Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-03
THE LAST FULL MEASURE. BY Honore w.
Morrow, author Of Forever Free" etc.
New York: william Morrow & Co.

Morrow, author Of Forever Free, etc.
New York: william Morrow & Co.
1921 HE Civil War in It's general outline
has provided Mrs. Morrow with in
spiration and background for three
conspicuously fine and useful, novels
- on the great theme of Abraham
kincoln. Forever Free" with Malice Toward
None" and now THE Last Full Measure are
the acts of a mighty drama, eliminating with
the last one in the great American tragedy.
The setting of this story Is Washington IN
the last few months of Lincoln's life. Iumuit'
disorder the hatreds Of defeat. the arrogant
cr,,eties OF victory come together at the Capital
as4n open clashes of animoSity, in secret plot
tings for revenge. Out from the general con-
fusion there emergeS carefully guaroeo
movement, which, pieced together later, OUT
lines a definite plan, first to kidnap the Presl-
dent and. that failing to murder him. The
matter Is history now The assassination OF
Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth %
years ago in the Capital of the Nation, is on
its way toward dimness, toward the vagueness
of the legend A story that Americans must
remember, not because q Self-infated actor en-
visaeed himself in a role away beyond MS
powers and for which there was no occasion
not for that reason is remembrance due, out
rather for the greatness that was SO summary
cut off from further service to the great cause
for which Lincoln died.
For such debt of recollection and homage
on the part of Americans Mrs. Morrow mas
told the story again. the story OF Lincoln III
the days Immediately following the war; OF the
sinister intrigue that grew around him. Reao-
ing here one knows the climax OF this matter,
knows the story before beginning it. This
leaves the reader free to take notice OF the
complete realism of this tragic recital. just
as In actuality, big events and little happen
ings meet and blend here. meet and fall apart
to come together again, until the texture OF life
itself spreads over the pages of this story
There's a reason for such communicable reality
as this For, look where you Will, hardly ever
will you come upon SO thorough preparation
u this author set herself before the business
of writing began. Search and research In every
direction for authentic material upon this
period and this event Endless books read
and studied. This but the beginning. For,
once possessed OF this store, there was then
the long weeks of ripening within the authors
mind and heart. That, too, hardly more than
the beginning. Upon this foundation only
could true recreation be set. Then only was
the artist ready to project this national tragedy
in its progression of circumstance. in its star
Ting effect of reality, immediate and overhang-
ing The point is that she did become ready.
abundantly ready The book itself is complete
evidence of the gifts that went into its creation
It Is likewise-and here Is the importance OF
tan invaluable addition to the history OF that
critical moment in history. Again. 1t Is
an engrossing narrative which one follows with
a deep sense of personal partaking In It's
action, in its moments of acute suspense, OF
premonition, OF ominous presage. A fine study,
rounding up the great Lincoln trilogy for
which readers are in debt to Mrs. Morrow.
True artistry here, whose basis is hard work,
keen intelligence an unfailing sense of drama
working out in demonstration of our common
debt to the great American.
RED WAGON. BY Lady Eleanor Smith. In
dianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Co.
A FIRST novel. A story of the road. Read
8 rejoicing in it. and no wonder. 1t
is a change. Time, too, for q change, Here
it Is On odyssey of the circus. A song of the
road parade. Inside the first half mile you.
going along, feel the freshness of it, away from
the stuffy bcudoirs and bed rooms whose prob
lens beset us at every reading turn. To be
sure, a circus has its seamy side. This one
has But to Offset that, too much of it,
there is all out of doors for action here and
fairly 'ght line of behavior And this Is
distinct relief from the circuitous convoutions
of indoor work OF the average novel.
The story of the Big Top and OF Joe, who had
the circus in his blood. As baby, not much
more, Joe ate and slept and dreamed OF the
open road and the night show and the ex-
cited crowds and The amazing animals that
knew SO much more than all the folks round
about put together It is chiefly by way of Joe
that Lady Eleanor Smith delivers the circus in
such amazing fidelity of detail, in such an in
elusive sweep of its appearances and behaviors.
in so thorough a joy over its outdoorness and
difference from settled life. II there is one
thing about these travelling bands that this
author has skipped skhnped, wonder what
IL could be. Such wide and deep knowledge
upon a subject names its possessor scientist
or some similar exaltation. It is exactly this
fullness OF fact, intimate fact, that gives vital
ity buoyancy zest to this adventure of the
circus Included here is the story too. of