Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-21

character cOmporLlng lISelI IN us own
set of circumstances as it does here.
rent medium of existence. The facts
have been sifted to their Illuminating
essentials, the new knowledge Of mind
in its workings has been applied, an
artists imagination has worked in this
case, and craftsman's skill has
nodded the whole into a reality Of
human existence at highly pic
turesque and momentous point. A
compelling book. exacting, too, since it
sets upon the reader the pleasurable
and exciting business Of not missing
a single one of its sentences, since
every one is packed with both picture
and history and true human stuff,
THE WOOD-CARVER OF TYMPUS.
BY Mary E. Waller. Wood cuts by
Walter Buehr. Boston: Little, Brown
81 Co.
THIS new issue of Mary Walters
NOVELS years after-stands as
silver anniversary between this novel
ist and the great public that within
the period, has found happiness in
THE Wood-Carver Of 'Lympus." One
assumes that not many books, not many
novels, could stand up under the strain
OF so long a life. Yet. as one reads
date In its contact and effect as if 1t
had just made its initial bow to read
erS. Here is a hero-and everybody
likes hero. This one proves his tenn
per under a blow that might come
to any one. An accident, especially
in these days of tumult and run. might
come upon you or me, bringing with
with these years? Well suppose we
read what this young Vermonter did
when a falling log took the life out of
his legs and seated him for the rest of
his days. No. this is not a Sunday
school story. as these commonly run.
1t Is, instead, story Of good pluck,
Of taking hold at some seizable point
In the new order so suddenly imposed.
1t Is a story of readjustment in a
only odd moments Of dismay and dis
couragement. 1t is a story, besides, of
the whole countryside roundabout, of
the neighbors in this region, each one
distinct in his own character and lido
syncrasy 1t is a wide picture, more
over, of mountain and valley, of Win
ter and Summer. in the Green Noun
tain State. Within this setting so
faithfully and feelingly set out here, is
the growth Of this boy in hand-craft
that in the course Of no very long time
brought touches of the world outside
to his chair in recognition of both him
and the thing that he had taught him
self to do, to be The Wood-Carver of
'Lympus." the New England mountain
beside which he lived. 1t is such in
coming of the outside world that
broadens the story Of heroism and high
heart to receive people who bring men,
cries OF other places, far places, for the
pleasuring OF the cripple. for our own
n1aa m
nothing short of direct and hearty
Thanksgiving should go to Little. Brown
g. Co. for the reissue Of this novel of
true optimism. this story Of splendid
human courage.
PROCESSION OF LOVERS BY Lloyd
Morris. author of "Rebellious Puri-
tan" New York: Harcourt, Brace
and Company.
GIOVANNI BoCcACc1o set the
~ fashion. The fashion of grouping
friends around him to listen to the
amazing tales he had to tell. In
Vulnerable narrators have followed the
pleasantly easy and unconventional
way of this prince Of romancers who
left the legacy of certain literary
art-form to all the years that have come
after him. Here, seated among friends,
Lloyd Morris, like his celebrated model,
tells of stories of love-just at Boccaccio
did. For of truth there is no story
to tell, in any time or place, but that
surprising story of love.
From Sappho's loves on the island
Of Lesbos in that far day of her ex-
istence on up to the seemingly recent
passion of Kit Marlowe. the tales of
devotion and of certain tragedy run.
Turn and turn about. according to Mr..
Morris plan, members of the company
contribute to the romantic ceremonial.
Below the spot where they are gathered
lies the little French village TO which
lone long ago. so tradition says, came
Lazarus and Mary and Martha, driven
there by their prosecutors and the sea
tides of the Mediterranean. And here
follows a very beautiful story, that OF
the love of Magdalene for Jesus. Some
one tells of the fierce loves of the Bor-
gias and another goes back for the
well-beloved tale Of Heloise and Abelard.
And others bring forward other great
lovers-a fascinating theme that seems
to lose nothing of interest even though
pierced by the skeptic smile of Grass
unbelievers. Something about the man.
ner Of this Lloyd Morris-a romantic
man. open to the subtle surroundings
that are assumed to rouse the tender
sentiment. sympathetic to the signs
and wonders of the grand malady. soft
and poetical with the words that carry
the passion onward. and outward. A
good story teller. in a word. A good
teller of that particular kind of story
and specially happy in his choice Of
this procession of the love-stricken, or
the love-lost. Just novel device made
use of by a truly fascinating writer,
by a most companionable man to those.
certainly. who feel the charm Of these
old lovers.
UNDINE. BY Olive Schreiner. author
of THE Story of an African Farm"
etc. New York: Harper & Bros.
TN an introduction to "Undine' S. c.
Cronwright-Schrein gives the cir
cumstances under which the story has
been produced. somewhat belatedly.
The material of the novel and the novel
itself are both Olive Schreiner. In
the budget of papers from which a
biography of the writer was to be
drawn there came to light the manu-
script Of "Undine." Not entirely COM
plete, but added to later through fresh
discoveries in the way Of missing chap
tiers. So. all in all. there was assembled
the matter that stands here as the
story of the childhood Of Olive Schreiner
In South Africa. Her latest work, even
though 1t deals with her earlier years
The vividness of The Story Of an
African Farm" is here. So is the rich
external detail that builds this region
anew in the consciousness of the
reader The keen insight. the subtle
intuitions. the intellectual vigor Of this
writer are all here. toned and keyed
to the years of childish observations
and thoughts with which the book deals.
Above all, here again is the wide
African landscape-unlovely land-"red
sand, great mounds Of round iron
stones. and bushes never very beautiful
to look at now almost burned into the
ground by the blazing Summers sun.
An old Dutch farmhouse the brightest