashioning his dreams out of the
beauty of her landscape and the
glories of her art Little words in
simple companies project crystal
childhood home; Of the beloved
Blanca Maria; Of the good doctor of
Castelbetto. These open out as the
years go on to heroic ardors toward
Garibaldi the soldier, and Cavour the
statesman. and Mazzini the spiritual
guide of political Italy. Then back
again to America for a bird's-eye
view of the new life, and away again
where the dreams Of. Carletto lie.
Beautiful writing here. simple as the
open day. direct as the straight sun
light, poetic as this mans mind is
poetic. A true story, animated
throughout with an unconquerabl BILE
love for the land of Carletto's birth
book Of genuine distinction in its
form as well as in its substance.
THE ALABASTER BON. by James
Lane Allen. author OF "a Kentucky
CardinaI," etc. New YOrki Harper
e. Brothers.
You remember the outcome OF the
old Story-the censure Of the by
ISLANDERS against the wastefulness OF
the woman who broke the alabaster
poX Tor the amounting of the tired
feet of Jesus. You recall, too, that
out Of this incident Jesus laid upon
ness to the living as well as that
or homage to the dead. This Bible
incident forms the foundation or the
story In hand. 1t is the story OF a
man who, laying the injunction of
Jesus to heart, daily opened the ala
oaster box Of love for mankind in
friendly deeds. I'm hearty sympathy.
IN kindly words. in gracious manners
The return? misunderstanding and
distrust and obloquy. Hypocrite, ,
rlatterer. Time-server. Sycophant!
opprobious epithets, crystallizing the
suspicion and unbellef of self
seeking, materialistic day. In mar
roWed application the allegory turns
TO plea for the renewal and preser-
walton of the kindly and courteous
social and spiritual life of the old
south that is, according to the fears
or this writer, being superseded by
a gross and materialistic present
Slmple in imagery and tender in ap-
peal, the little story stands, in effect.
as backward look Of affection and
farewell. a forward gesture of ad-
monltlon. 1t Is, in substance, a part
of the great body OF belief that the
world is not growing better as it
grows older But 1t is.
THE SACRIFICIAL GOAT. BY Ernita
Lascelies. New York: Boni &
Liveright.
Not common, but it does happen
sometimes that one is so dazzled and
blinded and bewildered by the pyro-
technic character of performance
that he misses. quite, both the direc-
tion and the point of the show itself
Not an altogether precise statement
of the case in hand. 1t is true Yet
clearly here is a performer unable to
resist the urge of wit whose
damascene edge thrusts, and darts,
and slithers, and slides. circling and
Whiriing in an aureole of its own
flying sparks IL neatly strips hu-
man nature bare. exposing a soiled
and besmudged object much in need
of a wholesome cleansing. Wholly
fed up on human nature, this writer
appears to be sick Of it up TO all Of
its petty points of view. its habitual
Self-Seeking, Its mean tricks. it's sor-
did satisfactions. Looking about for
means to embody this general dis
illusion. the author cannily chooses
the eternal stage girl. bent upon a
career whose roots are vanity and
whose growth depends upon the un-
certain favors Of the tickle male.
This Is the story OF Joan and David
and Moreby, all stage folks Of one
grade and another. Marriage be-
tween Joan and David soon reduces
David to futility as the builder Of
Joan'S career. The matter then rests
with Joan and Moreby-Moreby, an
old hand at stagecraft and woman
craft The familiar line of human
behaviors in this particular play OF
self-interest stretches here like a