Evening star., 1927-05-29

perfect listener It would have had
to be that way with a genius whose
need was an audience. And
that's the way it was. AS the matter
turned out this plan was almost OF
excellence, since by way
OF 1t the lovers of Anatole France have
here in hand some of the ripest wis
dom Of this genius, some of the sanest
of his judgments upon art and upon
the historic and spiritual essence of
this place or that one through which
tn, master and disciple passed. Sharp
as ever, ironic as ever. destructive as
ever-till in a sweeping mov~ment of
thought he placed and arranged and
the asperities of these ran
dom bits into unities of sharp insight
and reasoned power. There are here,
besides, innumerable sketches of the
man, in this mood or that one, in this
garb or attitude-all of
q Dricelessness to his lovers. A book,
which, Anatole France in his
work, in his person, in his influence,
In his decline and comeback, would
be incomplete to those who appreciate
and splendid products.
X X y X
THE DEVILS GUARD. BY Talbot
Mundy, author Of "Guns of the
Gods" etc. Indianapolis: The
Bobbs-Merrill Co.
IN Washington there is a merchant
whose window bears the motto,
II Never Disappoint." In the realm
of fictional adventure Talbot Mundy
could justly lay claim to exactly that
certitude. In the first place, Mundy
chooses his field with artistic discre-
tion-far enough away to make sure
OF both illusion and call, among peo-
pies whose ways are so different from
ours as to create curiosity and in
terest. And the errand that he sets,
the adventure that he plans, is Of the
robust kind, Of the picturesque kind,
too, waking readers to their own
dreams of derring do, which-alas!-
the most Of us have to see through
by way Of the imagination and the
good service Of writer's like this one.
This Is a romance OF rescue-this
Devils Guard''-the rescue of
white man by a group Of his own
race. To reach him there is long
and secret road whose way is beset by
dangers unimaginable to the average
Of us. Through Tibet the road leads
to a land Of legendary greatness,
where pure wisdom dwells. Here live
the masters Of the world. Upon it
these white men bend their ways,
with devils and magicians and mon-
sters and every sort Of terrifying
thing to bar the path in trial upon
trial Of their fitness to approach this
secret seat Of wisdom. And Mundy
knows when to stop-knows the min.
ute beyond which adventure will lose
It's zest, knows the hour when the
enc Of the matter must step capably
and conclusively before one. A fine
story, just as one has a right to ex-
pect from Talbot Mundy.
X * X X
THE OLD ONE LOOKS ON. BY
Charles J. Pelton. New York: Ed
Ward J. Clode, Inc.
IN the right hands New York City
itself could produce thousand sto-
rieS of best-seller dimensions. And
these tales could rnge from those rival
ing the escapades of Haroun al Rasch-
id to others as sweetly innocuouS as
the gayeties of Pollyanna. And in be-
tween there would be all manner of hui
man badness and goodnes captured
and set to print. And right here is a
tale drawn from New York City, taken
from the middle ground of adventure.
In truth it is no more than the ad-
venture of living along day by day un-
der the urge of intelligence-for these
are all above the average as to mind
and personality-the urge of work
and its rewards. Of play and it's con.
sequences. Men and women, some
young and some older, here, in a more
Or less haphazard fashion, fit them
selves to the exactions and opportuni-
ties of life in the great city. Romer
Rivers is an outstanding figure in
this group-Romer an old fraud at
heart, an opportunist, posing to him.
self as well as to the world as an ex-
plorer. genuine waster, and a
charming man, drawn with amazing
precision and restraint. Here is his
son, fine fellow getting better every
minute. Here are women-the usual
kind-some negligible, few quite
worth any ones while. And here is the
"Old One," Val Carroll, an artist,
who in the role of on-looker, long be-
lore the story ends, has captured
every honor in sight, becoming by all
odds one of the most lovable and
charming men that have strolled
through simply natural story of |
New York life in many a long day. |
indeed, at the end of the matter, Van |
Carroll leaves the book at the readers |
nsistence going out as the friend of |
that reader in many an hour that |
seeks genial and wise and witty COM
Danionship.
X X X
THE ACE OF DANGER. BY Angus.
tus Muir, author of 1.-THE Third |
Warming" etc. Indianapolis: The |
Bobbs-Merrill Co.
WE'RE off on a hustling adventure,
w with no time for the usual cere-
Monies of ticket buying, luggage stor-
a second to swing onto the
rain bound for Scotland. Then off the
rain and at hit-or-miss run for
coast. What's the rush? AT
irst nobody knows. But out of the
o-do there emerges this fact. that two
nen entirely unknown to each other
ind themselves in the same compart-
nent of the train. each quite certain
hat the other is an official sleuth on
lis own trail. That Is q mistake, but
serves the purpose of keying the
natter to a high pitch of activity de-
'oted, in the main, to elusion of pur-
uers against whom this pair pool
heir combined courage, ingenuity, de-
and speed. Never mind
the matter. There is no
ime for that now. Just keep up with
he action if you can. When it is all
ver and the two are proved to be quite
ecent fellows, then you can sit down
" the fire of an evening to figure out
he real game and the intricate stems
hat led to it's successful issue. Oh,
Any amount of it. Behaviors
If the spectacular sort? You're right
tbout that. Read 1t for yourself if
or some hour or two it is imperative
ioodspeeds Book Catalogues
70. 164-Genealogy- & Local History. 1873
pages. 5.033 titles. Price 10
cents.