Evening star., 1938-02-16
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
BY MARGARET CERMOND.

UNDER CAPRICORN. BY Helen simp-
son. New York: The Macmillan Co.
Sydney, Australia, way down under
the Equator, down, In fact. beneath the
brilliant star designated by the ancient
astrologers as the Southern Gate Of
the Sun, is the scene Of this delightfully."-
entertaining novel about that queer
assortment of human beings who more
than a hundred years ago had been ex-
lied from the home land for one offense
or another and dumped upon the shores
Of southeastern Australia to work out
terms of penal servitude in the colony
Of New South Wales.
History records that the colony had
not been altogether happy or prosperous
under the line of Governors sent out by
England until 1881, when Sir Richard
Bourke. veteran OF many wars and con-
structive administrator Of discipline, was
assigned to the post. It is with the
arrival OF Sir Richard. accompanied by
Charles Adare, his incompetent and
ambitious young cousin, that this story
begins. The splendid record Of the
valiant soldier in stabilizing and unity
ing the interests of the colonists Is
therefore a matter of historic fact.
otherwise. this charming tale is pure
fiction. woven from the fabric of broken
bits OF humanity that bear no relation
ship to each other save the knowledge
that Offenders against the conventions or
the laws OF the land. whether of major
or minor degree, are linked by common
bond.
Sir Richard arrives at Sydney intent
OD0n a SinCprp onAoo n lor
ana honorable service to his government
and to administer the affairs of the
colony with justice to all. Charles
Adare, however, has other ideas of con-
duct and he is unhampered by scruples.
A poet at heart and lacking the talent
to attain fame and fortune in the field
OF literature. he expects to find in
Australia many opportunities to ACQUIRE
a fortune without much effort, and he
has implicit faith in his ability to scrap
acquaintance with those who know all
the tricks of getting something for
nothing.
IL Is an ancient belief that Capricorn
Des.ows esteem upon the incompetent
ana the vulgar while denying honor to
those VINO merit reward. Adare is
senlal irish aristocrat, assuredly without
competence or inhibitions, but vulgar
oiiy 70 the extent that wealth which he
Is not required to earn is essential tn
MS happiness. He very soon makes the
acquaintance of Sam Flusky, an eman-
eiplst whose wealth had made him the
ilrst citizen of the colony Adare Wiling
" places his problem of acquiring easv
money IN the hands of Flusky. and there
W gets himself ordered out Of tn.
Hoselhor H"''",1 mouse. He goes to live with
LusAy 1Iy recognizes the wife of the bio
1lishman as Lady Henrietta Considine
anu recalls the social scandal which her
1Ioplnent with groom had created in
ano some years before. Flusky had
confessed himself guilty of a murder
e, nc olo not commit and the two had been
e~lieo to New South Wales
=, .auy henrietta is the mystery woman
~ VIC coiony. Rumors of all sorts float
nie ioush tne Social conversation of the
E1'.h,,. W. no one knows or has met
:. VIE. Aoare discovers that she
h.r opSonhaniac ;e and endeavors to cure
~ s poelic nature Is revolted by
w. .ien Ivs.luctlon OF beauty. and he seeks
ner rightful place as a hostess .nd "
iaoy OF exquisite beauty and charn,
The young Irishman. of course ton.
IN love, engages in all sorts ~ ro.i.1a.. L..
capefs' becomes obcessed with tho desi,e
20 search for gold far in the interior of
Australia and despite all arguments ~
saner % people to the contrary accents
rluskys of1er to finance a gold -h,Int er'
peoition Needless to say he has Grown
70 love the new country and has no W.
VenIion OF living anywhere else in tho
N ~oIu A pretty Australian girl who
ne,Peo rescue him from a blazing dance
nan Is mainly accountable for his do.
sire to go native. ' ue
convicts OF every type, colonized in
tsr-on land, have been collected bv Mic
simpson and treated with dignity and
sympathy IN humorous SPARKLING
mover that furnishes splendid matsr;a,
LOT a nigh grade screen production.
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