Evening star., 1934-08-05

appears to be the chief reason for
the need Of managing public opinion.
Other reasons, themselves growing out
of democracy, are increase in popular
participation in government, exten-
sion of education, improved methods
of communication, large-scale produc-
ton, mass consumption and the need
for mass impression, and expansion OF
governmental activities, with increased
dependence on public support. The
struggle now developing over public
opinion centers on the question, who
shall manage it. The question is vital
and the struggle grows ever more plt-
ter. In It's solution Is involved the
future of democracy.
HOLY DEADLOCK. BY A. P. Her
bert. Garden City: Doubleday,
Doran g. Co.
Mr.. HERBERT is not the first who
III has in the guise Of fiction taken
a shot at the iniquities and anomalies
of the English divorce laws. Arnold
Bennett in his novel, Whom God
Hath Joined" treated the subject
with more intensity and denuncia-
ton and less ironic humor, but not
more seriously in intent, than does
Mr.. Herbert. Holy Deadlock" is q
burlesque, but one which does not
distort, II it does accentuate, actual
facts. Judged as fiction, apart from
its social purpose, 1t is far below that
delightful satire of broader scope,
without propaganda motive, The
Water Gipsies." 1t is, nevertheless,
a human story, not solely an argu-
mentative document. The problem
of John and Mary Adam (maiden
name Mpry Eve), who have been
married eight years and in spite OF
reasonable effort have not made q
success of the experiment, and now
wish to separate and try again with
other partners, already selected, is
made very concrete apd is never al
lowed to lapse into q mere symbol.
Because they are both decent and
wish to remain truthful, they fiI1d a
divorce impossible. First, John is
obliged to "act like a gentleman"
that is, let his wife divorce him, and
for this the first step is to spend
week end somewhere with another
woman, allow himself to be observed.
and send the receipted hotel bill for
himself and wife" to Mary. His
two attempts to carry out this pro-
gram, in which he is q blundering
novice, first with Miss May Myrtle,
whom he secures from q highly re-
spectacle agency, and second with
unprepossessing Miss Tott. who comes
down with measles over the week
end, afford Mr.. Herbert fine
opportunity for extravagant and
malicious humor. BY overlapping the
chambermaid on the first occasion,
because he Is nervous, John defeats
his purpose, for Rose Parkins as a
witness persists in testifying to his
propriety, instead Of his misconduct.
The second attempt to provide evi-
dence succeeds better, though Johns
conscience troubles him because Of
the falsehoods he is obliged to tell
and the realization that he is guilty
Of "a conspiracy to deceive the court
and pervert the processes of justice"
But Mary receives her decree nisi
and begins to think Of her wedding
OLA AEOAAb4Ao AAC4ACC WAbAA IN2aA I'LL kCdA,
popular announcer with the British
Broadcasting Corporation, while John
sees Joan Latimer, quiet schoolmis-
tress in a country school for girls,
and begins to make inquiries about
a little house in Smith Square
Then Mary's troubles begin. Here
tofore the troubles have been Johns.
She learns good deal about the
necessity for avoiding all appearance
Of evil during the probationary six
months, also about the meaning of
'collusion," "connivance," conduct
condoning," the kings proctor" and
discretion of the court" She tries
to be absolutely truthful, contrary to
the limited advice of her solicitors,
when her case again comes before
the court, and her decree niSi is re-
scinded because she confesses to a
certain concealment on account of a
desire to keep Martin Seals name
out of the proceedings. for fear of
his losing his position with the B.
B. c. John Adams position with an
educational publishing company has