Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06


growing band of writer's who have
chosen to present one or another of
::::::e ma7vels of life in manner so SIM
pie, in truth so unassailable, in romance
and adventure so stirring as make fact
more astonishing and absorbing than
fiction.
A packed book, concerned at first
with the sea itself-"the greatest thing
God made"-with its behaviorS in calm
and storm and tidal action. The
swarming sea life becomes a pageant of
color and movement. an amazing spec
tacle of creatures that, through mil
lions of years of tutoring have come
into this, their native element" And
here. besides, are the first venturings
of man, the land lubber upon this
monstrous waste. And from these
comes the story of sea craft, a story
reaching from the rude makeshift float
to the modern liner" paragon OF
ticular story is that of the great days
of the clipper ship-a truly romantic
drama of the sea, it's agent the most
beautiful of all sea riders. The steam
ships of commerce, the pleasure yachts
and sporting craft find places here in
a truly absorbing action. More than
hundred pictures materially give aid
to the print itself. Almost a library
is this book Yet, not once does it
suggest the lined-up books of such a
collection Instead, every page leaps
out into action that is alive and de-
manding, stirring and often dangerous
action.
Mr.. Bridges is an expert in turning
the accepted facts Of the common day
into the romance of their beginnings
and progress up into the present. His
book of inventions is proof. So is his
story of discovery that takes readers
all over the world with famous rovers
Marco Polo, Raleigh, Columbus, and,
nearer by, Amundsen, Peary and Scott.
Call this book of adventure. Go with
it through a thousand activities. Then,
at the end, you will find yourself in
possession of many of the facts of life
given to you in the most entertaining
of ways.
THE BLACK HOUSE IN HARLEY
STREET. BY ]. s. Fletcher, author
of THE Root of All Evil" etc. New
York: Doubleday, Doran g. Co.
EIRST rate. Off the beaten path
of mystery tales The great de-
| tective is, happily. not here. Indeed,
the business of detection is in this case
carried on from a point OF departure,
so naturally taken and SO plausibly pur-
sued as to constitute completely fresh
surprise to the reader. And that's the
| best thing that can be said about this
story, or any other one of the tribe.
That too familiar super-sleuth has
grown depressingly thin and trans
| parent. But this affair has another
count to its credit. That Is the villain
| himself. An international crook OF
smooth exterior and a perfectly good
| profession to sustain him in the respect
| and patronage of rich folks, chiefly
women. A doctor of sorts, strong on
overtaxed nerves and excessive emo
| tionalism. The adroitness with which
| the author holds DR.. van Mildart tor
almost an entire story length from sus-
picion even accounts, in large part, for
| the excellence of the whole. The de-
tective is, however, the highest point
| here. You will agree, I'm sure. The
| social group roundabout, that upon
which the suave doctor plays, Is OF good
| quality Its young people busy with
| their love-making are OF acceptable
| substance, the foolish women around
| the doctor are Just foolish enough to
get away with a fair share Of the en-
! tertainment. The crimes are believable,
| Just now, though few years ago they
| might have seemed incredible. Upon
| the whole, here is one of the few mys-
| tery tales that does not leak its mys-
terry Immediately after setting out upon
| its course of crime and infamy.
THE YOUNGEST ONE. BY Katharine
Haviland Taylor, author OF Gross
Currents" etc. New York: Double
day, Doran & Co.
THE background of this novel is tina
l. of a clergyman's family-a gooo
man, vague wife. three daughters, and
the familiar neighborhood OF church
and church-goers. The romance deal;
with Valette, the youngest of the three
daughters. The general problem IS the
universal and immemorial one-that OF
| finding husbands for these girls. Much
of the matter deals with the familiar
| technic of this worldwide undertaking
Finally, such success ensues as the
marriage of TIE older ones to more OF
| less suitable partners. A mildly Satirlc
picture of matrimony goes along Win
/ the story itself by way Of the two
households that carry on beside the
main issue, which is the destiny OF
| VaIette herself. After awhile left alone
| without meanS-no business man, that
minister-Valette's career becomes the
main engrossment. At this point, the
romance slips into the current OF mod
ern life. Valette, really beautiful ano
with a slim talent becomes a stage
| entertainer. I think the name OF
Keith comes out in connection with her
work At any rate, there she Is, a
minister's daughter, a stage favorite-
and. naturally, in great danger. Valette
| Is innocent. almost unbelievaoly lgno"
rant. and besides, she is honest and fair
dealing. Just no equipment at all. you
must agree, for anything but disaster
| And disaster comes What she does to
meet it, what it does with her, how
| her family stands up to the rack, OF
! does not-theSe are points with which
| the adventure concerns itself. One likes
| Valette. The author claims for TINS
story of the girl who went wrong-that
| is what they called it--an obligation
| on her part toward the youth round
| about. The explanation is too long to
| give. 1t is in the book. But, in a
| word, this novel sums, in intent, to q
| defense of the girl of the moment
| Whether it is or not depends entirely
on the quality of the reader, as every
other matter of opinion depends upon
| such quality. This is good story
But-the girl of the moment-God bless
| her!-needs neither defense nor ex-
| planation. One thing we know. She S