Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-18
REVIEWS. OF SUMNER BOOKS
The Life Story Of W Murray CraneAnd Then Diplomat
Looks at Europe Some Of the Newest Novels and ss
the Various Stories They Tell

little book viii give to you the origin
lgof the ART. of stained and painted
/ glass. 1t. will trace its development
from the time of Charlemagne through
l;its rise to something near perfection
i and then on down to its decadence.
illustrations objectify the text. and
1.-the names. and special distinction of
1.-THE various promoters of this art are
haddeG to the more special study OF
| the art itself. A. handbook Of the
best and most helpful type.
So
BLACK IVORY. by tPolan Banks.
| New York: Harper & Bros.
ttRLAcK IVORY" is. first, q good
novel. 1T is also authentic his.
l.tory. AS a novel 1t has a striking
theme, one bound to bring pause and
attention. It's course is that of ad-
venture, a faring out into WAYS
that call for reckless daring. for the
high hazard; for the ready turn. for
the swift recovery under mishap, for
| tenacity and endurance. Its hero is
of the stripe that exactly fits into this
weave of strange and perilous under
taking. Its time h one OF moment 70
| the history of this country. It's set
l.
turesque spots In the settlement OF
the United States. one of the few that
to this day possesses that subtle and
compelling quality known as s.atmeS-
phere." Boston, has 1t to a DECREE
and Philadelphia in measure. New
| Orleans, however, is the one spot here
that is wholly rsdolent Of an rides
cent, picturesque past. It is here that
Black Ivory grows, and grows
richly under the hand Of this writer.
Spaniard. and Frenchman. and ere.
ole, and white man, and Indian. and
negro contribute to the human motley
of this adventure The rank verdure
and struggling waterways and sun
and heat of New Orleans have hand
in the, man side OF the adventure.
The smuggling of negroes into the
country from Cuba is the thriving and
hazardous business that names the
story and sets it on it's way. The
dashing and romantic figure OF Jean
Lafltte dominates and directs the
course of the tale throughout. Love
and war play controlling parts mere,
as they have done time out OF mind.
The one secures mate for the hero;
the other deals with vital question
in the control of the South by the
United States. These, however, are
in this case but complementary parts
to the story, which is in effect a story
of piracy. where the negro. Struggled
into the country, was the prize rather
than the treasure of gold and silver
and guns that as rule directed the
ways and methods OF the buccaneer.
An admirable story, of clean construc:
ton. of uncrowded lines OF action, OF
vivid and believable characters, of
generally fair portraiture in it's his
torical aspect. Not only an admirable
story, but a corking one to read be-
sides.
MAN ALONE. BY George Agnew
Chamberlain, author of Rack
house, etc. New York: g. p.
Putnam's Sons.
TT is not good for man to be alone.
L Here is an old saying which of late
has been undergoing spirited revival
at the hands of noveliSts. Oddly
enough, the writer's devoting them
selves chiefly to the negative side OF
this question are men. The woman
ron1ancer is absorbed rather in the
nleasing and popular business of see
ing to ii that man shall not be alone
never for a minute. 1t is host of
male writers who nowadays are ex.
tremely active setting to dramatic IN
yention the multitudinOus forms OF
nnantrap. ingenious and intricate, that
women have devised since Eve. VINO
could think up nothing more subtle
than ripe apple. But Ewes day was
a simple one and Adam was the east
est of game. 1t is another matter
nowadays, involving all the arts OF
complex civilization, and the outcome
is matter of hot dispute among the
artists.
8 Bernard Shaw and the late w. L.
George Scott fitzgerald, Sinclair
Lewis, George Hummel and many an
other write novels of explication ana
admonition, all bearing upon the heip'
lessness of man, all drawing together.
in support Of Kipling's HE travels
the fastest who travels alone. Now
and then one takes the other side OF
this common question: now and then
one supports the adage in its fuii
meaning. George chamberlain does
in Man Alone" He here projects Q
grim story of the ruin wrought w1thIS
a man whose wife betrayed him by de-
sorting him and their son. Selecting
the temperament to react in tragic
intensity against his wrongs. Mr..
Chamberlain develops story that is
black with human resentments and
reprisals. The son must be trained to
a hatred of women-that is his safety.
"a the father thinks. A warped and
foolish man, Thomas Strayton, to,
think he could balk SO willy an enemy
as nature. He does, however, train
HE son to his own dark outlook, to
his own surlv fronting upon life Yet
both of these men are truly admirable
in their strength, In their self-con-
ta;rr,ea+ Tha story grows by way of
h,,sinsas bv wav Of the manufacture
~ .,aSs AFT ~ tha New Jersey sands
4 alIv close and interesting record
sta nds here Of the romance Of an
inSs,,strv' But the story Is one of
harsb action of relentless business,
,.at,,t tnS ;,da,,andence. {. A hard story