Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17

That she so I'LL ner lie dS W regain
many things lost along the way OF
being simply good mother, a good
housewife. sShe succeeds. There is no
comment either by this wife or this
author upon the fact that when she
becomes a vital factor In the town life,
becomes an efficient aid in many direc
tions. that this husband comes to, so to
speak, in a realization that his wife Is
blamed fine woman and that, II he
can, he is going to get acquainted with
her. 1t is beautiful story because 1t
is so we'll conceived, so well projected.
There Is here none of the emotionalism
that requires misunderstanding and
reconciliation for its support. Rather
is this the story OF marriage approached
with reason and good intent, with deep
concern and genuine desire to make 1t
the going concern that this particular
marriage was capable of being. There
is a confidence in this book. in the
purpose and treatment and outcome OF
it, that passes from the author into
the enthusiastic acceptance and inter-
est of the reader. No wonder that 1t
is moving so quickly out into the tide
of popular novels. Fine in tone, high
in outlook, definite in intent. it deserves
all that comes its way.
MOTHER OF KINGS. BY Norval
Richardson, author of THE Cave
Woman" etc. New York: Charles
Scribner'S Sons.
THE story Of Letizia Bonaparte,
mother of Napoleon A book that
belongs, clearly, with the great body
of literature on the subject of Napoleon,
since it is historic in outlook and treat
ment. historic also in its bearing upon
the life of the great Corsican. On the
other hand, this Is the good story for
general readers who enjoy romances
that are based upon facts in the lives
of famous men and women. 1t Is pro-
iected in the mood and in the manner
of romance with incident, action, indi-
viduality upon it. Beginning as pic
ture of the life of the Corsican peasant
1t soon draws from this immediate
setting the commanding personality, the
dominating traits Of Letizia Bonaparte.
These are the qualities by way OF which
this remarkable woman moves into the
larger sphere of influence that bears
directly upon the career of her remark
able son. The two together determine
the destiny of every other son and
daughter Of the family. Estrangement
comes, as it would with two masters IN
the field, but at bottom there was al
ways the influence of Letizia over
Napoleon, a force greater than that
exercised by any other woman, certain
ly. It Is a romantic story, romantic
chapter of history, its end defeat and
tragedy and loneliness. It's moods tally
with the varying aspects OF the theme
itself and this is one OF the reasons
why 1t is a romance Of high adventure
and stirring interest.
PRETTY SINISTER. BY Francis Beed-
ing, author Of 1.-THE Six Proud
walkers" etc. Boston: Little, Brown
g. Co.
| TN order to make good the promise OF
its title this book makes use OF two
separate sets Of crooks. both working
, for a single end, each working against
| the other Is so far as the plans Of each
come within hailing distance of the
other. The common villainy Is that OF
securing a great fortune inherited by a
| Russian girl of high degree. The Rus
sian Grand Duchess has surely been a
god-send to the inventor Of the mys-
terry tale. However, the business In
hand for each Of these gangs is to
come into possession Of the documents
declaring the conditions OF the in
heritance and discovering the where
abouts Of the loot The girl herself is
hidden away in Sham Castle" in the
north of the British Islands. Maybe
she herself has the fortune in hand
To discover her retreat. to settle this
point becomes at once the motive force
of these two groups Of desperadoes
Well, you can see what the girl Is In
for, what you, as reader. are in for. too
For Francis Bleeding Is an inventive
fellow, able to turn and twist on him
self like the mental acrobat that he
so clearly Is. He does every turn here
never misses q one. And, If you can
keep track Of the involutions and con-
volutions of his mind and body during
this performance you will come upon a
very exciting matter. That Col. CRANKY
Of the English Secret Service. who
helped so remarkably In 1.-THE Six Proud
Walkers" Is on hand again it is a good
thing. that he Is. For no one man, not
| even so adroit and slippery q man as
the author Of this mystery yarn could
have brought the matter off without
him. Yes, there's lover after the
girl. too, and. more by the grace of
shrewd writer than by the stripe of
the fellow himself, there is an affec-
tomato moment at the close of the
whole tumultous affair. Such a lot is
expected Of the reader of the crime