Evening star., 1928-11-25

dian, VINO ttdS risen 10 hlgH EESLaJe.
BY Don C. Seitz. author of "Uncom-
mon Americans" etc. New York:
Frederick A. Stokes Co.
TN telling this story the voice and
L attitude of Don Seits indicate that
he is talking to boys alone. This, If 1t
be true, does not, however. bar the rest
of rs from listening in. We've all, in
our day, played Indian" Therefore We
have a right here. Moreover. the Indian
provides America with It's single tradi-
ton. "A tradition not entirely creditable
either, on the white man side of 1t.
But, it is the offender, you know, who
is so quick in saying Let bygones b.
bygones." SO, just at this moment we
are as busy exalting the noble Redman
as II we ourselves had invented him.
And this general pride is as it should
be, as it should have been. In this
story the author bears down upon the
fact that our Vice President-to-be is an
Indian, and, by just that point Of en-
phasis, rounds the tale to the full meas
ure of wide interest and acceptance.
There may be flavor Of poetic justice"
in this outcome, but there isn't. No, 1t
was. hard work, instead, that brought
Charles Curtis into the heart and desire
of his countrymen to represent them in
an Office right next to the very highest
one. And this fact, too, becomes an
other point in the story told here by
Don Seitz. The official career of Mr..
Curtis is set down step by step. But, 1t
is with the youth of the man. it is the
racial distinction orthe man that makes
1in1 picturesque, where his good service
makes him exalted In the story the
author tells rapidly of the rise of
Charles Curtis. It is beside him as an
Indian boy that he sits down to spin
the matter out properly. Born in a
teepee, at 5 regular rough rider. his
pony part Of him, soaking in the feel
ings and customs of his race, living with
the plains and forests and storms,
knowing the animals all round about.
shaping his moves to the stresses of
rain and wind-oh, dazzling life for
any boy-n1ale or female, young or old
to read about with Joy and in a clear
kinship of spirit. Then, don't forget,
that you, too-you, boy here or there
may, If you take the right road and
want that sort of thing-may find the
way open to you as it was to Lincoln
and jackson, to Charlie Curtis and to
a host of others. Lesson or precept, this
is, but before either 1t is a corking story
about a man right at home among us
WIlSIc we may see MN.
X X X X
LILY CHRISTINE. A Romance. Bv
Michael Arlen, author of The Green
Hat" etc. New York: Doubleday.
Doran & Co.
MICHAEL ARLEN knows a lot about
A'A women and men. OF this he has
given good evidence in more than one
novel to whose support he has brought
people of intelligence, personality, a
measure of distinction. This sounds
like overpraise and, in a sense, it is
Nowadays If one thinks at all upon any
subject intelligent If one
bats an eye in a different way from
the ruleT"personality!" If he shows a
glimmer of distinction Yes,
I did do turn in overpraise, but it is
too long matter to 60 over again, So
let me say that Arlen has written q
knowing story about fine woman. Lily
Christine is one to know and to envy
Beautiful, simple, straight thinking, q
wonderful capacity for friendship, the
most of which she exercises upon her
husband-yes, that's right, her husband
Knowing her. Arlen has presented her
beautifully and desirably. She is a
modern, complete modern. So. she Is
lAAoJuOSCu, O1l-LldLlu. L. LTSc Llen are IN
love with Lily Christine-her husband
and two others. And they all fall down,
all three, when the nigh moment of
life (and Of death, too. as it turns out)
comes to Lily Christine. the moment
when she had to have help or go un-
der. She went. Wonderfully well does
Michael Arlen know men, and women.
1t is all here in the story. His best
novel. Better than THE Green Hat"
or any other Down at the bottom of
things he is. more deeply and certainly,
than in any of the others. He would,
tiful person in Lily Christine. But he
has. She steps out of the book to go
along with the reader for days and
days. Grateful to Arlen for Lily Chris