Evening star., 1927-10-30


long story Of pursuit and discourage
ment and revival of spirit under which
this collection became rich and com.
plete reality. And here Mr.. Benham
gives out that story in a fun detail
of Its interesting. growth. For more
than so years Mr.. Oldroyd devoted
himself to the creation of Lincoln
memorial collection, said to be the
greatest assemblage Of personal ef-
fects and intimately associated objects
ever gathered around any single in
dividual in ancient or modern his
tory. 1t is, however, the story of the
pursuit that makes individual appeal
to the reader of this story Of Osborn
Oldroyd.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
BY Stephen Mckenna, author of
"Saviours of Society,"" etc. Bos-
ton: Little, Brown & Co.
WHEN the novel was younger than
it is now, in the roomy days Of
the eighteenth century, 1t grew, in
variably, to three-volume size. Here
was a new sort Of entertainment for
whose enjoyment there was abundant
leisure. Short shrift then from both
publisher and leader for the novelist
unable to spin himself out to such
length on the sorrows of hero and
heroine. Modern life, tremendously
speeded up and diversified, has
changed the novel in this respect as
it has changed everything else. Yet
stephen Mckenna manages still to
produce the old three.volume story
through the device of stretching the
time space from volume to volume
1.-THE Secretary Of state" Is the Sec
ond in a series that deals with a
single general setting, with a single
dominant personality. England since
the war is the common background.
It's economic and political situation
provides the immediate stage for the
rise and growth of Ambrose Sheridan
to a place of influence and power. In
America we call this the drama of
the go-getter. The volume in hand
the second one, pictures Sheridan en-
tering the House Of Lords, to which
issue he has sacrificed whatever
stood in the way Of such achievement
Here Is q wife divorced for one of
better first-aid promise. Here is
secretary of ability and good service
sent across the world out of the way.
The new wife and the young secre.
tary provide material later for such
semblance of romance as the story
uses to modernize more completely
the quality of the whole. The novel
US, however, a study of it's central
figure, Ambrose Sheridan, and
through him and his associates it be.
comes a study Of England itself.
However. by way of it's lifelike char
acters. its sense of drama and good
structure, by way also Of it's authors
experience as novelist, the study be-
comes story that meets warm well
come where the discussions of a
pubiiclst would find greatly restrict
ed acceptance.
LET'S GO. The Story of A. s. No.
244S602. BY Louis Felix Ranlett.
Illustrated. Boston: Houghton,
Miffiin Co.
Out Of college into war. A year
Of soldering at the front, then
discharged as a degree more than
half man and therefore Of no earth
ly use In the business of fighting.
Cited for bravery, Ranlett was,
bravery whose effect was the loss to
Lieut.. Ranlett of a good part of him.
self in any sort Of service, even peace
service. A good sport, this disabled
soldier. For he seats himself to tell
the story OF war as it looked right
in front Of his eyes, and right beside
him when the thickest of it was on.
AT such moments the tale is hard
reading, just because one has imag.
ination and sympathy and hatred Of
the insanity of all war. But there
are moments Of smiling. even laugh
ter. in this personal reminiscence.
There had to be. And to these Lieut..
Ranlett gives a full measure of rec
ord just as he does with the mon.
strOus moments Of actual attack. The
mixture Of the two-battle and in
terlude-by this human, sane, shrewd.
tolerant young soldier, turns out a
personal picture Of war that is bound
to react against an institution whose
prime effect is to keep the popula-
ton down by the questionable meth
cd OF destroying its youth. However,
no such effect is in the plan of this
writer. He's just telling us about it
as he saw 1t and took part in it.
X X X
NOT FOR PUBLICATION. BY Clara
Sharpe Hough. author of Left
the Lucky" New York: The Cen
tury Co.
THE chief difference between this
- novel and many another one of
equally modern complexion is the or
iginality of its background. Minor
differences come out also in a rather
exceptional turn for the use Of char
acters that are not only alive, but
that possess as we'll more than the
common allowance of good sense. intel
ligence even. Therefore, just as on
the outside. these people are inter-
esting in what they say and do. re.
freshing in their independent views
and behaviors generally. Here is the
married pair. developing a rift in their