The Washington times., 1926-04-23
ROUNDABOUT
APPEARS
TODAY
First Novel From Nancy
Hoyt's Pen; Mrs. Russell
Has Volume Accepted
By JEAN ELIOT


IT'S out! Nancy Hoyt's book. To-
i day, indeed, is the official birth
day of Roundabout" the first
novel from the pen OF this gifted
Young woman. in which Washing
tonians have a very special interest
because its scene is laid here and
in Paris and also because Miss
Hoyt has grown up among US.
And we are looking forward to
the publication in the early autumn
of a volume by another Washing
ton girl, Ethel Hartman Russell,
which holds out equal promise.
Mrs. Russell Is but recently back
from New York, where she signed
q contract with Boni and Liveright
for the publication in September
of her first attempt at literary ex-
preston. The name Of the book is
yet a secret, but / am told that it
is written in diary form and in
frivolous vein, dealing for the most
part with the experiences of a
young woman doing war work in
Europe. It is fiction, of course,
but probably has a basis in fact
since Mrs. Russell saw service over
seas.
Gift by Inheritance
Mrs. RusseIl's literary gift comes
to her by inheritance from her
mother, Mrs. Borden Hartman,
whose From PinaforeS to Politics"
enjoyed a considerable vogue a year
or two ago and stands out as per-
haps the most engagingly written
of q grist of memoirs published
al. hot h.
bling humor and a pretty wit, Mrs.
Russell was famous among her
friends in her debutante days as a
monologuist, appearing with great
success in all manner of amateur
theatricals, and her first venture
IN a new field is being eagerly
waited by her friends.
Since her divorce from Henry
Potter Russell, of New York, Mrs.
Russell and her two children have
been living with Mrs. Hartman In
washington. She expects to go to
New York for the month Of May
and on June she win SAN for
Europe TO be gone until September.
They may travel a bit. but not very
extensively as they will have the
children with them, and will prob.
ably spend most OF the summer in
England.
idea Born in Paris
When q Paris visitor wrote home
last summer, Saw Nancy Hoyt,
without a hat, and brother Morton
dashing round the Place Pigalle at
/ o'clock in the morning" he didn't
imagine that she was gathering
local color for a novel-and neither
did the youthful author. But the.
idea Of the book was born about
that time. And the care-free at
mosphere Of the Paris of Mont.
marie is charningly suggested,
with Washing ton-the Washington
OF the younger set, which goes its
way gayly oblivious Of politics-as
brilliantly sketched.
She's a good workman, is Nancy
Hoyt- Her story is deity told, with
none of the loose ends and careless
construction so frequently charac-
teristic OF first novels. She shows,
moreover, a gift for character draw
ing, and an aptitude for arresting
phrases, writing with ease and
much charm Of style. Altogether
q remarkable book for youngster.
The F1apper Through a F1apper's
Eyes
Incidentally, it's illuminating to
read the tale Of a flapper told from
the viewpoint of the modern maid
herself, instead OF from the angle
of the older generation busy view
ing with alarm the activities Of
the present generation.
The jacket of the novel bears a