A Davonten o7 Catnay—A Now), by Keyte. "Published by Alston Rivers, Ltd, London. Price $4.
It is often argued by these who would account for the fact that 20 little good fiction has been given a Chinese cotting that the Chinese do. not have in them the qualities which make them possible figures in high romance. It is contested that they lend themselves to playful studies, quaint sketchee readily enough but there is no materia?' here for ouch stories as Kipling spun from Indian materials or as the South Seas have inspired. It cooms to the writer; that Mr.. Keyte's book has gone a Jong way towards proving this argument false.
It is first of all 'a good story, in the old fashioned sense, and then it is true throughout to Chinese thought, manners and mode of life. To' hold our sympathy and interest he docs not find it essential to "foreignize" his Chinese characters. 'They are real Chinese, yet just a" human as his Englich' chinracters and establish fully as strong a claim upon our concern for their welfare.
The scene of action is Szechuan, the time presumably the present and conditions are depicted as they really are—in chaos, Bandits, ruthless and responsible militarists, rabid anti-foreignists, all play a large part in the story while in the background move the masses of tie Owe oF Mu, Lo Roy Batontncs's hard-working and essentially decent common folk, tenaciously going on with their pairs, farming, trading, ud living somehow, in spite of the eriowa elasseo that prey on them. It is an accurate and sympathetic picture and ought to have its due educational value abroad.
The stalwart hero of the piece is the agent of a tobacco company, a young English public school and university man, far veteran, something of a scientist, cometaing of a psychologist, something of a for, very much the all-round athlete, horseman, crack shot and physical paragon.' He also has all the polite accomplishments and graces, the highest possible principles and no faults or vices. The moral and physical perfection of the preston is sometimes almost oppress bet when he gots ints action [Be does euch stirsing things that one readily forgives him for bel noble and handsome.
There are seally two heroines, an wil ish girl of exceptional beauty cultural sttaisments, who iz worker in the mission field, and a young Chin girl, the "Daughter!
Cathay, who had been adopted! [zo a chil by a senior missionary and! {his wife and in whom aad been nstilled all the Englich principles ind traditions that che might have!
merited had she been their own daughter. Mr. Keyte makes this irl a very winsome little. person
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.