Evening star., 1933-01-29
not yet 30 and this Is his fifth novel and the
second to be chosen by the Book of the Month
Club. His novel IS. 8. San Pedro" was the se-
lection Of December, 1881.
NEVER ASK THE END. BY Isabel Paterson.
New York: william Morrow Co.


New York: william Morrow Co.
A POEM by Elinor Wyie, from a Breton
n lament, furnishes the title of Isabel Patez-
sons novel It ends, MY fathers lead .
dolorous life: Never ask the end" Ten years
after the World War, three Americans, two
women and man, who have known each other
well in the past. renew their acquaintance in
Paris. During the postwar period they have
passed from youthful maturity comfortable
stage-to middle-age, and regret the transition.
Pauline, beautiful Natter type, with delicate
long nose and clove-pink mouth" widow of q
periodical dipsomaniac, and Marta, clever, self
made woman, separated from her husband are
in Paris together. There they meet Marta's
old girlhood friend, Russell, technical director
of business firm. with headquarters at Ant
werp. He takes the two women for dinner to
HERMITAGE in the Bois and through their con-
Versation learn some of the clues to their
past lives. The three continue the companion
ship of that pleasant evening for some touring
of Europe. AS they travel, we learn all about
them from themselves and each other. This in
direct method Of telling the story has pleas
ant naturalness, though it does not make for
swiftneSs of impression.
OF course, they all discover that even in
the 40s the adventure of life is not necessarily
over. Pauline finds that she can love again, but
the field is not hers, and she returns to Amer
lea. Russell, knowing from his doctor and his
own intuitions that he is nearly through"
but hoping to hold out two years longer until
his pension Is due, still more less loving, at
least feeling still married to the wife from
whom he is separated, yet drifts into rela-
tionship with Marta. As Marta returns alone
to America, the melancholy, incessant motion
of the waves, wave after wave in endless sue
cession," adds to her depressed conviction that
now. indeed, youth is finally over. TT couldn't
last she thought. Nothing lasts. Or is there
something? There must be- what should
80 =
to offer. To be always young and light
footed, and in love. But we were none of those
things, yet valued each other" In witty
and critical comment many superficial
phases of life and at least one of its universal
emotions Never Ask the End" contributes to
the literature of modern realism, but its ma
terial Is neither broad nor profound
SARDINIAN SIDESHOW. BY Amelie Posse
Brazdova Translated from the Swedish.
New York: E. p. Dutton & Co.
CNTIRE nformality and lack Of literary
l. artifice make Nine Posse -Brazdova's &C.
count of her Sandman internment during the
World War a pleasant memoir of life in
foreign milieu. The things which interest the
author are not Sandman history education,
economics except in their very superficial as
pects), but "feas, eels, servants and aristO-
tions" wild boar, wild lilies and mild people,"
primitive music and drama" and more about
clerics-but mostly about food" When she
decided to join her Czech artist husband and
his compatriots in their internment she went
to see the italian novelist Graza Deledda, q
native Of Sardinia, to find out something about
the island The information she received about
cher stiff-necked and primitive but in reality
good-natured countrymen." proved very helpful.
The point Of view is always feminine, usually
artistic, never practical. The Sandman per-
sonalities appealed to their sprightly observer.
even when the street boys threw rotten figs
and tomatoes at her white dresses. The comic
character of the "Sideshow' was somewhat
marred by outbreaks of epidemic disease,
malaria, typhus, cholera. Then there were
furious mosquito hunts" every night before
going to bed, and in her marketing Madame
bought only food In hermetically sealed tins,
disinfectants and newspapers. When she was
arrested after . trip to Rome, by police In
spector, because Of the lack Of identification
papers, and was about to be hustled into .
ramshackle wooden hut-prison to spend Christ
mas, some bearded farmers. in appearance as
savage as bandits, came to her rescue, jumped
from the train, with rifles In hand, and put
the inspector and his carabinieri to flight. She
reflected that there were some advantages to
be enjoyed in q country not altogether ruled
by the arm of the law
HEPATICA HAWKS. BY Rachel Field. New
York: The Macmillan Co.
IN 1880 the John Newbery Medal for the best
] juvenile book of the past year was awarded
by the American Library Association to Rachel
Field for her book, "IIitty, Her First Hundred
Years." the story of a doll. Her latest book.
"Hepatica Hawkes. Is regarded by seasoned
judges of children's literature as perhaps the
outstanding juvenile book of 1892 and the best
story for older girls published in many years.
Hepatica is Is when the story begins and Is
over 6 feet inches tall. Her father Hallelujah
Hawks, is the giant in freak show, called the