Evening star., 1934-03-18
BOOKS
Continued from Eleventh. Page.

In the quarter century between the first settle
ment at Marietta and the beginning OF the
War of 1912. DIR. Bond professor of history
in the University of Cincinnati, thinks that
the Old Northwest has been neglected in his
tory, but that the civilization based upon corn
and wheat, upon pigs and cattle and upon
hard, unremitting labor" is as worthy of ad-
miration as the more romantic civilization OF
the Old South. He supports his claim well in
this interesting narrative, the material for
which he has secured by much study Of con-
temporary newspapers, books pamphlets, man.
uscripts and official documents. The settlers
OF the Old Northwest came from New England,
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia
and the Carolinas and fought their way across
the mountains, down the rivers and over the
plains
Settlements west of the Alleghanies had been
begun by English royal governors, but had not
progressed far when the American Revolution
concentrated Colonial attention on the East.
After the Revolution immigration began to
assume the proportions Of definite occupation
of the new territory. Government was soon
set up in the wilderness, territories were formed
States succeeded territories. Many problems
confronted the settlers, the same problems
which had earlier made life struggle for the
colonstS of the Eastern seaboard-the Indians,
clearing the land, pioneer agriculture, the OPEN
ing of communications, the beginnings of trade
and industry. The chapters on cultural and
social foundations and religion and order are
examples of thoughtful historical analysis. DR..
Bond finds that the newly formed American
colonial policy was vindcated in the Old North
west, which handed its pattern of civiliza-
ton to the later settlers west Of the Mississippi.
When the economic clash came between North
and South the democracy Of the Northwest
allied itself with the liberal elements of the
North"
CHELBURY ABBEY. BY Denis Mcakail. Gar
den City, N. Y: Doubleday, Doran & Co.
A RARE old abbey estate, ruined fortunes,
the necessity for sale under pressure of
high tazatior-an these are everyday troubles
among the English landed aristocracy. Until
recently the wealthy American In search of
prestige as well estate was the hated
solution, hut within the past few years wealthy
Americans have been having their own troubles.
Denis MacKai' has in 'Chelbury Abbey" created
a flctional situation based these realities.
The seventh Earl of Wick, after living for long
in careless comfort, is finding the gray-brown
mass of Cheibury, with its 85 chimneyS, too
heavy burden for his decreasing resources.
Over his lawn at teatime walks the handsome
young American, John Ellery, who is a keen
student of architecture, on business in England
for his wealthy father. Present at tea is Lady
Penelope Lamley, modern daughter of the earl,
who has secret plans for going to London and
taking job in a speciality shop. OF course,
Ellery does the obvious thing and falls in love
with her. They become engaged at about the
time when Ellerys father makes an option
payment on Chelbury. The earl and Lady
Wick are gracious toward the affair Then
Lady Penelope discovers that she really loves
another man After she is released by Ellery
the news comes from America that his father
Is bankrupt and that the payment on Chelbury
must be forfeited, as the purchase cannot be
completed. The earIs family feel that, consid-
ering everything. the broken engagement is
-all for the best" The curtain falls on Lady
Penelope's wedding to Guy Buckland. John
Elery returns to America where he will prob
ably soon feel that it is "au for the best" for
him, too. The story rambles along pleasantly,
over the delightful English countryside, un-
marred by the stringencieS OF its propretorS.
The emotions are only gently sad, not at all
trrevocaole.