Word: charming
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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Significance. For 33 years Mrs. Atherton has whacked out novels. She has no charm, no human touch, no style, not even a way with words. But she has always had brains, hard and vigorous, if not very subtle, and has always exhibited and admired intelligent forcefulness. Deliver her from Average People! Two years ago, at the age of 64, examining life as she does for "strong" ideas whether pleasant or unpleasant, she fastened upon glandular rejuvenation and wrote that gold mine in pseudoclinical vulgate, Black Oxen. Now comes the ductless glands, another "strong" idea and similarly demonstrated, if you care...
...some wondered, largely the fear of indolence, the terror of the waste and shrill emptiness of life that drove a gentleman of such parts, schooled in such a civilized charm, to lead a life beleaguered with lonely effort, desolated with efficiency? Was it this terror, also, that bred in him such a pity for men that his instant reaction to an outrageous crime was sorrow for the criminals? Various comments to some such effect were; made by his friends, but strangest of all was one supplied by an item printed in his paper just before his body exchanged its pleasant...
...hotel, enveloped in a blue and white dressing-gown, he was writing an ode beneath the electric light. Thus a reporter found him, and elicited these words: "Raquel Meller is the world's greatest living artiste. . . It is hard to analyze just why she is so wonderful for her charm lies in the fact that she is so perfectly graceful in many ways...
...dear Sir, I have read your play. Oh! My very dear Sir! Yours truly, John Clayton." In 1885, Mary Anderson tours the U. S. "J. F.-R.," her leading man, is enchanted by American sunshine. General Sherman wrings his hand in St. Louis; General Lee's daughters charm him in Louisville. At Denver there is a rat-hunt in the dining-room; at Salt Lake City, Brigham Young's brave theatre and stone water-conduits; at Washington, John Hay "and his friend Henry Adams...
Except for Elizabeth Hines and an acrobatic group of chorus girls, the piece is a dire error. It has been adapted from Alice Duer Miller's The Charm School with sedulous aridity of wit. There have been dozens of musical comedies with weak books and strong ankles but few with the contrasts so sharp. If you can stand stretches of ramblings unrelieved to watch Miss Hines and the chorus, now and then, you may like...