Evening star., 1932-07-24
~ IDA GIIBERI- -MYERZ
The Sculptor; Daniel Chester French h-Nezv
Novel by French Strother-An Omnibus
of Sport -Splendid Summer Books:
:An Omnibus

headway has, practically, gone by. says the
chronic carper. Maybe it has, though that is
doubtful But, even if it be so, what's to hinder
moving perfectly good adventure back lit
tie into the period that will dress 1t up with
plausbility Even if this author did not go to
that trouble, but passed on the widest Of old
wild West yarns wouldn't mind. He's a
good story-teller. And the gorgeous scenery
out that way is surely going to hold out. And
human nature is bound to act up nastiy a
good part OF the time-so let Zane Grey and
the rest of us alone. We are having a per-
fectly good time together.
Robbers Roost,' to give in point, is
corking story. young fellow from Wyoming
with just enough of retcence about himself to
enlist attention is the hero of this tale. An
English rancher come over to buy up land and
enjoy the big country, is the sheep for the
shearers, couple of bands of cattle thieves
that, working now together and now in hostility
to each other, keep the plot sufficiently tangled
to hold attention taut and to excite interest in
behalf Of the poor Britisher, who is booked as
the common victim of the two groups. ro-
nance very modest and quite in the back
ground till the last minute of the last hour, is
suggested now and then between this young
Wyoming rancher and the Englishmans sister.
The girl is useful, besides. in deepening enmi-
ties between the two outlaws, who have mo-
mentS Of vague desire toward this charming
young woman. The "-oost' itself Is canyon
cave, where the dramatic matter comes to
conclusive finale, with pistols in uncannily ex-
pert hands taking the place Of more orderly
forms Of justice. typical Zane Grey story of
the West. and a mighty good story it is.
CHRISTOPHER STRONG. BY Gilbert Frankau.
New York: E. p Dutton and Company.
IF one Of the primary purposes OF fiction is to
reflect life, as many students of the sub
ject declare it to be, one wonders why the
theme here made Of by Gilbert Frankau
is so generally neglected. Not often does ol.e
come upon novel founded upon that tender
period in the mddle-age Of the male when,
in desperation, he tries to recapture youth with
its powers Of lure and seizure, with its pas
sionate dominaticns and reckless errancies.
Such crisis in the mid-passage Of Christopher
Strong becomes the high point Of Gilbert
Frankaus new novel. Leading up to it is the
correct life of this successful business man.
this conventional member of society, this kind
husband and devoted father. member of Par
lament and other such decorous and orderly
conventions. Staid little heavy in speech
trifle stupefying in intercourse. That is, he
AL of these, till that malady of male middle
age and Spring day and Lady Felicity Dar-
rington combined against him. And the COM
bination was too much for Sir Christopher.
What to do? Youth must be served, yes, even
the recaptured youth of man against whom
time was rolling up the years in clear and
desperate damnation. His wife, his daugh-
tiers. his station, his respectability.
What to do? What do they do anyway in
such dilemma, these old-young adventurers
back into the joys and glamours of faded years?
However, this is Sir Christopher's story, not
that Of the hordes of men similarly placed.
Oddly enough, the girl loved him. Usually
they do not. But this one did And 50, and so,
there was an elopement-oh just little elope-
ment, only about a week long, that probably
never would have come out in the world if
this story-teller had been able to resist the
demands Of art in novel writing. of realism in
the portrayal of fictional characters. You may
feel that the author has conceded too much to
the modern latitudes in both life and itera-
ture. Well maybe he has. You must agree,
though, that he has done frst-class work in
portrayal Of character Sir Christopher exem-
plifes it. and that besides, while he may have
stretched the proprieties shade he has left the
truth untarnished in respect to the average
psychology Of the middle aged man.
FIFTEEN AND FIVE BY Abraham Bernstein.
New York: Liveright, Inc.
bit odd tina. one out of the million brilliant
writing cubs hadn't thought Of it before.
Thought of making the taxicab run the back
ground for an exciting phase of current life.
To be sure the average driver Is just driver,
concerned with fares, with getting there and
back again, Just as the average reporter is in
a hurry to snatch copy and run. Now and
then the two are united in youngster who
knows the quality of adventure, who has a
delving curiosity about human nature in its
strange reactions. who has, also. the gift of
making pictures and scenes out Of words. And
here you have the hero of this adventure in
the merry-go-round OF rapid city transit.
We come upon the hero of this moving scene.
Max Bremen, graduated from some sort of
school and searching the morning paper for
job. The column. Instrumentation set
him on his way, opened up work and there
after engaged this twentieth century Jehu in a
Il ad.r hot he ing