Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-30
BYIDA GILBERT MYERS.


" long time-oh. years intervening
between timeS--in somebody's
L house or in the street or, better.
walking along the roadway. And
at once he begins to talk-as people
should when they meet--to talk about
many things. The present time interests
him in some of its important aspects
the law and its course. democracy and
it's true content and direction. the ten
dency to see the errors of others, Europe
and its effect upon the minds and man
ners Of Americans. The subject is not
of so great moment as Is the fact that
in no time at all you make discovery
about the man. He's one in a thousand
and more Yes, he thinks, but SO many
Go that-think after fashion. That's
not the point. Instead, the attraction
of the man lies in his ability to see two
sides Of whatever theme he happens to
have in mind. Now. leave 1t to you II
this is not. truly, distinction and a
rare gift besides. These talks are all in
demonstration of this power on the part
of Struthers Burt. And what an excit-
ing companion it makes of the man.
Just at the moment, you see. we are
enormously oVerfed on exclusive and
one-sided views and shall be for cou-
pie of months or more. So. to meet a
man like this one is like coming upon
the shadow OF mighty rock in weary
land--all Of that Whether talking about
us at home, about our virtues or our
follies, or about Europeans In their like
endowment of human traits. he talks
from side to side and roundabout in a
manner that inspires emulation. And
that. in substance, is the Office of this
highly entertaining and this very wise
summary of opinions on many themes
that 1t makes one determine to enlarge
the borders of his own vision and to
emulate the delightful manner Of
Struthers Burt in voicing his thoughts
about sny number Of vital matters
Read "Hokum.' Read The Rest OF the
Rabbits" Read "Furor Britannicus"
for the truth and sound sense of it,
y
THE CHILDREN. BY Edith Wharton.
author of Twilight Sleep" etc. New
York: D. Appleton & Co.
THE spectacle of human nature in its
average of behavior and misbe-
havior is not an inspiring one. The
common run, however, the mere unpfo-
fessionals, recognize the discouraging
blend of good and bad that the human
is, letting it go at that. save for soma
vague faith In religion. or time, or eter-
nifty. to lift the fallen estate Of man.
With the artist it is. of course, different.
He feels compelled to do something
about it, certainly in the later and more
mature stages of his art. At first. how
ever, he is likely to be content with as
literal portrayal of the facts as the
cts nf INAv 0kl
artistic medium permit. And so we get
from him body of literary realism.
But this does not satisfy the sincere
predetermined artist. It is too slow a
process, exciting only comment and
criticism as to the value of this sort of
writing either as art or as an instru-
ment of progress. Here is something of
dilemma. What to do? Why. that is
easy. Make the picture black, where it
was shadowy and gray before. Many Of
the most honest. most sincere of the
writer's are doing just this, stewing the
drama down to its dregS getting 1t dark
and gooey and messy. skimming off any
lighter stuff that floats at the surface
OF this brew. The product is inevitable.
Where gifted writer's have hitherto dealt
competently and powerfully with COM
edy in its piercing lightness they are
now making friends with farce-ainus-
ing and diverting it Is true, but with no
thrust and drive to 1t. The Children"
is farce as. to be sure. its gifted and
famous author designed it to be. She
knows none better The quarrel is not
on that score. Rather does 1t rest on
the belief that farce Is futile except as
q means of smiles and laughter. These
children, mob of them. are linked in
tho lNncA knnH nf Y1Y1pAhor ~
divorced fathers and mothers. The FAM
lily 90 is held together by the mother
passion of the oldest daughter-of some
pair within the complex Of parenthood
that exists here. In manner that, I'M
der the confusion, is undeniably true
Mrs. Wharton shows the calamity to
each Of these individual children that
lack OF love and care and training pro-
duces. Clever and interesting, of course.
but too stressed. overd0ne. exclusive of
any ray of reason or FEASIBILITY One
laughs here--where he should cry or
swear or do any other positive thing
The problem exists. all right. There is
no doubt about that. But with all of
its practiced art, with its ready suavity,
with its smooth story flow-this is not
6 dynamic novel on the subject of
divorce evils. And really why should 1t
bC! 1AC DuoAIiCDS VI bLIC liONCI. Inc lLldl
OF the play is, so people say, to lead
them away from the problems and per-
plexities Of reality into a fair land OF
The difficulty here is that
the theme falls in between the two
stools of intentiOn-reform on the one
hand and mere diversion on the other.
~
AND THE ARABIAN
ADVENTURE. BY Robert Graves
Illustrated. New York: Doubleday,
Doran & Co.
TWO or three years ago Lowell
Thomas wrote book about a pic
turesque young Englishman whose adj
ventures with the tribes of Arabia made
a most stirring story. This account
by Thomas created general interest
in that young Oxford student who.
OF an archeologist, went of
into Arabia, there to pursue research
along his line of study. His interest
n the native tribes. mis- friendship for
them, gave him in time an influence
over them OF no small Importance. In
this book Robert Graves tells the full
story of Lawrence. Here is a biography
Of careful statement. of full content,
giving the career of this young man
10 to the present. Mr.. Graves stresses
the accuracy of his report as well as
It's completeness. The interest of the
whole lies, however. in his study of this
'exaSperatingly complex personality"
Here he looks into the disposition, tenn
permanent. character OF Lawrence as
these are acted upon by the unusual
adventures that seem to follow him
his course and wherever
ne goes 1t is difficult thing to de-
liver a man over. as he is. to readers.
And in this respect it appears AS if
the author has succeeded in measure
that is established by his single hearted
zeal In pursuing most elusive subject.
About one part of this hook there can
be no two minds. That is the part
having to do with the Arabian coun-
try itself-its natural characteristics its
people. their pursuits and problems,
their aspirations for Self-rule and SO on
through the course of their history up !
to the time Of the appearance of Law |
renee As to the study of the voi1np