Evening star., 1930-05-11
% IDA GILBERT MYERZ
ALife Story of the Ruler Of the British
Empire-Another Book Of the australian
7ulqgy-Late Spring No0ek.

it, too, becomes the thing of her most meticu-
lous care. This, conscience of artistry with
every point minor as well as major, Is for the
purpose of true and convincing creation of the
real subject in hand-the fate of Richard Ma
honey as it is day by day defining itself through
his attitude and habit toward the new life
around HIM. In a word, here is a man build
ing not only his own character by the small
daily increments of his method of taking hold
of life, but who is building his future as well,
and his everlasting fate besides in that which
he leaves a legacy to the little world Of
which he is part. Sounds serious, doesn't itl
It is. But it is q vital thing, recognized by
the author as such and presented in a body
of realism that is not only deeply impressive,
but that in the end takes possession of the
reader as true exposition of human nature,
a particular personality building himself out
of the activities, small and big, that come
to him in the common run OF his existence.
There Is here, therefore, a spiritual realism.
founded upon psychologist appreciation and in
depreciation. There is q material realism or
portrayal by way of which that part of
Australia at the time with which it deals stands
alive in sum and in detail-a surprising ex-
ample Of such selection and combination as
reproduce scene and incident and action In
their actuality and In their significance. A
great story that moves by way of Dick Ma
honeys marriage to Polly-and the best move,
that, which he ever did nake-0f his failure as
storekeeper, of his taking up again his aban-
doned profession Of medicine and the effect Of
that. Finally there comes the going hack TO
England, the long dream Of his entire sojourn
in the wild country-and the curious last
minute homesickness of the sailing away from
Australia. However, we are not done with
Richard Mahoney, yet, and we shall know more
about him in the second volume of the three.
THE Way Home"
WHEN BEGGARS RIDE" BY George Agnew
Chamberlain, author of "Not All the Kings
Horses" etc. New York: G.. p. PutnamS
Sons.
TT Is said that there is no more laborious up
hill business than that of breaking ranks,
of passing from one order of life into another.
And it is said, further. that when designs upon
the social order rise from below, then of all
times, does society grid itself about defensively
with barricades against such intrusion, with
gas barriers and tear bombs and other devices
for holding its line thin and exclusive and
pure. Looks bit barbarous in method, doesn't
it! Yet, society must be protected against the
lawleSs and uninitiate. George Chamberlain's
new novel projects one of the familiar border
raids upon the elect. An ambitious woman,
left by thoughtful and successful spouse with
the wherewithal for making the social grade,
wisely betakes herself to Paris for the working
out of her scheme. The details of that scheme
its general course. its small gains and frequent
setbacks-these constitute the pattern woven
by this experienced novelist against the back
ground of Paris itself. That background Is one
OF the clear attractions of the whole. It is
pleasing and plausible in it's various clean n-cut
aspects. young daughter of the lady in the
case provides the element of romance that
serves to keep the breath of life in every novel
good and poor alike. MIR. Chamberlain is. how
ever, vigorous fellow who projects even the
supposedly delicate matter of love with q good
deal Of punch with smart turns of something
new to whet the dulling edge, with q first
rate hand at creating actual personalities that
arrest attention and command both respect and
liking where these are due. So, this becomes
continuously beckoning adventure, which one
follows in something of the ardor of o partisan
for the gallant assailants of the citadel of ex-
elusive circles. A partisan out Of plain
chivalrous sympathy-for the barriers set up
lgainst these really innocent and courageous
7omen are not exactly praiseworthy from what
Cver point of view they are examined Society
and diplomacy take almost equal hand here
showing how great q matter q little fire can
kindle.
HOT COUNTRIES. BY Alec Waugh author
OF The Loom Of Youth" etc. Woodcuts by
Lynd Ward. New York: Farrar 81 Rinehart.
tsTF there's a place where one can live on
10000 words year. it's well worth while
having look at It," This is Alec Waugh
talking, really, to himseh-and 1--WE rarely
been more penniess than I was at that
moment. All my life has been passed on a
shoestring. The moment that money comes
spend it, and there is more to the same effect.
The point Of concern here is, however that
away he went with none of the familiar pesky
getting ready, with no itinerary" with no
purpose more serious than to ease up his rest
less treading feet. This big book tells us
what happened to him, sailing the seas Com
ing upon Siam and CevlOn in the course of
time, up La Martinique and the New Hebrides
Coming upon Tahiti. And then I saw
Tahiti" An old story, you say. He said SO
too. Said that with Stevenson and Lott and