Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-02

trappefS OF the carly Weak. by r1bi W
Evarts, author OF The Moccasin
Brown IL Co.
HAL EVARTS never disappoints the
reader OF his novels OF adventure.
Fur Brigade" in purpose and quality.
stands for all Of them. With this writer
an adventure lives up to the generally
accepted specifications for such action.
A story is with him story, setting
out from some place, moving toward 1t,
reaching 1t and gathering in the results
and effects of the action as whole.
Now this starting point may be physical
or spiritual, but in either case the
course of procedure Is orderly. progress
siye, suspended, plausible and exciting.
Here it is. the story of the early West
when Indians and fur bearing animals
were the parties OF the first and sec
ond parts. The advent OF the white
trapper gives the adventure its partic-
ular trend and color and climax. Rival
iur companies threaten the extinction
OIL fur ANIMALS and the dealings OF these
companies with the Indians threaten
the natives with extinction or complete
Generalization. The high point of tht
story is the picture that IL gives OF
that vast region, forests, plains, dry
areas, watcred tracts. where Indians and
the wild animal life present virgin
country Of amazing spread and primi-
tive circumstance To see such an ex-
panse was the first task of the author
To capture 1t for the printed page was
an even greater piece of artistry. Here
Is imagination working at one of It's
highest points with an effect that is
FAR beyond the most of such work or
such attempts by writer's of this class.
Within this setting runs the story of
Indian and trader in an authentic and
plausible fashion. A true romance goes
its way with the general movement. a
romance that years after served the
purposes of legend for the Western
indians. the immemorial legend of all
peoples concerning a great deliverer.
a savior OF their tribes. Here Is adj
venture. soundly based. competently de-
veloped and abundantiy worth the while
OF the reader OF robust romance.
4 i
WAR AMONG THE LADIES. BY
Eleanor Scott. Boston: Little, Brown
e. Co.
a S rule the novelist picks his theme
Sometimes the theme moves In to
take possession OF the novelist, as 1t has
done with War Among the Ladies'" Ar
English school and its teachers provide
foundation for this serious and even
passionate study OF situation not SO
uncommon as to exclude a very general
concern over 1t. The focus of the work
Is upon group of SchoolmistFesSes
| from which extends into the school it
| self the effects of general incom-
potency The purpose of the institu-
ton. its organization. It's conduct. its re-
suits, are all on a level with the inef-
flciency of these leaders themselves
Sensing their own professional unread
ness, these women are possessed by a
constant fear fear for their future OF
certain poverty. fear of dismissal, fear
of thousand things rising out of their
own unfitness for their work. The back
ground against which this dominating
emotion takes effect is the classes OF
young girls and the futile gestures of
eoucating these. Its most active and
violent expressions are. however among
me teachers themselves. fighting one
another In an effort to hide their own
nave much to say about education. its
blessings and the degree to which this
place or that one has advanced its plans
ana purposes, still education does not
provide a generally attractive theme for
the novel. Within the past few years
IL mas. nevertheless, striven for public
notice through any number of stort,s
ABOUT schools OF various sorts. TIL
nave been read. In the main, by &C,
OF studious intent seeking. critically
place OF these stories In the schems OF
current fiction. Even this big and So
fiouS book Is not SONG to be read as
pastime for those who enjoy the novel
ratner VIII 1t take its place as a serious
study of system that needs nothing
eise so much as complete determination
ana OF a group of women obsessed with
Tear OF the future and under this urge
lighting like all animals the batt,s ~
sell-preSsrvation A big novel of many
pages and first novel which shows
both structural skill and a deep convic-
tion OK the really tragic content OF the
theme itself.
THE LIGHT SHINES THROUGH. Nv
Octavus Roy Cohen, author ~
Bigger and Blacker." etc. Boston
Llttie, Brown & Co.
N Mr.. Cohen'S new novel melodrama
has pursued. and overtaken. drama
itself. This 1t often does in real life
however so there can be no legitimate
count on such score against the author
Melodrsms may rejoice the writer OF
certain stripe, but II plaques the reader
by piling together fatal incongruities
that prevent free and happy acceptance
OF the business presented 1t does that
mere, For instance. a man, no matter
how unhumanly good he Is, does not
viii his fortune of million or more
to the young woman whom he loves
since the woman does not love him and
Is about to marry another man. Then
having done this unlikely thing. ne
; doesn't go away. thoughtfully. 10 get
lost AT sea In a wreck from which not
one escapes. In the situation set here
the girl accepts the heritage. weeping.
while her spouse -to-be accepts 1t quite
openly grtnntng. From this questionable
beginning the story spreads to include
several unbelievable situations whose
ultimate point Is To show the complete
raScality OF that new husband and to
bring about, finally. the return of the
dead man. With a mystery tackled on
Tor good measure and free movement,
the matter progresses in manner to
show that the villain In the play Is
the only really competent and intel
ligent performer In It. The good man
Is too good to be either true or in
teresting. The lovely woman who ac-
ceptS the fortune and we6s the rival
is lovely only by the authors word of
mouth, The mystery is thin. The out
come is plus sensational However, YOU
cannot tell nowadays. The whole to-do
may have been drawn straight from the
daily life OF this dizzy world. Yet Mr.
Cohen is much more helievable and
much more interesting in the field from
which he for the moment StTayed away
10 follow poor trail
~
THE SEVEN LOVERS. Ry Muriel
Hine, New York; ID, Appleton IL
Co.