“Not alone are the main characters well drawn, even the most minor minion is unforgettably sketched. The author has studied children and has thoroughly expressed her understanding of them.”
+ − N Y Times p27 S 12 ’20 240w
MARTIN, MABEL WOOD. Green god’s pavilion. *$1.90 (1½c) Stokes
20–14601
This novel of the Philippines shows in almost lurid colors the irreconcilable difference between the East and the West. It is symbolized in the figures of two women, one, Julie, an American of a fair and spiritual beauty who goes out to Manila as a teacher and with the spirit of a crusader. The other, a native woman, Isabel, the “Empress of the East,” with the fierce passion of life that stops not at evil. It is a tragic story of how the East breaks all who come to her with the best of intentions of uplift and improvement, except they miraculously rise from the dead for a second birth. It broke Julie and left her for dead among the plague stricken huts of the natives. It broke Barry McChord, the man with the “Excelsior” face, who fell a victim to the plague after his high hopes were gone. But something selfless in both finally triumphs over all self-deceptions, even over death. Much philosophizing and much gruesome realism are a part of the story.
“Smoothly written and vivid tale of love and faith and hardship.”
+ Bookm 52:174 O ’20 220w
“From its opening chapter, the reader’s interest is caught and held. Amy Lowell, herself, has done no more vivid color bits than this author has introduced in descriptions of Manila. Aside from the brilliancy of the local setting, she has woven a tale of exceeding interest and charm, and super-excellent quality in novels of today, its ‘third act’ is most engrossing.” C. K. H.