Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-02
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWELL.

| the rounded smoothness OF her bosom
| and her thigh there was asserted some
ancient and iffiperious dominion OF the
flesh over all other mortal things. Her
bare shoulders were like the twin PAL
ance Of some primitive ana outiastlnR
and unarguable justice. 10
lores was unaware of the curious ouallty
of this nightly reception. There was
| always QUIET when she rode into the
ring. She knew they were interested in
her graceful physique, but she dld not
suspect her devastating erect upon
them"
Such is the heroine and such the
authors excuse for her, and the strange
thing is that perhaps the average .eaoer
will be perfectly willing to accept II:
Mr.. Oursler makes such a good 1op OF
his physical-spiritual lady. 1t Is true
that he bears rather lightly on one or
| two marriages, and throughout uses no
word which would offend. but he sue
ceeds in giving picture OF good
woman handled roughly by life.
Whether one agrees with the portrait
must depend in the last analysis upon
his own experience with life. The world
Is full of beautiful women. but In any
age there are only comparatively rev
who possess this Intangible magnetism
which exalts on the one hand or de-
grades on the other.
| II y
1.-The Worlds Delight" with its remi-
niscences of such great literary names as
Swirburne (who treated Adam rather
meanly), Dickens, Alexandra Dumas,
Walt Whitman, Charles Reade and its
memories of old wagon-show days. be-
fore the Civil War theatrical perform
ances in New Yoek and London. will
appeal to all who like good story well
told.
Here is the fictionized story Of the
first girl in America to wear bobbed
hair, to smoke cigarettes, live her own
life in her own way. In an age when
women's place was supposed to be In
the home and when women's actions.
and even thoughts. were carefully
mapped out for her to follow.
Dolores McCord "a much better name
than Adah Menken, one may think, and
more indicative Of the spirit Of the RirD
was a strange cross between intellec-
tuality and the things Of the flesh. In
her eyes was "a tenderness at once
supplicating, unearthly and defenseless."
(The author forpives her AGAIN.
She wanted to write great poems and
treasured her verse until the last. dying
in Paris with the proofs Of her first
and last--book held against her breast.
Now, there is pathos in this. and the
author brings 1t out with restraint.
There are several passages in the novel
for such it is-which are greater than
the book itself The cumulative effect.
too, is strangely disquieting. You can
not forget the Dolores McCord. the
Adah Menken of this book. any more
than those who knew her in real life
forgot her.
Her last performance in Paris was a
sort of triumph Her dressing room
was filled with guests. but she was tired
and i'll. "One suggestion did bring a
wistful smile to her mouth. It came
from an American lady Mrs. Eliza
Riggs. wife of a banker in Washing
ton, whom she had never met before.
but who had written her about her
poems You must be tired after such
strenuous season., whispered Mrs.
Riggs to Dolores, taking possession of
her. Why don't you run of with me
for a little holiday out of Paris?'
"'Ah, that does sound sweet to mel
exclaimed Dolores with touched and
grateful glance up into the mothering
face of this American woman. Since
Swinburne had unreeled his stanzas
there were not many proper ladies who
cared to have Adah Menken as their
guest. The two women looked at each
other and both understood" 1t is the
understanding reader who will enjoy this
book.