Evening Star Newspaper, January 16, 1927, Page 60

8 BY LEILA MECHLIN. T is mot customary to comment in these columns on - publications, but & recent publication entitled “A Collection in the Making," is- sued by the Phillips’ Memorial Gallery, is°so much more than &a book on art that exception is made in this instance. ‘Phis book is written by Duncan, Phillips and. is explana- tory, “fiot only of how the galles memorializing his father and brother came into existence, but of the pur- poses: and policies which govern its development and are at the same time its reason for existence. Because the Phillips’ Memorial Gal- . while open to the public, is so rely different, one might almost ®ay radically different,. from any other public art museum now in exis ence, there has naturally been won- | derment caused, and to a certain ex tent misunderstanding, all of which | vanishes with the reading’of this most recent publication. It seems that Xfv. Phillips has from the begimixg had a definite and original purpse, but because his ef fort was directed along new lines, and therefore to an extent experimental, he has so far not attempted inter- pretation. Now, however, he takes the public into his confidence and shares with all who are sufficiently interested to care his ideals, his dreams, inviting co-operation in their realization Primarily, Mr. Phillips declares his purpose in establishing his gallery to be mnot merely to commemorate his tather and his brother, the miemory of whom he holds in devoted admira tion, but also to create a beneficent "orce in the community where he lives oy-giving, Ilife-enhancing in- , assisting people to see beau true artists see.” he claims, “send us back to life and to other arts with the ability i» see beauty all about us as we go n our accustomed ways." It is the iinter's point of view which he is rdeavoring {9 make manifest to the | ‘ople. and this is well. x * % YO secure the desired results Mr. Phillips is employing what he n'mself terms “novel and attractive 1iotheds of exhibition.” He is re- rsing, he says, “the usual process - popularizing & picture gallery. In- ad of the academic grandeur of rble halls and stairways and the yles of chairless spaces,” he is try- it the effect of domestic architecture, rooms small, or at least livable, ating a place to which peonle will Inclined to return again and again spe study and special enjoy- nt. His scheme includes the ex ition from time to time of specially stituted units. He quotes what wnk Jewett Math jr., of Prince . has said, that “a season of pi es at the Phillips’ Memorial Gal- 7 should be as exciting to Wash- tonsas a season of opera.” o “HE Phillips collection, Mr. Phillips himself tells us, is based on a defi- n't: policy of supporting many meth- o of seeing and painting, and herein 1+ haps is to be found its most un- al character. The policy of the lips Memorial Gallery is to choose best representative painting as .l as the best creative designing and onor and to do reverence to both. 1akes in the works of the great ters. It also experimentally takes the work of the newest unknown Juters, and it dares to hang them by side. “T purchase,” says Mr. ., “many examples of the work s 1 especially admire and de- . to honor, even if they have not come into general recognition, in- 4 of having one example of each he standardized celebritie; 1 take chance of being wrong.” What d be better? Would that all col- s _followed, in this respect, Mr. lips’ example. Alarging upon this characteristic, Phillips says: “There are fashions yainting and they affect market 8, but the market values and ar-| > values do not always coincide, T'am interested only in artistic es. The test of artistic value is nd T shall not live to know ther the men in whom I have be- d have justified my faith in their re. To stimulate cotemporary ts by establishing personal con- and_fplendly relations, to win confidence and to help them to srstand themselves and to succeed \ their own best methods and in resisting the temptations to on commercialism of one t~or_another—such a policy I con- © of the utmost importance. T > had more pleasure recently in overing and helping some new whose modest genius might have sed unnoticed, and others whose zing originality is far In advance heir time, than from tie rather ting negotiations with foreign ers to secure one or another of master works by Daumier as a mit to our Daumler unit.” Mr. lips points out that it is possible ursue this policy because the Phil- Memorial Gallery is not “a fixed, iangeable institution.” It is one , and not a board. It gan act v, and its actions are ot irre- T * ko K by Academy. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, NOTES OF ART AND ARTISTS Book of Art Issued by Duncan Phillips—Exhibition at the Arts Club—Annual Competitions. Announced ) who have been tried and found worthy, The lesser and younger men are under going what. he terms “an endurance test.” “If they can survive this test in proximity’ with the great they will be found in the ultimate, the perma- nent collection, in the building which castie in Spai g s the “one man”_responsible this idea and this collection, “willing o run the risk of overrating these | young cotemporaries by generausly expanding the measure of my appreci- ation to the measure of their highest intentions as long as they continue to be true to what is best in themselves and to make some progress toward a high endeavor.” This is real courage and at the same time intellectual and esthetic independence, a kind of cour- age and independence to which those who know arft will respectfully doft theft ¢ Reverting 19 the ana reali “endirance test,” ng Mr. P'hillipg uncommon opefiness of mind, the public will bet ter understandl the serles of special exbgbitions which have béen set fouth in this gallery during the past two seasons, and also will be able to de. rive more benefit from the series now in progress Those who are serious students will be helped by the brief estimates of the palnters whose works are in- cluded in these collections written by Mr. Phillips, which, with illustrations of the works already purchased for the Phillips Memorfal Gallery, occupy the greater part of this really sump- tuous volume, An explanatory note | prefacing the estimates tells why more space has been given fo_ those less known than to the acknowledged great masters, and casts further light on the policies pursued both in choice and exploitation. I dislike,” says Mr. Phillips, “propaganda for one phase of art at the expense of all the others, and for a long time I was repelled by the so-called ‘modern movements’ because of the arrogance and fswlerance znd the muddle-mind- of their often absurd mani-! Mr. Phillips | finds, however, quite as arrogant and | quite as intolerant in their animo ties for everything new and, he de.| clares, with far less justification for their attitude. “In the Phillips col-| lection there is a welcome for all good | academicians, sist the temptation to introduce a few of these challenging young ar- tists in our midst.’ Again he makes it plain that he has no intention of assigning rank, “It is simply,” he adds, “part of my deliberate plan to try to understand the artists in their own day, instedd of waiting cautious- ly for Time, the witimate arbiter, to definitely measyre their achievement."” In this respect; and in the fact that Mr. Phillips is ‘taking the public into his confidence and inviting their co- operation, nothing could be finer, nothing more Hrobable of large and munificent rekylt. There are 144 pages of illustration reproducing in half-tone the works now included iff the Phillips Memorial Collection, besides which there are two_plates in golor—"On the Bridge at_Night,” by Daumier, Mr. Phillips’ favorite painter, and “Lunch of the | Boating ~ Party at Bouglval,” or | “Dejeuner des Canotiers,¥ by Renoir, |one of the great gems of this collec: | tion ‘TH * ok ox % Boheme to be held by the Washington Arts Club tomorrow evening is essentially an event of note, not merely socially, but artis- y. Artists and laymen have com- 1 and are working In fullest co- ation for success. The matter of costumes has been taken serlously, and experts have beon cailed In {o render advice. Costuming is an art. In the matter of decorations, again the artists have contributed of their |best. Decoration s likewise essen- tially an art, and the great artists of the past—Leonardo da Vinci, for instance—lent their genius in just such a cause, contributing of their best to similar gala events. Prizes for costumes will he award- ed according to artistic merit. and the judges will be artists of distinction— Garl Meichers, the well Kknown painter; J. Monroe Hewlett, mural painter’and architect, and Clifford K. Bérryman, cartoonist. This s pageantry and play of most_artistic and delectable sort in which the social world participates, and the artists are recognized leader: R a the Arts Club, 2017 I street, | | there is now on view a collection | shows IN PHILLIPS D. MEMORIAL COLLECTION “KNITTING FOR THE SOLDIERS,” BY J. ALDEN WEIR. they were met, and Miss Sipprell's photographs, now on view here. ply téstify to the picturesqueness not only of the country, but of the life of the people. Miss Sipprell is ist. Instinctively cholce of subject compositions which principles of art. seizin most skill upon precisely the right moment to secure desi flects of at- mosphere, light and shade. Many of her works have what may be called essentially paintsr quality. She in’ this collection a charming essentially he makes utilizing natu conform 1o with the ut “THE UPRISING,” A PAINTING BY HONORE DAUMIER. and vital pictures. * * * The col- lection is an Olympus of fmmortals in one of its phases, while in another it is a testing place for cotemporary aspirants to fame.” The Phillips Me- morial Gallery is under no obligation to bestow rank or authority; it does not attempt this difficult task. It is a testing ground representing the best selective judgment of one man, who, endowed with taste and sensitiveness to beauty to an uncommon degree, i3 spending his life in an effort to ad- vance art and its appreciation. * %% ITH regard to his writings he modestly says: “I ke to jot down notes on the painters whose works have, for so much as an hour, held my respectful attention. In spite of the fact that T am too uncertain about most of them and too un- illar with the bulk of their work (E great artists represent what is permanent in the collection, those ify as thelr proper critic and , nevertheless 1 cannot re- of pictorial photographs by Clara E. Sipprell, the majority, if not all, of which were made during the past Summer in that little-expiored coun- try, Montenegro, which, being inter- preted, means Black Mountain, Montenegro, as the majority know, is a little country embracing a little over 3,000 square miles, with a popu- lation ' estimated at about 250,000, which has, however, stood on its own feet since the fourteenth century and for 400 years has valiantly withstood the invasions of the Turks, with whom it has been in actlve warfare. The population is Slavic, but essen- tially hardy, and partly perhaps be- cause of remote situation and partly on account of its physical contours, its precipitous mountain heights, the has maintained an isolation and soverelgnty of Miss Sipprell and her friend, Mme, Krabroff, give interesting accounts of thelr travels in Montenegro and of the universal courtesy with which “SPRING NIGHTHARLEM RIVER" BY ERNEST LAWSON, & CONTEMPORARY, AMERICAN RAINTER, _ [y v : Mrs. Farnsworth's interpretation of an old woman of Montenegro, depicting with convin ing truth personality as well a pect. She gives an interesting glimpse of a shoemaker's shop, with its master at work, his wares dangling around his door. She pictures two in- teresting bits of architecture, groups of bulldings, tal deration texture as well as and the ever-present problem of light and shade. She shows broad views of mountainous country, retaining in small space the impression of great size—nature’s stupendous handiwork. Included in this exhibition is a dra- matic interpretation, photographically made by Miss Sipprell, of two calla lilies which, while breathing, it would seem, the breath of li are dramatic in the curve of their line, the sim- ity of their beauty, » are few as skiliful in the in- terpretation of still life photograph- ically as Miss Sipprell. Partaking somewhat of this element, treated a little in this vein, are two photographs included in the collection of sno covered barns near Thetford, V where, when not roaming in_undis- covered countri Miss Sipprell spends her Summers. Both of these photographs contain that for which the modernists among the painters are seeking but have not in every in- stance found. They point the way. Mme. Khrabroff gave an_interest- ing and thought-provoking talk, em- phasizing its place among the fine arts, at the Arts Club Tuesday eve- ning. X % % % I THE uppe the Arts Club there is now to/be seen a col- lection of recent paintings, mono- types and black and white prints by Jerry Farnsworth and his wife, Helen Sawyer Farnsworth. These for the most part were made duying Mr. and ccentt sojourn in Rurope, and comprise figure: land- scapes, architectu subjects and town or city pictures. All are in rather a different vein from what either of these painters has produced before. & The paintings are strong"and color- ful, sturdy studies produced, rapidly and recalling vividly things transient. ly seen, real thin The etchings, monotypes and other prints partake somewhat of the same character, hut in some instances add a subtle note not found in the paintings. P 'HE American Academy in Rome has announced its annual com- petitions for fellowships in archites ture, landscape architecture, painting, sculpture, musical composition and classical studies. In the fine arts the competitions are open to unmarried men not over 30 years of age who are citizens of the United States; in classi- cal studles to unmarried citizens, men Lor_women. For each fellowship in the fine arts the stipend is $1.260 a vear for three ears, with additional allowances of $50 to $100 & year for wial and model hire; in classical s there a-dellowsbin Lo rooms at | compositions, ORQ.JMARs With, a | stipend of $1,250 and a fellowship pay- ing $1.250 a year for two years. All fellows have opportunity for ex- tensive travel, and fellows in musical who travel about six monthe of the year in visiting the musical centers of Kurope, receive an additional annual allowance of $760 aveling éxpenses. In:the case all fellowships residence and studio provided at the academy free of charge, and the total estimated value of each fellowship is in excess of $2,000 a vear. The Grand Central Art Galleries of New York City will present free mem- bership in the galleries to the painter and sculptor who win the Rome prize and fulfill the obligations of the fel- lowship. Under regulations revised this year for the competition in architecture, graduates of accredited schools will be required to have had architectural of- fice experience of only six months in- stead of a year, as formerly, and also men who are not graduates of such schools may enter the competition if they have had at least four yvears of architectural office experience and are highly recommended by a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Entries for all competitions will be received until March 1. Circulars of information and application blanks may be obtained by addressing Roscoe Guernsey, executive secretary, Ameri- can Academy in Rome, 101 Park dve. nue, New York City. x (N the evening of January 19 C. Howard Walker of Boston, archi- tect, author and teacher, will give an illustrated lecture on ‘“American Do- mestic Architecture,” in the audi- torium of the Central High School, un- der the auspices of the Washington Society of the Fine Arts. Mr. Walk- er has been a lecturer on the fine arts at Harvard University and for the American Institute of Architects, He was at one time associated with the school of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. He is to an extent traditional in his convictions and yet extremely open-minded to that which ‘s new, and while admiring the work of the past, he regards that of the present 4s eminently promising—more than promising. ~ Few, he believes, are aware of the merit of cotemporary do- mestic architecture in America. . He will illustrate his lecture with numer- ous carefully chosen stereopticon slides, 'HE Washington Water Color Club's exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery has been most successful, arousing a great deal of interest and recording an unusudl number of sales- to last Thursday. This exhibition, which con- tains many very attractive paintings by local and out-of-town artists, con- tinues through this afternoon, byt this i8 the last day. Replacing it t! end of this week comes the annual ex- lAthSI(Inn of the Society of Washington rtists T[IE opening of the exhibition of paintings in oil and water color by the late John Ross Key (who was the grandson, not, as was mistaken. ly stated in these columns last week, the nephew, of the author of “The Star Spangled Banner”) in the Na. tional Gallery of Art was postponed from the 10th to the 15th. It will be on view until’ the 6th of February. Fuller notice will be given later. ok ok AT the Dunthorne Gallery the ex. hibition of water colors by Alice Huger Smith and the etchings by the late Ernest Haskell will continue to be on view during the coming week, * ¥ %k % RANCES BENJAMIN JOHNSTON gave an engaging illustrated lec- ture on “0ld World Gardens" in Cor. coran Hall, George Washington Unt. versity, last Monday afternoon before an enthusiastic audience. In her talk she set forth the principles which governed the making of these gardens and which went far toward creating the artistic effects which assure them permanent value as works of art. Miss Johnston {llustrated her lecture with a large number of exquisitely colored slides made from her own photo- graphs. The collection of photographs, which was placed on view at the same time, will continue on the walls of Corcoran Hall for another week, and may be seen by any one who is in- terested any day dQuring the early hours of the afternoon, when the hall is not in use by the university stu- dents. Osaka “Skyscrapers” Show Modern Trend Osaka, commercial metropolis and industrial center of Japan, is grow- rapidly. Eight new “skyscrapers” of six to nine stories, with central heat- ing and equipped with every facllity for offices and stores, have been com- pleted there in the last year. More nev; buildings are contemplated for 1927, Benealogys If isterestedia your +++++4404+ family History, one priced Catalogue listing nestly 5000 | gesealogical books for mle by us will be mailed to you for toc. instumps. + GOODSPEED'S BOOK-SHOP ot Ashburton Place, Boston, Muss. C., JANUARY 16, 1927—PART 2. Constitution the Background of Monograph—The Newest Fiction—A Volume Concerned With BY IDA GILBERT MYERS. THE VANISHING RIGHTS OF TH STATES. By James M. Beck, au- thor of “The Constitution of the United States.” New York: George H. Doran Co. UCH wisdom goes to waste by virtue of the fact that it is not on hand at the crities moment requiring its immed} ate application and use study by James M. Beck on the fading rights of the States of the Union stands, however, as a notable excep- tion. For here is n clear body se: soned historical wigdom offered at the moment of & possible political pre- | cipitancy and danger. The buck ground of this monograph is the Con stitution itself, a subject which this author lives with and breathes with. Against this general background heé draws the defining lines of its gradual wearing away, at this point or another one, under the succeeding storms of political upheaval and under the changing tides of public opinion. Then, quickly, the study centers upon a single aspect of the erosion taking place In the Great Charter. It is, in effect, a challenge to the right of the Senate of the United States to refuse to seat a Senator who has been duly elected under the rules and regula tions of the sovereign State to which | he belongs. In other words, he chal- lenges the right of this body to nullify the action of a State, thereby reducing its power in respect to a Senator to | that of & mere nominating body. Th is the one point projected Ly Mr. Beck. Upon it, however, he expends his profound knowledge of the Con- stitution itself in both substance and its spirit. under discussion, he lays the illumi- nating story of John Wilkes, who more than 150 years ago proved to George 1II that he could not be expelled from Parliament against the will of the people who had sent him there. A story so close to the case in point, so dramatic and brilliant in projection, 85 to unite that past and this present in a principle underlying the rights of the people wherever a constitu- tional government exists. Here are spread out all the provisions of the Constitution bearing upon this par- tlcular matter. Here are explained, also, the regulations bearing upon primary elections. Here, in a word either in the body of the discussion or in appendices calculated to add in- formation and light, is a comprehen- sive, a learned, a straight and a most Muminating discussion of « single point in the Constitution for readers of the dally press to study for the full- ness of its pattern and Intent. book 18 so fitted to the need of the everyday reader, of the common student, especlally fitted to the need of the voter, that it can hardly be overrated, either for its own quality or for its mission to the political un- derstanding of the people at a single vital point of constitutional govern- ment. EARLY AUTUMN. By Louis Brom- fleld, author of “The Green Bay i Tree,” etc. New York: Frederick | A. Stokes Co. L()l.'ls BROMFIELD gathers up the substance of New England life and character in this the Pentland family. Such, at any rate, is his assumption, one that is bound to meet sturdy denial from the quarter set out in this sweeping dra- matic inclusion. Working to a degree in both the manner and the spirit of the scientist himself, Mr. -Bromfield here attempts to make a record of the ultimate fate of that passionate, pro- testing, Hebraic spirit of selfless r ligion that drove the Puritans acro: the sea to colonize the New England Coast. Once here, the question of the Puritans gradually became that of a thin soll and scanty returns, of arduous labor unmellowed by leisure and pleasure and expansion. Quite Inevitably, both the religious and secular life of the New England people became an ingrowing influence, exclusive and narrowing, inexpressive and self-absorbed. It {8 under some such findings as these that this author must have conceived the romance of the Pentlahd family. The Pentlands, one and another, molded by the gloomy influences that made their forefathers, objectify more than one of the forms of disaster waiting in their blood to overtake them. A ro- mance of gloomy atmospheres, with characters of defeat and frustration to carry it forward in a pride that has no foundation, in a_self-csteem that is without rootage. The title of the story comes from the life of ti young woman of another stock who has married into this somber situ- ation. It is the futile beating of her wings against the bars of New land tradition and pride and containment that names the romance WEBSTER'S INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY g8 oAt O authority libraries, and schools of equi oyclopedia. In its 2,700 such z the leading Universities, indorsement. The Government have adopted a large This | Upon the particular point | The | New International. Here is the foundation book for the home, a up G. & C. MERRIAM COMPANY Modern Scotland. jand defines its course. It is the strength of this story—its strong con- ception and projection—that will bring, that has brought, the quarrel against it. Otherwi it would have been negligible. A fair outlook or ne is for the individual to mull over. That it is a strongly: human and a highly dramatic story is the vote of a large majority of ite readers. An un- conventional treatment, to be sure, | but such is one of the distinguishing stamps of this competent and gen- erally acceptable novelist, * ok oK% MEZZANINE. By author of “Our F ete. New York, Gy Company. ¢ NLY a few years ago the ‘hdvel founded upon the subject6f a young husband with a wife too old for him would have been, oven fa the hands of pure genius, a pallid and hopeless failure, its dismal conclu- slon clear before any beginning what- ever had been made. This amazing new day, however, has accorded the impossible theme a gloss of plausibil- ity, one which the novellst is keen to seize upon, since he, like every other sort of producer, must needs deal in wares that are fresh and undimmed. Nowudays, what with Coue and New Thought and the Hindu Swami, what with athletics and diet and the mira- cles of the beauty parlor—what with all thes the gallant grandmother of 1t steps nimbly, even chal- lengingly, off in stride with the com- petent” and conquering flapper her- self. A short race, but an exciting one. Such disparity in years on the wrong side of the matrimonial ac- count provides the theme of this au- thor's new novel. The matter pro- gresses Mr. Benson's novels are likely to do, along the quiet levels of English country life—tea, golf, music, touches of neighborhood intercourse. The actual story, is an in. Hghson, mily Afihrs,” orge M. Doran the wife, constantly facing in her secret soul upon ultimate disaster. A fine woman. this one, intelligent and big hearted. The man is less, an attrac- tive ow, but nothing to count much either w With another sort of writer, here would have been an outbreak and possibly scandal. But, like Mr. Benson himself, these are eminently decent folks, so the trag- edy makes it way quietly through the husband's strayed affections that g0 roaming after youth. The out- come itself is not convincing. For, despite the practised art of the au- thor, he is not entirely able to make a clear shepherding of young errancy into the fold of . reclaimed domestic- ity. He makes this gesture, but it is not convincing because, you see, it is straight in the face of nature itselr COAST. By Boston: Little, Company. EIL GUNN is a Scotsman, as all the generations of his family be- him have been. Looking over | fto Treland, he s there a group of writers who, in passionate devo- tion to their native land, have em- bodied it in literature, thereby send- ing over the world, not only its facts of landscape and history and peoples and customs but its flam- ing, distinctive spirit as well. Look- ing otherwhere, he sees the same thing going on.’ S0, very naturally, he asks himself why Scotland, too, should not possess or come te posess its characteristic literature, growing gradually out of the many-sided facts and implications of modern Scotch life. He begins the answer to this question with “The Gray Coast.” With a fishing hamlet on the east coast—its surrounding farms, its fronting sea, fts daily habits, its se- rious outlook—and the ald of three human beings, Neil Gunn here turns his intimate, lifelong acqualntance with Scotland into a story of human hopes and frustrations, of human be- haviors circumstanced by nature in’ a mood of habitual austerity, of un- ceasing exactions. The outcome of * THE GRAY Gunn. Neil M Brown & own land is a story of deep sincerit: as it is also a story marked by def nite structural excellence. This qual- ity of sincerity, this power of artistry, coming together, have produced u novel that is bound to interest deeply the reader who prizes the true reflec- tion of life in this quarter, and that by way of the skill of the compe- tent and_ understanding novelist. Certainly Neil Gunn has _contributed substantially to the excellent design that he himself has set for a new reading -of modern Scotland at the hands of its young and devoted writ- but the beginning of his (/ Only with this trade-mark do you Get the Best. It appears onlyon Merriam.Webster Dic- tionaries. Give yourselfthe sat- isfaction of having in your home and office the one great and used universally in the courts, America. WEBSTER'S NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY THE MERRIAM WEBSTER form, with a wealth of ready type matter to a 15-volume en- it contains 451,000 entries— IOUSANDS OF NEW WORDS u-dhhnfl&.cnumflmflflfi;m meaning, use, lling, pronunciation, etymology; 13, biographical eng; 32,000 geographical subjects; over 6,000 illustrations; 100 valuable tables. Indorsed by the Highest Authorities Hundreds of Supreme Court Judgeb praise the New I . tional as their authority. The Presidents and tment Heads D'mm Heads of give their ting Office at Washington uses the New International as the standard authority. All States that asstandard haveselected Webster’s side matter running along by way of | and apprehensions of the | At |of the author this understanding conception of his | And there is every sign thatl_ own plan THE BENSON MURD! S. 8. Van Dine, Charles Scribner's Sons. JT 1s a rulo that each new myste: novel is heralded by its publishe: as something strikingly different fron the familiar run this brang o fictional invention. It is equally th rule that publishers fail to make 8oos this promise to readers. Poe's ex ample of basing mystery tales ujo; a study of the philosophy of erime upon the psychology of criminals and of crime detection, has failed of ai: distinguished following. SIr Cona Doyle's later creation of Sherloc) Holmes, deductive logiclan workiny in this fleld, has produced little mor than host of feeble imitators Therefore, despite fair promises ot the one hand and inspiring examplex on the other, the mystery tale—popu lar as it is and for good reason ix bound to be—remains among novels the most slipshod in_conception, the least convincing in effect. But every rule has its exception, s« we are told. “The Benson Murder Case” actually does present so muc of departure from the routine in th class of novels as to invite the read in good faith to its consideration There is a sustained motive here taking the place of the odds and cnd of motive that characterize the aver age of theso romances, This m is to show finally the futility of « cumstantial evidence and the poss ble infustice of this instrument o pursuit. Other writers have set ou with this motive, But others have no held to it so consistently, have not incorporated it so firmly in the fabric of the whole matter, as this autho has done. More than that, this con trolling purpose has not run awa with the story-teller. - For the 1 mance moves forward freely and al sorbingly, not openly diverted its course by any academic displ in an overemphasis the real purpose of the story to up the weakness of circumstant evidence, FORBIDDE unt, autho: Moves,” etc. J. Clode, Inc. PURE adventure set a-going on west coast of Africa. A down-at heel rubber plantation, suddenl brought into fresh notice by the new demand for its product, becomes the | center of this general commotion | The place immediately begins to huu. with the schemes of rival promoters, with the despearte plots of a band of clear rascals, with the easily seduced fealties of a host of superstitious na | tives. The villainies of the plotters | and the credulity of the natives creats the legend of the “forbidden town. The situation calls plainly for a man size hero. Not so long ago the novel ist with this story scheme-in min would have cast about for a brave and lusty young man to carry on herr Not any more. This is a new das Therefore Miss Fabiu Vrooman, youns woman right off the top of the presen high moment, sails away to Wes | Africa, where she moves through this | litter conspiracy and wickednes | ke cleansing cyclone. Havin: cleaned up the place. Miss Fabia ) eeds to run it. And that's about ax far as she gets—for the young man comes along. She'd rather be mar ried and keep house, after all. Here is the hectic and improbable flight of a rioting Ilmagination whose onl: OWN of “The New York: THE « Mumm | Edward less conclusion of the whole matter. BOOKS RECEIVED O'DEAN GRAVES; Or, Womanhood Supreme Test. By B. H. Hancock Boston: The Christopher Publish ing House. THE HOUSE OF STOKES, 1881-1926 A Record, Together with Some Letters from Authors on the Forty- Fifth Anniversary of the Estab lishment of the Publishing House of Frederick A. Stokes Company New York. WHITE WOLY. Boston: Littl By B. M. Bower Brown & Co. NELSON, THE MAN: A Portiait Study. By A. Corbett-Smith Boston: Little, Brown & Co. TWILIGHT. By Count Edouard V Keyserling. New York: The caulay Co THE BUTCH Devanny. > caulay Co. PRINCESS CHARMING By _Wilbur__Fawley SHOP. York By ew The A Romance author _of (R unanusuasy John Byrne & Co. S. Kann Sons Co. Paul Pearlman ‘Woodward & Lothrop AND YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE Or Mail This Coupon ‘Without cost or obligation we il be glad 1o send you s sample of new words, ens of —"You Are the Jury." Mall the nce and we will in- belpful set of Pocket G.&C, Merriam Co., Springfleld, Mass. Send me without cost, epecimen PistasrWedser's New niernational pers, set of pocket maps. Wash. Star 1-16-27) Regular and India pa- od Are the Juty end grain of lasting truth lies in the color-* ¢