Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-08

impertinence on her part. Instead,
there Ii the ready question about
many old acceptances that rouse
curiosity. and query. on her part:
Parental authority-the authority OF
the father--is the stumbling block to
contentment in q house where ques-
tions from the children are taboo.
The fine work here rests upon the
young writer's lack of overworkIns
her theme. Not 30 much from what
she says does the silly tyranny and
assumption OF wisdom on the part
OF the father come out. That IL the
quality Of the man and 1t comes TO
the surface of it's own accord. The
girl, too, fs portrayed without exag.
geration. Just a girl Of today look
Ing around, as the girls are doing,
wondering about the way Of many
sacred things. And. upon the whole.
rebel that she 10. nothing dire hap.
pens to her-except that she gets
married to the man she wants In.
stead Of not getting married at all or
Of taking some one whom her father
might accept. The story, to be sure,
restates still again the now pressing
and pesky question OF what these
young folks are going to DO about
their elders.
THE WORLDS" BEST SHORT
STORIES OF 1927. Foreword by
William Johnston. New York:
George II. Doran co.
1NDER the auspices OF the New
York World editors OF leading
American magazines have selected
the stories that make up this volume.
Standing between authors and the
reading public, the editor by knowl-
edge and experience 10 peculiarly
qualified to pass upon writer's a. pur-
veyors Of reading matter to the gen.
eral public. Such book a. this one.
therefore. makes a pretty safe guide
for those who prefer reading Of sub
terprise. besides, gives positive urge
to aspiring writer's and In, on this &C.
count, of undeniable usefulness.
Gathered here Is material for COM
parison. for catching the feel OF the
short story, for appraising the ele-
ments that enter into this form OF
composition as distinct from the novel.
In this respect the book passes BE-
yond the idea Of entertainment for
the leisure hour and becomes q really
important guide to study and to prac.
tice This book. or another OF the
same purpose and plan. Is calculated
to make the best Of textbooks for
students who should study at first
hand, rather than spend 80 much
time on what some critic has said
about this or that writer. since even
one small matter personally arrived
at is worth whole volumes OF second
hand accumulations. Here IL a wide
- L. a
wide range Of personal approach on
the part of authors. Here Is scope
In the matter q development and
in the writer's own view Of the mean
ing and effect OF the short story.
Good as reading matter for the hour
OF enjoyment. Better still a. text.
book on the short story for students
Of enterprise and the desire TO write
on their own account.
THE DEVILS MANTLE. BY Frank
L. Packard. author Of Two stolen
Idols" etc. New York: George II.
Doran Co.
HERE Ia pure adventure running
full.saii upon peril and escape in
such swift succession as TO suggest
the slightly profane pessimist's def
milton Of life as Just one damned
thing after another" The whole ac-
tive TODD takes place out from Aus.
tralia. where pearl deposits have
lured all manner of reckless men to
outiawry Of every sort In the pursuit
OF money. Out Of the situation Mr..
Packard. an old hand at such bust
ness, has created q quite gorgeous
scheme OF robbery with . remote and
rocky Island a. the stcrehoass OF
stolen goods. At the head OF the en-.
terprise Ia . suave and polished gen.
| tieman. or 30 he appears upon his
emergence into the financial and social
| ranks Of Sydney. Australia. Serving
him in his real business Of theft and
| such other incidental vsliainy AZ the
| situation may require 10 . rascaily
hand OF Oriental outcasts- Here In the
background for adventure. To the
| front Ia a perfectly nice young man
| who. an unfortunate younger son. has
| come out from England TO see what
| the world has TO otter him. Speedily
he comes under suspicion. carefully
planned suspicion. Of both robbery and
murder. Now the business OF the tale
is TO impose upon that good young
| man az many dangers and escapes a.
one mere mortal can hold up under.
4 love story goes along with the rest
| OF the trouble. With a dextertty &C.
auired by long practice i'm the art Of
making and unmaking danger Mr.,
Packard brings the whole strenuous
matter out into the plain sailing ct
clear innocence on the part of the
maligned and maltreated boy. out into
the sunshine Of true love rcQuited.
You. reading. know this 10 be a pure
fahricasion~-out II IL = good one. 10.
quite excited. you keep on reading 20
the last word. A most active affair.
unbelievable from start 10 nnish. but
you like IL. We all do,