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March 16, 1924 SUNDAY WORLD HERALD_MAGAZINE SECTION Thirteen

AMONG the NEW BOOKS
By Margaret H. Doorly

OF ESPECIAL interest to Nebraska readers is a volume of one-act plays by Elia W. Peattie, published by the Charles H. Sergel & Co., Chicago. The collection is entitled, "The Wander Weed and Seven Other Little Theater Plays," and each one of the sketches is excellent reading, as well as being of fine dramatic quality. Mrs. Peattie's work is well known to most of us, who still feel that she belongs at least in part to Nebraska, but the fineness and delicacy of her feeling has never been more apparent than in this, her latest, publication.

While a very delightful imagination colors her plays, and they are relieved by occasional touches of comedy or satire, tragedy is the under current of most of them. Even the most tragic theme, however, has an uplift in the ending the author showing in every case that sorrow

{Image} Elia W. Peattie.

may have a kind of beauty. "The Wander Weed" is the most imaginative and poetic of the present collection; "The Great Delusion," and "Pity" are particularly impressive; "Sunrise" and "The Silver Bell Tree" have each a pretty sentiment; "Family Reunion" and Spring Cleaning" are written in a delightful mood of satire. Mrs. Peattie never sacrifices her sense of the dramatic, and the necessary elements of conflict are always present in her plays. Her people, no matter how whimsical her theme, are vitally real, many of the characters being drawn from the southern mountain folk whom the author knows so well. The dialogue is natural and well suited to stage production, the stage settings simple, with a particularly effective plan for the dramatic "Pity."

NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD- By Jay William Hudson (D. Appleton Co.)
Mr. Hudson takes both sides in a debate on the merits of Chicago in his latest novel, its unpleasant features being emphasized by the hero in the first part of the book, its brighter in the latter portion. Stephen Kent, the central figure of the tale, is shown passing through a difficult period of adjustment. His great desire, to become a writer, is not encouraged by his father, who leaves him the unpleasant alternative of supporting himself in his chosen career in Paris, the city of his fancy, or coming home to settle down like a good boy and go into the family business. Kent finds a middle path, however, but to tell where it leads him would be to steal some of the author's ammunition. The story holds the interest although it never attains any great amount of distinction. The theme is well worn, but the study of Kent's psychology is sound. The romance is sufficiently satisfying, and almost too logical and inevitable. On the whole the story does very well as a contribution to light fiction.

SIEGE- By Samuel Hopkings Adams (Boni & Liveright.)
By far the best novel of Mr. Adams that has as yet appeared, in our opinion, this story, although the scene is laid in a factory town, is vastly different from the traditional tales of its kind. The conflict is between different generations as represented in the persons of two women, one old and accustomed to dominate, the other young, but already insistent upon power. In Fredericka the author has drawn a fairer picture of modern youth than is usually found in fiction, and the sympathies of the reader follow her eagerly in her clashes with the great-aunt, Augusta, the head of the Ruyland clan. The questions of capital and labor which arise in the tale are only supplementary to the conflict between the women. The characterizations of the numerous members of the Ruyland family are excellent and distinct, and that of Norval the "Grampian" is an artistic and tragic triumph. It is a pity that Kenneth Ruyland could not have appeared to better advantage, as we were rather led at the beginning to suspect him of possessing more backbone than finally proves to be the case, but at least the climax of the tale is saved- partly through his defection- from any lack of originality. It may not please the strict moralists, but this all depends upon what is considered morality- Aunt Augusta's brand, or Fredericka's, that of the old generation or of the new. One thing at least is certain, there is not a dull moment in the story.

March 16, 1924 SUNDAY WORLD HERALD_MAGAZINE SECTION Thirteen

AMONG the NEW BOOKS
By Margaret H. Doorly

OF ESPECIAL interest to Nebraska readers is a volume of one-act plays by Elia W. Peattie, published by the Charles H. Sergel & Co., Chicago. The collection is entitled, "The Wander Weed and Seven Other Little Theater Plays," and each one of the sketches is excellent reading, as well as being of fine dramatic quality. Mrs. Peattie's work is well known to most of us, who still feel that she belongs at least in part to Nebraska, but the fineness and delicacy of her feeling has never been more apparent than in this, her latest, publication.

While a very delightful imagination colors her plays, and they are relieved by occasional touches of comedy or satire, tragedy is the under current of most of them. Even the most tragic theme, however, has an uplift in the ending the author showing in every case that sorrow

{Image} Elia W. Peattie.

may have a kind of beauty. "The Wander Weed" is the most imaginative and poetic of the present collection; "The Great Delusion," and "Pity" are particularly impressive; "Sunrise" and "The Silver Bell Tree" have each a pretty sentiment; "Family Reunion" and Spring Cleaning" are written in a delightful mood of satire. Mrs. Peattie never sacrifices her sense of the dramatic, and the necessary elements of conflict are always present in her plays. Her people, no matter how whimsical her theme, are vitally real, many of the characters being drawn from the southern mountain folk whom the author knows so well. The dialogue is natural and well suited to stage production, the stage settings simple, with a particularly effective plan for the dramatic "Pity."

NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD- By Jay William Hudson (D. Appleton Co.)
Mr. Hudson takes both sides in a debate on the merits of Chicago in his latest novel, its unpleasant features being emphasized by the hero in the first part of the book, its brighter in the latter portion. Stephen Kent, the central figure of the tale, is shown passing through a difficult period of adjustment. His great desire, to become a writer, is not encouraged by his father, who leaves him the unpleasant alternative of supporting himself in his chosen career in Paris, the city of his fancy, or coming home to settle down like a good boy and go into the family business. Kent finds a middle path, however, but to tell where it leads him would be to steal some of the author's ammunition. The story holds the interest although it never attains any great amount of distinction. The theme is well worn, but the study of Kent's psychology is sound. The romance is sufficiently satisfying, and almost too logical and inevitable. On the whole the story does very well as a contribution to light fiction.