The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-10-08
NEW BOOK IS
FRUIT OF
ABSENCE
Princess Bibesco, Now on
Way to Washington,
Presents Volume
BY JEAN ELIOT

FTER several false STARTS
~ Princess Bibesco is at length
IA on her way back to the United
States, accompanying Prince An
tome Bibesco, minister of Rumanla,
who sailed Yesterday on the Males
tic after a prolonged holiday abroad.
The princess was in England all
last winter and although her ap-
preaching, return was announced
several times, it was postponed
again and again, until at length lit
was time for Prince Bibesco TO
ioin her abroad. There was reason
enough for the repeated delays,
however. for Princess Bibesco I'M
derwent an operation, in addition
TO bringing out book and a play.
The new book, THE Whole
story" by Elizabeth Bibesco, seems
TO be faring. rather better at the
hands of the critics than The
Painted Swan" the work which
marked her debut as professional
playwright. And there Is general
rejoicing that this clever daughter
of a clever mother-Margot As
ouith-has returned to literary
form-short stories and sketches-to
which her talent seems particularly
adapted.
Dedicated 70 FRIENDS
In the new volume Princess
Bibesco continued an old custom OF
dedicating each sketch to one Of her
friends-a quick way to pay literary
debts in a book which contains
score of short stories. In The
Whole Story" there is a skech
called RED Hair" which Is appro-
priateIy dedicated to Augustus
John. "Puju'' is dedicated to Rod
eriek Meike1john, and other stories
to our own Christopher Morley, to
Jean C/eau, and to Herbert Croly.
One critic IN commenting on
''The Whole Story" states that the
most interesting feature is that
Princess Bibesco never tells the
whole story. She demands imagine
ton from her readers, taking tiny,
seemingly insignificant trifles and
weaving out Of them dramas only
half revealed. The dialogue Is de-
scribed as scintilating and the
princess is credited with satific|
sense that is occasionally cruel.
Epigrams Again
One story, THE La Peronniere
Letters" is admitted by some to
stand head and shoulders above the
rest. a 1ory which has both pathos
arc Irony deIicately revealed. Most
of the others are described as
studies in temperament, dealing
with people who are a hit over
civilized. They are embroidered
with delicate wording and vfvacious
sayings.
one reviewer seems to feel that
Princess Elizabeth il not making
the most of a great gift, that her
work suffers from over-briH iance
and would be UNNECESSARILY better
for an infusion OF humanity An
other contends, however, that in
this new book there is Va much
greater sense Of reality than the
writer has ever achieved before and
that a great ability is displayed in 1
exposing a whole lifetime Of char
acter in an episode.
A Plump Princess
Although she has recently been
Ia Paris with Prince Bibesco,
Princess Bfbesco spent most Of her
time abroad at the Wharf, the home
Of Lord Oxford and AsQuith ON the
river. The Bibescos seem particu-
larly fond Of a river view for the
house they occupied in London
when he was on duty there was on
the Thames embankment and their
Paris house juts cut over the Seine
so that one might imagine oneself
on the deck Of a ship as one sits
there at luncheon.
Princess BibeSco by the way is
constantly pictured in the German
fashion and society papers as the
finest type of English beauty. But
they add that when she was thin
her beauty was nonresident; it's
only since she has become "motherly
and womanly' that she is so lovely
Slimness is still not admired in
that country Of stout women. =