Evening star., 1939-02-08
New Books at
Random
By Margaret Germ0nd.

BY margaret GermOnd.
THE HONORABLE UNCLE LANCY.
BY Ethel Hueston. Indianapolis: The
Bobbs-Merrill Co.
Olympia Slopshire, wife Of Senator
Alencon Delaporte Slopshire, Democrat.
of an eastern seaboard State, is almost
the whole Of this delightfully."- entertain
ing novel, released today, which un-
covers the game of politics as it is played
behind the scenes in Washington's gay
official social set. She Is a woman
worth knowing because in the first place
she is so thoroughly human and hkable.
Then, she is a good sport with keen
sense of fairness, is thoroughly aware OF
the bearing that social functions have
upon the political and legislative affairs
of the Nation, and as veteran CAM
paigner she possesses not one but many
bags of tricks upon which to rely in
emergencies.
The story is laid in Washington and
in the Senator's home State In a cam
paign year. Several circumstances make
it plain that the fight will be a tough one,
the most important of which is the fact
that Len Hardesty, longtime publicity
man for the Senator, has sold his serv-
ices to the opposition. In addition to
that particular handicap, the opposition
candidate is preacher whose entry into
politics had been made possible by the
Senator In order to strengthen his ap-
peal to the public as a kindly benefactor,
Brother Wilkie has adopted seven chill
dren and engaged an unattractive hag
of woman to take care of them. With
this encourage of beneflciaries as visible
evidence of his devotion to the cause of
human welfare he is confident of win
ming large following despite the Sen
ators long record of outstanding public
service.
Meeting this situation will be difficult.
for the Senator is wealthy man and
to both his and Olympia's regret they
have no children. But fate plays hand
that brings both sorrow and Joy to the
childless couple and furnishes Olympia
with whole new bag full of campaign
material. An automobile accident on an
icy street in far-off Iowa results in the
death of the parents of Olympia's three
beautiful nieces. She flies out to Iowa
for the funeral, and before returning to
Washington succeeds in persuading the
orphans to make their home with her
and the Senator for one year.
Needless to say that with three beau
tiful nieces, the youngest sixteen and
the eldest tWenty-one, Aunt Olympia has
the sort Of campaign material that only
woman of her experience and wisdom
would know how to handle. Imme-
diately upon their arrival in Washing
ton the wheels begin to move, and with
every turn the tale grows ivelier and
more exciting.
Helen, the Oldest of the three girls, is
a serious-minded young woman engaged
to a grocery store owner who is running
for Congress. The girls, by the way, are
Republicans, though only the one is old
enough to vote. Adele is the most beau
tiful and Len Hardesty falls in love with
her the minute he sees her. "Limpy,"
the youngest and named for Olympia, is
adored by both aunt and uncle. All
three girls are filled with illusions about
the dignity and honor of holding public
Office and about the honesty and in
tegrjty of the huge machine known as
the Federal Government. How they lose
those illusions and the speed with which
they learn the real facts concerning the
Wiles of public officials and the tricks
of campaigning is the sum and substance
OF a thoroughly enjoyable satire that in
PRODUCES characteristic newspapermen,
photographers, publicity men, campaign
speakers and society leaders. Many good
laughs await the reader who without
difficulty is able to recognize individual
types that are institutional in the twin
games of politics and society in Wash
ington and on the campaign stump.