Fiction
REVELRY. By S. H. Adams. (New York : Boni and Liveright. 82.)—As our readers may have heard of the immense micas de scandals of the book in the United States, they may be interested in an opinion upon it. In the guise of fiction the author gives a crude and violent picture of Washington during President Harding's term. He is repre- sented as a well-meaning, stupid man with some half-baked ideals that are totally inconsistent with his taste for the lowest company ; a man capable of inducing affection though most of the crew are incapable of disinterested affection. The prospect of exposure leads to his self-imposed death, and we trust that there is no intention to revive some infamous rumours that were current at the time of Mr. Harding's death. We do not know how far the villains are intended to represent members of the well-known "Ohio Group" or oil men. They are shown here as utterly repulsive, steeped in vice, drink, gambling and the crudest forms of "graft," not even hesitating to arrange murders ; and we recognize points taken from the evidence in the inquiry into Senator Fall's activities. Though there is a moving passage or tito towards the end, it is no work of literary art. We may *speet Mr. Adams' motive in writing the book, if he thinks it- Will purify American polities. But no Engliih- -render will enjoy the author's fouling of his awn nest or the use of sensational muckrake."
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