Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-10-19
Reviews of New Books

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CARSON OF RED RIVER By Har-
old Bindloss, author of Green
Timber" etc. New York: Frederick
| A. Stokes Company.
An inerhaustible zone for RindlcsS
and many another rcmancer-the
great Northwest. 1t is here that he
again projects a novel of adventure
based upon the substantial and in
teresting theme Of working out ones
own salvation-the salvation of sue
cess in this world, not that of some
far and future state. Kit Carson Is
young Englishman who. under
| cloud, that in the end proves to be
! cloud not of his own making, makes
across into the Canadian frontier.
There under the hard life imposed by
! the austere nature of the country
itself Carson devotes himself to the
business of making good. This is the
story--the struggle of the man
against the wild but thrilling exac-
tionS of nature. In what is clear
triumph finally for Carson he is called
back to England, where it turns out
that a crusty old uncle has been
watching Carson and withholding the
hand of succor just because he
chance unspoiled by the soft inter-
ventions of money backing and over
sympathy on the part of fond rela-
tives. There is a girl back in Eng
land. Incidentally, another one takes
part in the Canadian adventure. And
since the former is not able to stand
the strain of CarSon's rather probable
failure. the coast is made clear. for
his romance in the new field to wend
its way. happily and without dishonor
to the common end of all romances.
A regular Bindloss story, this, con-
tributing to the list of popular fiction
that is now nearing the half hundred
mark from the hands of this single
writer Of Western romance
THE SAD ADVENTURES. BY
Maryse Rutledge, author of Chill
dren Of Fate" New York: Fred
erick A. Stokes Co.
Matrimony--disillus The facts
inclosed by this pair of words have
been keeping pretty steady company
for long time now-so they say.
And these say, too, that. go back as
far as We may in the annals OF the
human, we shall find to a quite alarm
ing degree this same disillusion play
ing satellite, like moon to earth, to
the holy state Of matrimony. Don't
ask me. How should l know, except
for the word of Mr.. Cynic. who de-
clares it to be the truth. But lake it
or leave it, according TO whethsr you
are on the inside defending your
traditions or on the outside person
ally Indifferent to the subject. The
particular drama in hand throws this
ancient pair into modern picture. A
familiar one, too-an International
marriage linking up Stamford. Conn,
with Brassington Hall. England. The
| matter gets afoOt-or, better, afloat-
with the TODD OF leave-taking as
| the happy pair sail away into daz-
zling future. The rest of the bust
ness, beyond this immediate point of
departure, concerns itself with neat
ness and dispatch in the matter of
thorough establishment on the part
! of the young woman. A more kindly
author would have delayed this a
day or SO least. Not this one. The
| scenes move from one point in
Europe to another-PariS, Venice,
! Vienna, Monte Carlo, London-each
covering a thoroughly raw deal in
the game of disclosing Maj. Brassing-
| ton Welsh to his wife. 1t is the lack
of subtlety here that takes away from
what might have been a clever story
as well as one Of an altogether super
ticial quality of appeal. There seems
TO be about everything here for the
making of a good story-big theme,
It's general recognition, fine sweep
OF shifting and brilliant background.
a bright handling. Even the two
most interested and interesting could
have been made to play up to their
roles in a less obvious way. 1t is tn: s
obviousness that leaves the romance
just below the level Of even the aver
age readers requirements
THE DOUBLE CROSS. BY A. L.
Thomas, author of THE Cham
pion," etc. New York: Dodd,
Mead & Co.
The imperative three of this en-
tertainment are two men and a wom-
an. Young, all three, the two men
equally ardent in pursuit of the girl.
Friends from childhood. the two suit
| ers are frank with each other as to
| their common objective. Finally. to
bring doubt to certainty they agree
to test their case on particular
| night. one preceding the other by a
couple of hours or thereabout. In
the meantime, however, the one who
by lot is chosen to try his fortune
first double crosses'' his friend by
scandalouS report of a shady al
lance of long standing. The girl.
at first doubling and then outraged.
accepts the first sutton, soon becom-
ing his wife. The rest Of the matter
is taken up with opening out the
facts Of the case, with the vindica-
ton of the right man and the con-
sequent conviction of the husband.
There is no problem here, no very
real probing into the circuitous heart
of man under the stresses of love-
Just quick story that moves from
point to point Of the matter in sur
face entertainment that makes no
special draft on the reader but con-
tributes more or less convincingly to
the general assumption that the
wicked are destroyed in their own