Evening star., 1937-03-24
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
BY MARGARET GERMOND.
THE EMOTIONAL JOURNEY. BY w.

IHE EMOTIONAL JOURNEY. BY w.
B. Maxwell New York: d. Appleton
Century Co.
Beyond its story" writes Mr.. Max
well in predatory note on 1.-THE Emo
tional Journey" "the book is intended to
carry support to the theory that emo
tions are essentially Of more consequence
than adventures in life, and that when
one looks back at it feelings rather than
events are remembered. Indeed, to feel
is to live. Cease feeling and life is over.
In this sense every life is an emotional
journey"
The story is the second in series that
began with Tudor Green" planned by
Mr.. Maxwell upon the basic idea that
men and women, regardless Of social or
economic status, are interesting I'm
actual life,' he states, 1--WE are interested
by almost numberless men and women
of whom we know scarcely anything at
all, interested by others of whom we
know little more, and by very few
OF whom we eventually learn a COM
plete life story" And by drawing from
these groups in real life the models for
the f1cttonal roles herein enacted he
presents an absorbing study in human
emotions and behavior
Against the decidedly entertaining and
colorful background OF London's literary
and artistic circles, with representative
characters from the two minor groups
of interesting men and women as the
supporting caste, five stars of ma ior
magnitude portray the journey upon this
earth of the very few of whom we
eventually learn a complete life story"
David Bruce, dean OF English letters;
Gordon Lake, promising young author;
Bridget Addington, ward of the esteemed
president of the Authors and Artists
Welfare Association; A. F. Duncan, an
enterprising London publisher, and Lady
Beryl Sinclair, genuinely admired and
sincerely loved society leader, share
honors for faithful adherence to char
acter and performance.
At fifty, David Bruce is the type of
man that every member of his species
wishes he might be. He is respected by
host of admirers, trusted by large
circle OF acquaintances and loved by a
small company of friends, not any of
whom know the story of his life. He has,
as matter of fact, been intimately
acquainted with many sides of life and
has enjoyed or endured every emotion
to which the human soul is subject save
two Hatred and the humiliation of
disgrace have played no part in his
active and at times dramatic career.
Bridget Addington, young woman of
sterling qualities, has been the ward
of Bruce since the death of her mother
some twenty or so years ago. Gordon
Lake, worthy young writer, has be-
come acquainted with Bruce and his
ward. and between the three q warm
friendship has developed. Romance buds
between these two splendid young people,
suffers blight and nearly dies before
a stronger emotion than even young
love grips their hearts and intensifies
their devotion to the man whose happi-
ness means more to them than does
their own.
Lady Beryl Sinclair is but one OF
many colorful figures in the brilliant
company of London's social and literary
circle until the tragedy which threatens
to ruin David Bruce affords opportunity
to reveal the woman as against the
social leader. And on the other side of
the major story is Augustus Frederick
Duncan, owner of a thriving publishing
house, whose chief purpose in life in
addition to acquiring a fortune Is to
crafty an overwhelming desire to hu-
initiate and ruin David Bruce.
Hatred, the most powerful of all hu-
man emotions, recognizes no limiting
bounds when it seeks revenge for an
actual or an imagined grievance For
years Duncan has sought to topple
Bruce from the pedestal of public
esteem At last opportunity knocks, and
Duncan responds with enthusiasm He
acquires bit of evidence that on its
face indicates that Bruce's most famous
novel was stolen from Ralph Addington,
his devoted friend and a one-time IA
nous author. Plagiarism, the most ig-
noble act that an author can commit,
is charge which Bruce declines to deny
or admit London Is shocked; Bruce'S
admirers soon begin to doubt his in
tegrity: his acquaintance and once
trusted friends gradually drift away.
| But Bridget Gordon Lake and Lady
Beryl remain loyal throughout the
| tempest.
Triumph is. OF course, the note on
which the story ends. It could not be
| otherwise for David Bruce. For Bridget,
| Gordon and Lady Beryl there is also
| triumph as the story behind the ap-
| parent evidence OF plagiarism reveals
| the whole life story OF man whose ex-
| periences give basic truth to the idea
| that emotions are essentially of more
| consequence than adventures in a life,
and that when one looks back at it feel
| ings rather than events are remem-
| bered"
THE LONG DEATH. BY George Dyer.
New York: Charles Scribners Sons.
Science Is the basis Of Mr.. Dyer's new
mystery, beginning with the death after
| a protracted illness of a famous scien-
tist engaged in discovering the Sc
| cret of the atom. A victim OF anemia,
| the scientist knows that he is dying and
leaves as a legacy to the world his ind-
ings concerning the energy concentrated
| in an atom and his theories concerning
| the methods by which that energy can
| be put to use for the welfare of civiliza-
| ton. He also is a member of the Catalyst
! Club, an organization of only five men,
bers, which has been engaged in GRIM
biological research and which has proved
to the satisfaction OF the country and
| Of the Federal and local officials the
| guilt Of certain famous violators of the
| law.
A newspaper, disgruntled because q
member Of its staff is denied membership
| in the Catalyst Club while staff men,
| Der Of another newspaper is an active
| member announces its intention to start
| something The newspaper means what