Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01

honest intent f5ut by way 81 This tr::1e
of Green's Mrs. Rea Is able TO depict
freely that which either does not exis:
in one single family or Is not admitted
to exist there. Giving fresh turn to
the familiar theme, the author projects,
first of all, an interesting story whose
foundation is common nature working
out through the two chief absorptions
Of every woman's life. Here is the
home, six of them. Here are mothers,
six of them. The attitude of each in
her high role of motherhood 1S--son1e-
times 1t is amusing, sometimes lament
able, always sincere In its rootage OF
self-love, vanity, desire to control, or
in the opposite of these. From this
Greene dynasty there energies a com
petent outlook upon a very essential
part Of domestic life, an outlook whose
quality is shaped by shrewd observation,
keen insight, straight reckoning, upon
rugged grasp here and fine feeling
there. An engrossing story, a clear
commentary on one of the prime occu-
patlons of the world A vigorous in
vention on the part OF new novelist
Of the realistic persuasion.
n + n
THE MOLEHILL. BY Alice Richie.
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
A LITTLE thing is often momentous
"A in its effects. Such is the case
here. It is that slight matter that
names this new novel. The story itself
has to do with the girls leaving home
because of it, has to do with her eX-
periences in new place and among
new people Switzerland provides the
background for this experiment in those
accommodations from which content
ment, happiness and even success are
drawn. Such in a word is this story.
The story Of young girl. who IN an
Office life and in her temporary nome
tries to find such daily compensatlcns
as youth is always bent to secure for
itself. A study in character. in the
meeting of different strains of blood
and personality, of behavior and desire.
The characters created to give the CEN
trail figure, Caroline Bailey. purpose and
direction are the usual people that any
one meets, Is likely to meet, in business
Office and boarding house. It is the re-
actions of these to one another In the
familiar incidents of this not unusual
mode of life that constitute the story.
They psychology of the Office and the
dining table, its small attractions and
repulSions, are set down here with in
telligence and acumen, evolving such
associates as the average OF US meet
every day. Nothing happens. except
that being alive to ones own wishes and
desires is a tremendous happening. But
in the hands of this author these never
mount. to undue heights nor sink to
day existence being carried forward or
endured by the usual run of humanity
such is the action that this author
takes in hand with marked degree of
competency and certainty. Not des-
tined to be popular novel, not greatly
popular. Calculated, nevertheless, to
make decidedly favorable impression
upon the serious and critical reader Of
fiction.
MEMOIRS OF A GOTHIC AMERICAN.
BY Anne Kavanagh-Priest. New
York: The Macmillan Co.
THIS is a story. A woman, looking
backward something ike so years,
is telling the story of her life on farm
in New Hampshire. No. this is not
Renaissance of farm life as one con-
ceives it-work and more work. hard
and grinding and unlovely. That is
here In the story, to be sure. But as
the leaven lifting it out of the familiar
implication of farm life there is the in
tellectual impulse for which New Eng
land has stood from its beginnings.
Here is a girl in the midst of such sur
roundingS, endowed with an active, out
reaching mind. And. first. she talks
about the family. about her family,
about everybody's family, it turns out.
There is nothing else quite so delicate.
so fragile. when tested by speed as that
entity, the family. Tender, but utterly
frank. this woman goes back over the
trial years Of youth under the repres-
sions of the family. under its blessings
of love and care. even though mis-
guided love and care. The book con-
tains much of keen analysis of the
mind of youth, Of its desires running
counter to admonition and precept. of
it's resistance to wisdom in the interest
Of self-expression. in its pitiful lack of
vision. even though the urge to press
on be imperative and irresistible. High
in purpose. noble in attitude, long in
its range Of vision. exclusive and schol-
arly in its manner-this is, despite the
slightly intinidating effect Of these SUI
perb qualities book that deals at first
hand, out of the common stuff of daily
experience with the problems Of youth,
with the demands Of an expanding pres
ent, with future of growing urge upon
the individual. A great self-revelation
which. in effect. includes the New Eng
land family and the community as well.
A book to be read at leisure. and then
IN 40 rood o0oiy,