Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-26

WPdlP, duLIlOT OF ne VdnlSncO
Empire" etc. New York: The Mac
milan Co.
THE ripe story is almost Immediately
distinguishable from the one that
is green. The first, by virtue OF its
completeness, sinks at once deep into
the readers acceptance and satisfac-
ton Like this one. Here Is romance
Of China where revolution and turmoil
provide the prime means OF stir and in
terest A theme skinned off the top
of the present moment in that country
Wang. Chinese boy. Is the hero OF
this tale. He becomes a solder and an
officer in the revolutionary movement.
He Is, besides. the major part OF the
story even though romance OF West
ern color goes along for diversity OF ap-
peal and as a link between the Orient
and the readers mind. The point OF
the matter Is that, writing any story
about China, this author would produce
the true picture end carry across to the
reader complete conviction. lnnumer-
able little things. not noticeable TO the
passing traveller. come out here IN EVIL
dence Of intimate touch With the char
acter of the Chinese. in proof OF Mr..
Wcales experience with the country and
its people. Good as the romance IS.
as such it Is conspicuous. really, for its
subtle appreciation of both the daily
and the traditional life of the Chinese.
| Known all over the world for his knowl-
edge of China, so the story about Put
nam Weale runs And. certainly. the
signs Of most intimate knowledge OF
1t saturates the action Of Her Closed
Hands"
CONFESSIONS OF AN AUTHORS
WIFE. Indianapolis: The Bcbos-
Merrill Co
IS 4 DAM" is the authors name. His
"a wife must be Eve" If the origi-
nal Adam had such helpmeet as this
one proves to be. and such good fun
besides why. then, We need waste no
more sympathy on the father OF all
creation. 1t has come to the most OF
| us, think. that really witty person
must be more or less of a trial to live
with. I knew one. once-a wife who
was one unbroken sparkle A thousand
times I've seen the husband orientate
himself afresh in appreciation OF story
already Worn threadbare with the tell
| ing in his presence. I always felt so
sorry for that husband of witty wife.
| But this one seems to be OF a better
breed. At least. she reads that way.
| And one laughs along beside her as she
so gayiy and shrewdly puts appraisal
upon the vicissitudes OF authorship and
her own part in those trials. We
know another editor" opens a series OF
her most delicious talk-true talk. with
out a doubt, on that much-dlScussed
stance. we know another editor for
whom Adam used to work. SO innate!y
| chivalrous that he objected TO Ill treat
ment OF the fair sex even on paper.
So when Adam had fashioned an espe-
! cially appealing heroine and had put
i her through an especially appalling
series of adventures, this gentleman
| couldn't see his way clear TO use
| the story as 1t stood. She's such
! nice girl, Adam. 1t honestly
/ doesn't seem fair 10 do all that 10 her.
! he complained" So the JOYOUS Incl
F.. dents gather thick around one as this
clearly enjoyable woman reveals to us
/ not only her own Adam, but all the
| Adams roundabout besides. Full Of
zest and equally full Of entertainment,
INTERFERENCE, BY Roland Pertwee.
author of Gentlemen March" etc.
Boston: Houghton. Miffiin Co.
IF you saw the play from which this
mystery tale was derived. you will
carry the two along together in COM
parsons and contrasts and an ultimate
Judgment as TO the relative merits,
possibly an ultimate judgment as 70
the worth or unworth. OF this trans
/ formation II you did not see the olav
why. then. you are lucky. since YOU will
/ then have the experience Of doing a
! bit OF detective work on your own. The
| murder comes late In the narrative
| postpcnine the element Of mystery till
| good story has been told. This in
/ wolves one OF the mistakes that youth
is always making. with its natural Sc
! auence of disaster 10 be made good. or
/ otherwise. with its effort 10 rebuild life
/ OH a broken foundation. In this par
ticular enterprise Mr.. pertwcc does
achieve a rather idyllic marriage. The
marriage becomes the point OF >us-
/ pense in the murder itself, Luckily. or
rather happily. the villain In the case
f.. proves 10 be a ch.valrouS re'er-do-well
I who serves as the agent. pathetic III
. spite OF himself in clearing up the niyS-
. terry 10 hts own undo.rg. But this
leaves curiously interesting pair 20
| so on the way Of their own happiness
undiSturbcd by such hateful suspicious
as were rising between them. Carl
! ouSiy interesting" because the wife is
not o: quality 10 command either the
/ love OF the husband or the sympathy
/ Of the rca6er--yst. she does both in .,.l,
measure. An ingenious mystery story.
even though ingenuity In this line Is