Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12
Oh THE NEW B(Q0NIl

Mr.. Quong comes of a race that has lived
long enough to CLEAN the wisdom out from
huge growths of folly, to temper rashness with
moderation, to soften irony into hunor. And
So here, with one deeply human episode after
another, the most of them gathered from the
streets of Chinatown itself, he spreads the tenn
pered philosophy of the Orient. And Tommie
Burke is the beloved interpreter of this old
Chinaman, OF this picturesque corner Of Lon
don endeared to us all by the magic Of one
Thomas Burke-Lord love himl
How interesting that this boy, born down
IimehouSe way, began early to put these Chinese
friends Of his into print, digging into words for
the ones that best turned Mr.. Quong and the
others out in the round so to speak, words that
gave them movement and attitudes and gestures
so that they have come alive to us as they
are to him, alive IN the essence Of their own
Oriental wisdom and subtlety of vision. The
first fable" THE Sweet Enemy" is beautiful
bit of evidence that hatred Is but love corrupted
by life. Each of the others is JOY.
WANDERING WOMEN BY John Cournos.
New York: Charles Boni.
NO ONE MAN. BY Rupert Hughes, author Of
Destiny" etc. New York: Harper & Bros.
THESE two distinguished novelists Of scien-
tific or quasi-Scientihc bent, here turn
their powers Of observation, training, expert
ence and fctional skill upon that old, old
theme the female of the species. The tnstinc-
Germ of both. In true investigating zeal each
sets up a laboratory equipped for chemical,
physical psychological experiment and research.
One establishes his clinic in Paris, the other in
this country. Both women are Americans.
Such the direction of these current stories Of
modern life. Diligent and painstaking, the
authors while pursuing the main line of their
chosen interest look out competently for proper
ccllaterals in the way of social scenery and an
engaging ensemble of wit and intelligence and
good nature and pleasing manners Without
these both efforts would be rather destitute of
either novelty other sustaining element. A
restless age, people of both sexes uneasy, be-
wildered, lead here and there and back again.
The novelist also a bit befogged but bent to
the main chance of getting ahead, turns the
young folks into copy, produces a good seller,
calls himself psychologist and some times gets
away with such claim. Not this time, however,
not in either case.
ARIEL DANCES. BY Ethel Cook Eliot Boston:
Little, Brown & Co.
THE clear object of this first novel is re-
yival and refreshment for readers almost
smothered under the Sex-ridden fiction pur-
veyed to them by swarming geniuseS of modern
realistic invention. Not an easy job. For over
across crowds of sophisticate young women
rather boring or getting that way-stands only
Polyanna. And she would never do.
novelist has but little choice. The man.
the woman, third for complications drift
of scenery, line Of episodes TO keep the trio
on the job and the readers awake. Not much
else.
However, the point of this romance is re-
freshment- And to find promise of it the writer
is forced to leave the country. Bermuda where
Ariel and her father. the painter live. Pleas
ing and plausible is this beginning bit idyllic
IN effect. Then, the change. The father gone
for always, the girl becoming part of New
England household in an up-to-date neighbor-
hood Of young folks. The matter gets ahead
by way OF contrast between the natural and the
artificial. UnobtruSive contrasts coming ffout
through many a simple incident, not sensed,
really, by the persons involved. Restraints Is
the keynote here. Any lack Of it would be
fatal, making Of Ariel an insufferable prig in
stead OF sane outstanding, fearless girl and
most lovely one. The prize young man, with
out which no novel could live minute, becomes
here the cause Of the old familiar rivaries and
mtrigueS and obvious contrivings. So the mat
ter progresses by way Of the common dongs Of
any locality with its social groupings. Two
people stand out here, where all Of them are
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