Evening star., 1928-02-12
BY IDA GILBERT MYERS.

BY IDA GILBERT MYERS.
~.c0UES COEUR: Merchant Prince of
the Middle Ages. BY Albert Board
man Kerr. Illustrated. New YorE:
Charles Scribncr's Sons.
NY story out of the past becomes
n important by virtue OF Its ap-
II proach to the spirit and purpose
n of the present. Complete aliens
find no points OF contact. These
create no responses OF mind or spirit. IL
IS through q clear strain OF klnsnip
between the past and the present that
jacques Coeur, merchant prince OF the
Middle Ages. moves forward by rlght
INTO the great enterprises tnat are tne
distinctive mark Of modern Ire, as tneae
were the stamp Of his own day. ms
record goes back half thousand years
Trade at that period rose to great mag
nitude. Trade leaders were potent WIZ
princes and powers. Cities TOOK on
nlendor and importance py way o!
exchanges of merchandise. In substance
though not in exact form, TINS Is a
record of the present era OF stupen-
dous undertakings. OF astounding enter-
prises. Out Of that old day Mr. Kerr
has drawn the history OF jacques Occur
syho rose to such distinction ana sur
lered a tragic death. Following tne
usual line of the biographer. Mr.. Kerr
rives the Youth and early training of
hc French boy who was to become the
.amous man. Along with the account
of .Jacoucs from period to period
of his development the author
pictures the conditions Of life that
The Hundred Years War
vas then on it's long way. Jeanne
Dare during the period rose to
the height of soldier and martyr. The
ports are pictured as
centers of trade with the Far East.
Merchant expeditions are set down, WIN
storms at sea, with pirates and snip
wreck as part of the perils that walten
t,pon traders and merchants. The stand
ing of these merchants In the com
munities and throughout the world oil
trade Is given. Fairs are set In pag-
eantry of goods. their examination and
sale The social effect Of these gather
ings is described Then the story GOES
on to tell how jacques Occur organized
French commerce. It's branches reach
ing into the East. Slavery becomes a
rart of the commerce of France. Inc
personal drama grows with Coeur tnf
Kings minister. a man OF power ana
prestige. The height OF prosperity y
by equal adversely wnere-
in Imprisonment and personal danger
are followed by the escape th2t per-
mitted Jacques Occur to die upon the
field of battle, a crusader against tnf
Turks. 1t Is vivid story, one niieo
with adventure and danger. II Is
human story. for the author has re-
created Jacques Occur. has. rather
brought the man back TO life, so that
one goes along. partakingly. IN the ao"
ventures that beset this man, vital To-
Gav. as he clearly must have been 900
wears AGO The whole reads exactly
nike romantic adventure Yet. 1t Is
authentic history, true biography.
THE POOR GENTLEMAN. BY Ian
Hay. author of The Last Million,
etc. Boston. Houghton Misfiin Co.
pLIND the gentleman" was. There
- fore. In general plying agree
g,,ent. poor" Compassion. however
dogs not run with this adventure. II
(, too lusty, too active. for the softer
emotions to find place in II, Let us
admit at once that the poor gentle
man" pretty nearly runs away with the
whole risky business set down here.
From one point Of view the story
might have been written TO prove that,
sight gone. the remaining senses In a
common compensatory design sharpen
and combine to make good the loss.
It was not. however. written In such
intent. though the outcome might De
cited as a striking and triumphant test
nj this fact. No this Is clear romance,
prime adventure. A mystery tale be-
sides. A conspiracy Of the discontents
NJ many countries directed against con-
Stituted authority lies at the bottom
II the matter London is the point
rom which the final triumphant demon
.iration of the conSpirators Is to he
made. Industry out Of joint. n general
strike imminent, the seizure If the
i.self~~these are among tho
items of the ambitious plan.
The story sets of In the mildest way
lust poor gentleman" sitting In
Gardens according to his
daily practice. making friends viii,
and dogs and other stray
things passing bv And this day there
comes along man who proves later
to be the innocent instrument Of the
at a crucial point In the
Out OF the condolences
OF this man from day 10 day. suspicion
springs up In the mind Of the blind
captain. From this point the story
moves much faster than might be ex-
pected under the handicap OF It's chief
actor, The last act Of the plot takes
place In the very spot that Capt, Barry
'ihere, our man. had when under train
ne learned 10 know like the back OF
MS own hand Eyes are not essential
tn such turn In detection, And 50 II
proves Unusual. YOU sec aud stirring
indeed rs the business proceeds and
comes To all end, The captain Is a Joy
and ST. are the friends aud family
standing around him, And this fact
H. an excellent contribution to story
of this kind. Capt. Barry tells the
story himself In a simplicity and eandm
The admiration and friendship Of the
reader aa he finally wins the love OF
| hc gll who goes along through a good
deal of this action Neither the reader
nor The strl accepts the poor gentle
mar out Of pity, Not at ali They
arc both proud to come upon Sa tine
"A man, 10 captivating story teller
LAZY ISLE. NY George r. liumme!
author Of "A Good Man" etc. New
York, Doni IL Liserigh,,
I" Axr ISLE" stands witness To the
Tact that the stfiot,s novelist
should now and then M a-playins Tht
trni ana enstWSins business ~ tienrpe
Hti'nmrl, noveltst ~ that ot disain.
into The human insides upon quest oi
The feelings and motives that drive me,.
ana women along the WAYS oi lite III a
ihnfe ut leas messy existence, arising
from Their complete lack M information