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MRS. FISCHER'S WAR—Henrietta Leslie —Houghton Mifflin ($2.50).
Janet might have taken her pick among several nice Englishmen, but instead she married Carl Fischer, an expatriate in London who preferred loneliness in England to Junker-ridden Germany. They were very happy; when their son John was born, their cup brimmed. In the summer of 1914 the Fischers were planning a holiday in the Harz Mountains. Then John sprained his ankle, had to stay at home. When the War started Carl & Janet were in Germany. On the train to Holland Carl's half-forgotten patriotism gave him dreadful qualms; just before they reached the frontier he gave himself up as a German citizen. That was the last Janet saw of him for a long time.
John could not forgive his father, and tried to make up for things by changing his name to "Fisher" and enlisting, though he was under age. Janet tried to do War work and was hounded out of one organization after another because of spy rumors. A few letters got through from Carl, then silence. By the time John got his commission and went to France Janet was afraid Carl was dead. One day in a dressing station John saw his father, unconscious, fearfully wounded. Janet, sure Carl was dying, tried to get permission to go to him, but she was rated as "enemy alien," was not allowed. The doctor saved Carl's life, at the cost of a leg, both eyes. Then John was hit.
When the War was over Janet brought what was left of Carl back to England and was happy to be his attendant. John had married a Canadian nurse and gone with her to Canada; he had never forgiven his father.
The Author. Henrietta Leslie shows herself no jingo, displays a lively and indignant sympathy for her heroine. An ardent internationalist, active in reconstruction work, she was recently decorated by the King of Bulgaria. She has written many a novel, two plays, a pageant. Thoughtful John Galsworthy has written an introduction to Mrs. Fischer's War. Says he: "It makes you think. Yes, it makes you think."
Listen to the Mocking-Blrd