The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-02-10
BY WALTER d. HICKMAN

BY WALTER ID. HICKMAN
INFANT you to meet Olivia Curtis
w on her seventeenth birthday
In the very strict English home of
her parents in England
Olivia is not even an English flap
per and her thoughts do not even
concern petting parties, fancy legal
drinks of Great Britain or even sex.
But Olivia, always surrounded
with chaperones as we'll as her very
careful mother really hates to have
birthday because a birthday
breakfast is just something stiff and
rather a bore in the Curtis house
hold.
Olivia knew that her elder sister
Kate would be rather jealous but
human in her kindness; that mother
would have a very proper present
and that Uncle Oswald-well uncle
was a funny old dear-in fact the
birthday breakfast would be just the
same as she always remembered
them.
But it was different because
mother gave her a marvellous piece
of clothe for a party goWn-a gown
for her first formal function, a great
waltz dance in the home Of nobility
Even Uncle Oswald opened up his
meager purse and poured gold into
her birthday hands
You will meet Olivia, the Curtis
family and the entire neighborhood
in Invitation to the Waltz" by
Rosamond lehman published by
Henry Holt & Co. Sells for So.
The beauty about this novel is
that nothing really serious happens
to Olivia and her sister, Kate. The
thing that does start to happen is
that both girls arrive at the mental
conclusion that life was going to
begin" for them, that the ShackleS
of strict home life no longer would
control their every movement and
thought.
Not very exciting you say To me
1t is more so because it has truth
fully reflected normal youth of Eng
land. not the exception.
When it comes to character draw
ing of English characters, Miss Leh-
mann is just as successful as when
Booth Harrington draws an Ameri-
can whether he be old or young.
There is one character which will
surely get into your heart and that
is the old maid dreSsmaker, Miss
Thompson. who creates" Olivia s
gown for her first big party.
The old maid is a gigantic collec-
ton of don'ts, ordered by her always
ailing mother. Here is such a pitt
fully human drawing of a miserable
human being that it becomes of the
high lights of Invitation To The
Waltz"
Miss Thompson appears only in
one chapter but you will remember
this pathetic creature who has shut
love out of her life on the orders
of her mother.
More tremendous character draw
ing is revealed in the collection of
English men and women. old and
young at the great dance.
And Olivia DISCOVERIES that these
lOdQDU
with sex, strange ambitions, jealousy
deceit and mSavory personal habits.
Does Olivia want release from the
apron strings of her mother Nature
and youth gives the answer although
1t is merely an echo.
Here is tremendously fine and re-
freShing writing. 1 suggest you
read Invitation To The Waltz"
Scandal? Well, so it must have
been. Can you imagine what the
Archdeacon thought when the Gus
tom officers opened his luggage and
in one case discovered a flaming
suit of ladies pajamaS instead of
the learned gentleman's veStment.
If you want to get in on this de-
licious nonsense, then read Eliza
beth and the Archdeacon." bv
George A Birmingham. Published
by BobbsM Merrill.
Fannie Hurst has written a new
novel and that very statement will
put it in best selling positions for
months TO come. Imitation of
Life" is the rather unappetizine
title. In this story you meet Bea
Pullman who turned a waffle shop
into a chain system and made mil
lions with the aiG of a Negro wom-
an. Dehlah. Fannie Hurst's Bea
Pullman and Sinclair Lewis Ann
Vickers' will be the most discussed
women of fiction for the next six
months. Bea is a success in bust
ness, but a failure in love.
=
Both light and heavy books are
found most in demand in non-fic-
ton, according to reports from
Brentano stores. The list includes:
Contract Bridge Blue Book" bv
Culbertson; Design for Living" the
play by Noel Coward; 100 900 600
Guinea Pigs" by Kollet and
Schlink; British Agent" by Bruce
Lockart; Money Contract" by
p. Hal Sims. and Life Begins at
Forty" by Walter B. Pitkin.,