Evening star., 1926-12-12

among native African tribes. His
schooling has been largely that OF the
hunter, that of outwitting the jungle.
Trained by the wild beasts to q per-
fection of his own FIVE senses, to a
deep subtlety of pursuit, to secrecy
and power of attack, to skill In self
concealment and escape. he here ap-
plies this jungle learning to the gentle
art of murder in the midst of civiliza-
ton. This gives the heart of the mat.
ter away, an unforgivable thing to
do as rule, but here the opening up
of the matter is of far more interest
than its final moment. However, there
is a point left to your own fresh dis
covery and enjoyment. And that
point Is the attitude OF this wholly
frank and engaging murderer as an
instrument in Kidding the world Of
three harmful people and at the same
time OF serving friendship in a very
high way. A highly intellectual
fronting upon a matter that as a rule
is met more humanely, If not more
philosophically. Oh. yes, love story,
curious one goes along-and the
twain are living happy ever after
down in Central Africa. Read this
detective story and let the SO others
wait while. ..e
y K>F
KINDLING AND ASHES. BY George
Barr McCutcheon, author Of "Grau-
stark" etc. New York: Dodd,
Mead & Co.
THE wearing power Of George Barr
McCutcheon's theme in "Kindling
and Ashes" Is indicated by the fact
that 1t has been used all over the
world since stories began to be told
and written. Here are the two fam,
lies between which lies a feud deep
nd undying. And from them steI
nut the man and the maid, one from
ZACH side, coming together under ar
impulse more profound than eve,
lufnan hatreds can evoke. The oil
heme here becomes modern an
american. Southern blood and South
>rn sensibilities guide It toward tn
laying of the offending youth VII
las stolen his lady from the riva
;illed Bennie Jaggard?" In the so
ution of this mystery the matter
takes an original turn from the au-
thor's attitude and method. What
does he do but take the reader In
on the inside Of the case, leaving the
people Of the story outside and wholly
mystified. This Is a most unusual
turn Of method, a brand-new lineup
of forces, one that gives the reader
himself something Of the feeling Of
actual authorship, something Of the
natural joy Of knowing an important
thing that "only just we few have
people most intimately affected by the
death Of Bennie Jaggard don't know
who killed him-but we know. A
cynical undercurrent here makes an
honest appraisal Of certain human
motives-not agreeable to the senti-
mental soul, but an honest appraisal
Just the same. The story gives read
ers fine chance to go along on the
inside. 1t affords first a good intel
lectual exercise, and gives one q
chance, besides, to see II this popular
and practiced story teller makes good
in his unusual handling Of this matter
Of mystery.
THE GOLDEN DANCER. BY Cyril
Hume, author of Cruel Fellow.
ship" etc. New York: George H.
Doran Co.
A PAGAN story on the subject of
n Albert Wells, factory hand In
these days Of shops and high. pressure
production. From the outside these
ok like elements so incongruOus as
to defy any sort Of blending. But,
from the inside. one finds that we In
overalls and grimed with grease may
carry dreams In our hearts as well as
the best scrubbed and most delicately
scented sybarite in the world may do.
And so 1t Is with Albert Wells. He
saw her once. the golden dancer
or thought he did, which Is practically
the same thing. At any rate. he saw
a being Of beauty whose grace and
loveliness crept into his heart for an
abiding. And life with its grimy out
side went on with Albert Wells. His
small and pitiful achievements had
nothing at all to do with the gorgeous
splendors that, transpiring inside him,
held his heart high and transmitted
and sweet. It Is the old story-the
story of our dreams. where every man
may be a hero, every man may be a
lover OF beauty, partaker Of the es-
sential poetry Of life. The old story,
to be sure, but here II has the clear
charm of poetic rendition. It has the
insight Of sympathy such as only
artists OF one sort or another pos
sess, a sympathy dashed with a
sophistication that IL still new enough
to provide a smiling enjoyment, not
OIU SHOuSu 70 COIIlIuuu1CHC6 OOLU DIL'
terness and the effect Of complete dis
illusion. No, let's let it 60 that we are
poets Of pagan brand. all Of us. as
Albert Wells is, and that here we have
a very discerning man to show us to
ourselves in this light. A lovely story
Of young things roaming the world In
quest Of their birthright, a full sense
OF JOY in romance and beauty and
love. .
\
GALLANT LADY. BY Margaret Wild.
demer, author Of "Graven Image"
ETC.. New York: Harcourt, Brace
& Co.
A STORY so modern in form and
content that it might have been
SKINNED Of the events of yesterday
or today. It has to do with girl who
all by accident finds herself not mar
Nnuu