The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 46

DIO The Pittsburgh Press Thursday, May 14. 1992 THE FEATURE PAGE 'Gate of Angels' a literate novel by a very good writer BOOH REVIEUS Daisy was from south London where she "grew up with the smells of vinegar, gin, coal smoke, paraffin, sulfur, horse-dung from backyard stables, chloride of lime from backstreet factories and baking bread every morning." "When she was quite young they had been very poor. That was bad, but on the other hand, the great city was almost as well adapted to serve the very poor as the very rich." Wanting to improve her station in life and much happier extending help than accepting it Daisy, after her mother's death, decided to learn nursing. She was dismissed from her hospital training program because she chose to follow her instincts for kindness rather than the rules. She found a maid's work in the sanitarium of a very unconventional doctor, on staff at her former hospital, who also had a practice in Cambridge.

How the plucky Daisy and lovesick Fred deal with the complications in their lives is the essence of a literate, heartwarming novel. The writer knows much about how to portray sentiment without sentimentality and the result is a very amusing, entertaining story. Fitzgerald has won the Booker Prize, Britain's highest literary honor, for a previous novel The Gate of Angels" was on the short list tor another Booker Prize. (Anne G. Faigen has taught high school and college English and is a freelance writer THE GATE OFAGELS by Penelope Fitzgerald Doubkday Co.

$19. By Anne G. Faigen Reading Penelope Fitzgerald's eighth novel is like stepping into another world, where sheltered lives, innocent loves and totally unlikely romances that have a logic and svmmetry that defy credibility somehow seem real. The time is 1912, the" place Cambridge, the English university town that attracts not onlv eccentric academics but also wholesome young scholars like Fred Fairly. He leads a spare, orderly life at St Angelicus College, whose tradition requires that no woman may pass through the gates and no Fellow of the college may marry.

St Angelicus was formidable in its simplicity: "Gas-lighting had never been introduced, or even suggested. "The candles bumed in ancient holders which grasped them in twisted silver rings that held them absolutely straight The college silver, acquired at intervals over four hundred years, was largely Spanish, mostly bought from needy church treasures. "Possibly not all of it had been designed as tableware a set of instruments, for example, which appeared to be toothpullers, and another like a horse comb glittered on the table every night and were put back into drawers in the silver pantry." Fred, son of a clergyman and a serious scientist, considered himself lucky to be appointed to St Angelicus. He was perfectly willing to accept its spartan conditions until the incredible accident which brought Daisy Saunders into his life. Daisy and Fred had collided in a bicycling mishap.

Taken in by the kindly Mrs. Wraybum who rescued them from the roadway, they awakened, bruised and dazed, to find themselves sharing a bed; Mrs. Wraybum had put them in her spare bedroom until other arrangements could be made. Fred, soon moved to a hospital, was instantly smitten by the pretty, brash young woman whose style was direct and candid, except about her past Daisy's background and Fred's were so dissimilar they inhabited worlds alien to each other. NORTH Jion AJMS A I ia Their love's in bloom, late but strong DEAR ABBY BRIDGE By Phillip Alder Last year at the Sunday Times tournament in London, the World Women's Pairs and Teams champions from the United States, Karen McCallum and Kerri Shuman, were slated to play.

However, Shuman had to withdraw at the last moment so McCallum teamed up with Sally Horton, a World Women's Teams champion from Britain. For this year's event McCallum and Horton revived their partnership. Lack of practice worked against them in such a strong field, but Horton played today hand perfectly. Horton opened with the maximum pre-empt five clubs. In response, McCallum decided that they were unlikely to make exactly 11 tricks.

Either the hands would fit well and they would make a slam, or they would fit badly and not even make a game. This made the six-club bid logical. West trying to find a safe lead, opened with the spade seven. Declarer ruffed and cashed the club ace. Needing to find the diamond and will care for him happily as long as the good Lord lets me.

We love our God and each other, and I just wanted to share my good fortune with you because I consider you a friend. BLESSED IN SAN DIEGO DEAR BLESSED: What an "up- Eer" your letter is! You are both lessed to have found each other. May God bless you for many years to come. DEAR ABBY: I went to the grocery store today and my purchases came to $8.21, so I gave the cashier one $5 bill, three $1 bills, a quarter and a penny. doctor about heart disease The cashier looked puzzled.

Then she said, "I have to give you something back, don't How much should it be?" Abby, I had to tell her I wanted a nickel back. She said she was new on the job and wasn't used to making change. This is not the first time I've had to tell a cashier how much change to give me. Some cash registers are so sophisticated nowadays, the cashiers don't have to know how to add 2 and 2. 1 mentioned this to the manager of a supermarket and he told me that nobody has to know how to add and subtract anymore there are machines that do it for you.

I am not against progress, but DOCTOR more scary not knowing about a disease (and fearing the worst) than obtaining a description of what's going on and being able to deal with it rationally. DEAR DR. GOTT: Can you provide information about pink eye? Is it true it can last up to two months? I suffer from, glaucoma and wonder if it will make my condition worse. DEAR READER: "Pink eye" (conjunctivitis) simply means inflammation of the white of the eye. In its most common form, acute conjunctivitis is a highly contagious, uncomfortable but relatively harmless eye infection that is most retired lieutenant commander in the U.S.

Navy (female Navy nurse). The brother of a close friend recently lost his wife, so they invited me to dinner and brought a gentleman along. Al was a widower, and I had never been married. We hit it off right from the start and soon became a steady foursome. This happened in August and by November Al and I knew we were in love.

We were married in December. He is 68. No sex, as he had prostate surgery and radiation, but I adore the man, and we give each other back rubs. I am kissed, hugged and told that I am loved more times a day than I can count. His hearing is poor hearing aids don't help his kind of deafness but Al doesn't need to hear to know that I love him.

For Valentine's Day, he bought me a white orchid corsage and took me to dinner. I will love this man Ask your By Dr. Peter H. Gott DEAR DR. GOTT: What can be done about pericarditis? I've been told I have it but don't understand what it is all about.

DEAR READER: Pericarditis, inflammation of the envelope surrounding the heart, has many causes, ranging from infection to autoimmune diseases and kidney failure. The affliction occurs after pen-heart surgery and, occasionally, from heart attack. In many no cause can be found, suggesting that viruses play a role. Symptoms include chest pain, Tever, cough, malaise, rapid pulse and weakness. With a stethoscope, a doctor can hear the characteristic sounds of the inflamed pericardium, a sequence of noises called a "rub" similar to the sound of rhythmically rubbing the fingers The diagnosis is established by blood tests, a cardiogram (showing FRIDAY BIRTHDAY- Potentially lucrative concepts you've never taken seriously could be effectively developed in the year ahead.

It looks like you'll be in-: spired to take positive measures in this area. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You might be required to make a difficult decision with peripheral results that could affect several individuals. If you try to do what's best for all concerned, it should work out. GEMINI (May 21 June 20) Your most substantial rewards are likely to come from situations in which you face the greatest challenges. Don't let obstacle awareness cause you to chicken out.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) In order to be successful, you must be singularly devoted to one type of activity. It could be either all work or all play, but don't attempt to mix the two. when a college graduate cant add a column of four figures without running for a calculator, there is something wrong. I do volunteer work for the American Red Cross, and a fellow who works with me there is a graduate of a college in Iowa, and he asked me how many "j's" there are in Little kids cant even tell time on an old-fashioned watch with numbers because most watches are digital now. I am 63 years old, but I think American technology has come too far too fast I'm no old fogey, but I don't want a machine to do all my thinking for me.

What do you say, Abby? 'DOC' IN FARIBAULT, MINN. DEAR 'DOC': Amen, brother. you have a perplexing problem, write to Dear Abby, Box 69440, Los Angeles, Calif. 90069. common during the spring and summer.

It is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops. Reddening of the eye is also seen in a wide variety of disorders, ranging from a speck of soot under the Ud to vision-threatening glaucoma. In my opinion, anyone with conjunctivitis should see a physician or, if the inflammation is severe or chronic, an ophthalmologist I'm not so much concerned about whether your "pink eye" is affecting your glaucoma as whether the conjunctivitis and redness may represent a consequence of this serious eye disease in which a buildup of pressure within the fluid of the eyeball can lead to disastrous loss of vision. Make an appointment with your eye doctor. Send your questions to Dr.

Gott at P.O. Box 91428, Cleveland, Ohio 44101. Due to the volume of mail, individual questions cannot be an-' swered. Questions will be answered in future columns. group.

Don't be intimidated by a lot of strange faces. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Your probabilities for achieving an important objective look good, provided you have a continuity to your efforts. Don't operate in a piecemeal fashion.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -Protect your interests, but don't do it in a way that could inconvenience others involved in the endeavor. Being too self-serving will be detrimental for all. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Your luck will be proportionate to your industriousness. The harder you strive, the more you'll be rewarded for the efforts you expend.

For your personal horoscope, lovescope, lucky numbers and future forecast, dial 1 (900) 740-1010 and enter The Pittsburgh Press access code number 180. You will be billed 95 cents per minute. Newspaper Enterprise Association IT HAPPENED May 14 Crossword Puzzle WEST TJ 4" EAST AKQ8SJ2 74 VK10M74S VQ4 7 KQ SOUTH K108 AJ86S4J: Vulnerable: East-West Dealer. South Soata West North East i Pass 6 4 All pass Opening lead: 7 queen for her contract Horton embarked on a journey of discovery. She played a heart to dummy's ace, ruffed a spade in hand, ruffed the heart jack in the dummy and ruffed another spade in hand.

West, realizing he would be endplaved if he overruffed, discarded a heart But declarer exited with a trump. Now West could lead a heart safely as dummy was out of trumps, but when East discarded, the hand had counted out. West was known to have begun with 2-8-1-2 distribution. Horton ruffed West's heart, played a diamond to dummy's ace and finessed the diamond 10 for her contract The Family Circus "What are they teaching you in history these days, Billy?" "The 1970s." Answer to Previous Pvsilo (.) 11 Haad(aL) 19 Exhort 21 Hotal ampioyaa 24 South African triba 25 Concalts 26Chartas Lamb 28 Partly fermented grips juica 30 Chimps, a.g. 31 -do-wall 32 Actrau Rowlands 34 Bar of matal 38 Error 39 Attention- gatUng sound 41 Waars away 45 Talk-ahow host Wlnfray 47 Onaoftha aansai 48laakout 49Partoftha day 51 Ballet movamant 52 Flbar plant 53 Destroy (al.) 55 Bird (comb.

form) 57 Roman bronza calling 1-900-454-3535 and entering nunum; wuui-uuc ivuuy pnunes. electrical changes in the heartbeat), an echocardiogram (revealing fluid between the heart muscle and the pericardium) and sometimes examination of this pericardial fluid. Treatment depends on the cause. Antibiotics may be necessary, as may aspirin or cortisone. In instances where the cause is undetected, bed rest and general supportive measures are appropriate.

Most patients recover uneventfully. In rare instances, pericarditis can lead to scarring that causes a form of heart failure. I suggest you return to your doctor and request a full explanation of your disease. You're entitled to this information. It's always LEO (July 23-Aug.

22) An unusual shift in conditions could prove to be a bit mystifying. If you're unable to perceive its direction, it might hamper your success. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) An endeavor you're presently involved in requires more knowledge than you possess.

Seek counselors, but be absolutely certain they know a lot more than you do. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) If you're enterprising, you might figure out a way to gain a substantial return from a source that is not the one from which you earn your daily bread. Dennis The HOROSCOPE May 15 ACROSS 44 Spanish gold 48 Swift air 1 Eplurlbus craft (abbr.) 48 High up Hi or by (2wds.) 9 Buddhism 50 Haiti typo 53 Animal 12 Mac gardan confldanca 54 MUd 13 Comadlan axplatJva Shrlnor 56 Hawaiian 14lnthapaat food fish 15Nagativa 58 Containing command nitrogan (conL) 59 Roof 16 Surfaca ovarhang maaauraa 60 Motion 17 RalatJva pictura ISPropnat 61 and Ink 20 Birthmark 62 Watar craft 22 Sign at aatt- 63 Famala birds out(abor.) 23 Ught DOWN faathar 24Laatlattar 1 Typaof 27USaokara baan 29 Informal 2 Gas for languaga aigna 33 Moat 3 Skaiaton rapulslva part 35 Small sword 4 Uganda 36Cutofmaat 5 Soft cloth 37 CounUaaa 6 Comparativa 40 Common suffix practka 7FMdof 42 Incorract action (prat.) 8 Praoccupy 43 Mrs.

9 Actrass Pitts Madrid 10 ProtactJon ALMANAC SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Try to work from an organized agenda. If you don't have proper guidelines, there's a chance you could merely spin your wheels and accomplish little. SAGITTARIUS (Nov.

23-Dec. 21) Something of substance is coming to you, but as of now, you haven't been able to put it in your pocket. Happenings behind the scenes might help to break the log jam. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.

19) Remember who you are and why you're there, and you'll be able to deal successfully with a large Menace J5f James mining, power and At a charges Mayor club to The city Gen. Webster apoplexy." 12 is 14 is it 17 14 pirnr T5 T3 TT- IT' T8 T7 TI 13" 2i 1 22 23 jrTiTTii tt wprrar 53 33 5J IT" iTUi a I 1 jl i 1 1 arni 35 irtr sj a is "si ir ts "83 is Today is Thursday, May 14, the 135th day of 1992. There are 231 days left in the year. On this date in history: In 1643, Louis XTV became king of France at age 4 upon the death of his father, Louis the XIII. In 1796, English physician Edward administered the first vaccination.

against smallpox to an 8-year-old boy. In 1942, the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps was established. tin 1948, the independent state of Israel was proclaimed in Tel Aviv as British rule in Palestine came to an end. The United States immediately recognized the Jewish state. In 1955, representatives from eight com- munist bloc countries, including the Soviet Union, signed the Warsaw Pact in Poland.

Thought for the day: "Act well at the moment, and you have performed a good action to all eternity." Johann Kaspar Lavater, Swiss theologian By The Associated Press 25 YEARS AGO (1967) M. Cunningham, a critic of strip was fired as state director of bituminous conservation and reclamation after a struggle between conservationists mining interests. 50 YEARS AGO (1942) State Liquor Control Board hearing into of Sunday sales and gambling at the German-American Association clubhouse, Cornelius Scully testified he knew the be "proper and legal." 100 YEARS AGO (1892) was shocked by the sudden death of Thomas A. Rowley, found dead in his Avenue home after "an attack of Rowley was a Mexican War lieutenant and a hero of several Civil War battles; a former U.S. marshal and clerk of Allegheny County Courts.

Compiled by Rich Gigler "I don't think Dennis did it. The lights are out all over the neighborhood." Stumped? Get answers to clues by access coae no. lou cents per 6.