The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-01-14

acific Northwest.
His career Is typical OF many
American who acted on the advice
OF Horace Greeley. He made and
lost fortunes in the lumber business,
dabbed in shipping. took flyer at
stocks and a gold-seeking trip To
Alaska, went broke many times, and
had more than his share OF hard
knocks.
Narrative is in the form OF let
tiers sent to friend while Nord
was making an automobile tour OF
the United States and Canada In
1881. And in addition to the in
terest contained in the biographical
material of this ordinary man who
took advantages OF the opportuni-
ties America offered, you get q swell
idea Of how much the country has
changed since he made his trip
more than a decade ago.
TALE OF THE INDIES
While it's fiction, there's prob
ably q lot OF truth behind Baron
ess Van Boecop's novel, ''The King
Tree" doubleday. Doran: $2.50) in
connection with exploitation OF the
East Indies by the Portuguese and
Dutch.
King Tonic is ruthless land
grabber in the days when the in
trepid explorers of those two ma
tons were spreading their en-
pires. He rounds out his dream of
an Indian empire when he mar
ries Off his half-caste daughter to
q scion Of Dutch nobility. His SON
in-law. brought TO the Jungles TO
learn the business, proves to be an
apt pupil of the old man. but not
so his son. Evart, who hates the
jungles and Is resentful OF his
mixed blood.
A young Dutchman, Yam Dirk,
approaches Evart and asks his help
in getting a job on the Samaritan
plantation. Evart finally follows
Dirk to the Indies. Then Saskia, a
young American girl, appears on
the scene, and we have the familiar
plot of both men falling in love
with gal.
PARSING PARSONS
Louella o. Parsons, newspaper
columnist, reveals herself in her
memoirs, The Gay Illiterate"
Doubleday, Doran. so, 1914 pages
Of highly amusing gossip. Her likes
herself, her column and her boss
and her dislikes - being called
plump and pompors" - are set
forth candidly. She does not know
whether she likes or dislikes Hedda
Hopper, but she has few distastes
for anyone In the movie industry.
Most interesting are the glances
at movie personalities as she sees
them.
She tells of meeting Theda Bara
in 1.-THE flesh" at the Blackstone in
Chicago. 1t was hot day. Miss
Parsons and other reporters who
were escorted into the presence"
were astounded when press agent
announced that Miss Bara was not
yet "acclimated to this northern
weather.
But the door of an adjoining
room opened noiselessly, seeming
ly without the aid Of human hands
and there. exposed to US in UNI
believable splendor, sat the queen
OF the sirens draped TO the teeth IN
magnificent furs."
The press agent said that Miss
ara was born In the shadow OF
the Sphinx Greatly Cleveland. o.,
Miss Parsons says where ut Is
very, very hot, and she Is coldl"
After an interview, the reporters
left, grasping for fresh air and a
chance to howl our lungs out"
A CRIME SPARKLER
In Kathleen Moore knights lat
est. Design in Diamonds (Crime
Club: so the Dutchman Adrien ter
Brock. with q share OF perspicacity
denied to statesmen Of the time,
saw the handwriting on the wall for
Holland early in 80 and deposited
his fortune In diamonds with Mar
got Blair and her partner-in-public
relations, Felix Norman.
Daughter Katrien ter Brock was
to claim the sparklers. come trout
BILE abroad, and three years later
Margot received her call from
Mexico City. That began q round
robin Of murders. intertwined with
the secret symbols (globany pub
licized-the trylon and the perl
sphere) which were to identify the
proper claimant.
Hitler's henchmen. Of course, are
hell-bent on getting the diamonds.
which they-but that would be tell
ing.
Locale, mostly Mexico. including
some spooking around In q defunct
native village. Good entertainment