Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-22

n becoming the way OF noveltStS
Among the very best of them, at
that
The traditional theme appears to
be q fading formula for fiction
That individual hero or heroine, using the
old home as q Springboard for leaping off into
romance Of incredible pattern and still more
unbelievable outcome-this, as a working de-
sign seems to have weakened beyond the ac-
ceptanee of readers, save those Of the most
elementary powers.
1t looks as If the story, like so much else in
the common life, has caught spark from
science itself. If the novel is in basic intent
a reflection of life, as literary students have
declared it TO be, then, clearly. tits high time
for fiction to shed its fairy-tale inconsequence
its magic it's miracle even, its happy ever
after climax of impoSsibility and abSurdity
Time for it to take on sequences OF fair and
revealing scope, to base itself upon essential
truth, to command q logic of development to
provide peFspectives of proof and Illumination.
And so WRITER'S in increasing numbers, are
needing this forward call to them. In re-
Spouse, the old three-volume novel has come
back, but Of a purpose different from the
earlier one. The ancient saga is here again,
also with q difference. Mr.. Galsworthy repre-
SCENTS the modern saga by way of the Forsytes.
Hugh Walpole, through old Rogue Herries and
his line. But, even the one-volume novel Is
Winding the new impulse. The family itself
in one or another of its qualities and powers
is crowding that single member Of the house.
hold in a bid for literary honors. Mrs. Stones
''The Almond Tree" is a case in point. That
strange and strong 1.-The Lady Who Came to
Stay" is another. There others, equal as
proof that the individual is giving way, as
story stuff, to the larger unit the more reveal
ing unit Of the family or tribe.
The outstanding representative Of the gen.
ealogical tree in fiction is Mr.. Galsworthy and
the Forsytes. Inseparable since 1t is not pos
sible to think of the one without the others.
Yet, just lately, Mr. Galsworthy has written
novel that was not gathered of the tree OF
generations, father. son and grandson. But,
has he done that?
MAID IN WAITING. BY John Galsworthy
author of THE Forsyte Saga" etc. New
York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
1.-THE Bishop of Porthninster was sinking
fast they had sent for his four nephews
his two nieces and their one husband It was
thought that he would not last the night"
He did not last the night. And, despite his
own clear intent to follow another trail, Mr..
Galsworthy is off upon fresh tribal quest.
In original purpose the romance stands in
Its title Maid in Waiting. Suggestion Of
queens and courts here. Nothing like that. A
modern young woman waiting upon life in
stead. One of the family with whom the novel
is so deeply concerned. The matter gets ahead
by way of young Hubert Cherrell's misfortune,
or incompetence of in South America, where
i'm self-defense, so he said-he had shot a
man and, besides had rendered futile the ex-
plorations of young American who had left
the EngliShman in charge there. That Is, in
effect, the story. The point, to avert extradi-
ton measures against Hubert Cherrel for trial
in the zone of his offense. The task Of his
sister, Dinny Cherrel, chief figure in the ro-
nance, is to be so entirely modern as to take
over the case of her brother, doing, or trying
to do, the many things that he should have
done for himself but did not. The various
plans Of the girl, her enormous activity in the
case her successes and failures, make up the
bulk of the action. OF course, the rest of the
family-"four nephews, two nieces, their one
husband" and the friends of these, give help,
but it Is Dinny herself who leads off. Just
possible that this tale is. after all, mere ale
CORY Of satirical slant whose theme is the on
coming and all-doing woman. Not likely, how
ever. Mr. Galsworthy is not given to irony
not blunt irony. Let us say that at the end
of the matter the Maid" is still "in Waiting"
No, he has not appeared, not yet, though there
Is the dimmest sort of suggestion that the
young American, so outraged at her brothers
incompetence, may come after Dinny, and may
find her waiting for him. But that, If it does
happen is clear outside this novel-it might
take two more to complete such an idea. An
other saga?
Very interesting, Mr. Galsworthy's reluctance
to leave the deep consideration of English life.
Pages and chapters dwell upon its minutest
details, upon its significance to the English peo-
pie. Fine and beautiful-but not in any sense
a departure from the work that he has already
done SO beautifully and so acceptably.
Again, the authors desire to be up-to-the-
minute modern in respect to Dinny Cherrell,
to all of the others, in fact, but to her in par
ticular, is patiently an unfulflIed desire. And,
indeed. an unfortunate attempt. Never in his
life could he have understood the sporting,
risking young woman, she performs today.
nF h vNIn nIr
would have been out of that particular place.
However, there is very much that is of the
true Galsworthy spirit here, very much of the
charm for which this author has been beloved