After reading "Belle-Mere," Kathleen Norris' latest contribution to the belles-lettres of the world, one inclined to decide that. the s0- called savage tribes were not un-Wise when they disposed of their elders" with celerity. Any mice, isolated hill, well equipped with ravenous wild beasts, would do, For the dominant figure in this insist tently homely romance of a C1 fornia village belle and a fashionable doctor, the latter's pampered, plump little mother, is one to excite the less admirable emotions. It ust be said for the suther. that she has created a monster, yet one that is both logical and potent, The instant antagonism between' the young wife and "Belle-Mere" deve-Tops" into. a" bitter, devastating red that "nearly destroys. them all. But'in theme. and treatment, the story is hopelessly stereotyped, even the ancient attempt to "square the triangle" is a mere carbon copy of hundreds of other such abortive incidents, At times, however, Mrs. Norris contrives a brief, penetrate ing characterization, one 40 be remembered, as when she dealt with the young person who worked in the candy shop and was determined marry the son of the house. Invited fo dinner, the githaired Hemis talked'a great deal. Far too much. Tt was obvious that "Mama" was her idol, she quoted her om all occa: sions." Mama had ki a few years ago. was corned all the time," she ex-Blained simply, "without rancott Need any further comment be made on Bernie?—pat.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.