The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-03
THE BOOK WORLD.
"BuGetS" on Society People by an
inexperienced Hand.
A GEM OF A STORY.
American Humor and Humorous
American Stories.


II want to tickle the ribs OF this crate for about one
minute The fire is all dead and white underneath and
two three well directed pokes Will send the flames
laughing up the chimney. There now, isn't that an
Improvement This is almost bright and pretty as
the SOURCES log fire. What do you say about it
Major2n
Beautiful beautiful, my boy" replied the Major,
drawing up his chair, lit pity to light the gas
when the FIRE burns brightly that What does the
honorable club say7 Shall chat awhile by the light
OF the names2'
The DocroR-Now listen to this romantic major Well
TO please him VIII sit in the dim religious light OF
Liverpool coal fire. or course the ladies' cannot 20 on
with their fancy work, but why should they2 Mrs.
Greed, however, would not stop her knitting If the
room were pitch dark Turns down the gas). There is
not so much difference after ALL can read the title OF
this book well enough ''BuHcts,n by Charles H. Doe;
Boston, James II. 0sgood Co That's pretty good
Tor man Of ffty-two, without his spectacles
AUGUSTUS CHARLEs-Bravo, Doctorl now tell us what
you think Of this book.
The DocToR-I have not read it, but Miss Skinner
has for caught her in the act the other day. Is 1t the
great American novel, Miss Skinner?
Miss SKnMER-Not by a great deal. expect Bret
Harte to write that long expected book This is an
American novel, to be sure, but not the in question:
MI Doe has not the first requisite for writing that one
for he don't know anything about American society,"
that is, the type he means to represent the 'upper
ten" The members of the "Twddler Club" while
they are drawn close to the life, perhaps not the
"heavy swels' they would seem. They have
plenty OF money smoke a great deal, play
q great deal and talk great deal of small
talk, and act very much like party of newly
nedgcd schoolboys. Almost every chapter is impreg
mated with the odor of tobacco smoke and envened
with the popping of corks The first chapter is at
an idea of saying funny things and no does
so occasionally. His descriptions of common
people much better than those
Of the ''aristocracy." Jack Houldworthy, who
Is the hero and of the Twiddlers goes to the
ding of an humble friend who marries a grocer's
daughter. He is made the lion of the evening" over the
bride and groom That chapter is pretty good When,
however, the author pretends to tell that after gen.
teman foils If he does honoraby his friends will cut
him and never call upon his family in their more
humble quarters then IL is time question what he
knows about real ladies' and gentlemen who never
guilty of such vugarity Jack goes into a wholesale
drug and turned the cold shoulder by the MAJOR
ty Of the Twiddlers OF course he could not live his
club life while on meagre salary but then there
no reason why he should be socially ostraczed.
AUGUSTUS CHARLEs-I should think that Charley
Lush might have been banished from society and good
yet he got under the influence of the flowing bowl
The slightest provocation went into the presence
Of ladies when he couldn't tell a hawk from handsaw
and when going home at night amused himself by
breaking OF bell handles The funniest thing in the
book to me is Jacks call Miss Pulls OF the black
Eyes, whose conversation was limited, and who, in
desperation, asked him If he didn't like look at pho
tographs He politely said that he did she opened
her album upon him and began describe the pictures
like a Snowman at panorama. "That is my brother
Robert II was taken after he had just recovered from
n long sickness and very thin. That is my uncle
Thomas. He went to California &c. That is my aunt
Jane. don't know much about her. She died when
was child" Jack mentally concluded after an in
spection Of Aunt JAMES portrait that this
perhaps as well for her relations
'9That old gentleman the next page" Miss Pulls
went on relentlessly is my grandfather-or one of
them, she added suddenly with praiseworthy desire
mot to deceive her listener 'Ah quite fine looking
old gentleman" said Jack; 'he in the seafaring
way, should judge" 'Not at ALL" said Miss Pulls
with dignity; ''he was a doctor 20 "Ah yes, to be
sure OF course, said Jack; 81 had it in bad light
and this Is your grandmother on the other side?"
"No that is an aunt OF my mothersi" "Ah, indeedn
said Jack, with that air of extreme interest which
young men compelled to assume when pictures of
other peoples aunts shown them by young ladies'
'That, continued the remorseless Miss Pulls els one
Of my best friends" 'Qute pretty face said Jack
''who is sheY'' 'Her name Is Miss Munchinello: she
lives quite here, and see great deal OF each
other" &C, &c. greatly sympathize with Jack for
have been caught In that sort of a scrape myself l
don't mind looking over an album OF celebrities, but
when it to 'aunts and cousins by the dozens'
feel that am indeed martyr
1.-THE LACY DIAMONDS"
e.Un had
parson," said the Major, ait seems to be running
down. Just give me that poker please"
AUGUSTUS CHARLEs-The Major is the man for a
Gre, in the house in the neld see that already,
what blaze l tell the color OF Miss Euphemia's
eyes from here.
The DocroR-That is singular indeed.
The LAwYER-And can the flash Of the "Lacy
Diamonds, 4" lying on the table yonder
Miss EUPHEmA-It is not a nashy book, however
papa
The PARsos-Ladies and gentlemen, am astonshed
that the Book Club, OF Ourvle should stoop to such
levity Let us to business once. Since you have
mentioned "The Lacy Diamonds" IT, T. Hale & SOM,
my dear Lawyer what is your opinion OF the story ?"
The LAwYER-I have read all the books of this
author and find them fresh and enjoyable He has no
ptted style, but just tells plain unvarnished tale
with occasional touches of wit that are very amusing
His plots always exciting, but he relates the incl
dents just you or might to the members Of this
club. Whatever he thinks he says. lie describes
ady's dress very deliberately and then tells you that
he got the description out OF fashion journal The
author is evidently amateur and writes because he
loves to- He is fortunate in getting good plots and
having hit upon original way Of working them out
His heroes all athletes well as chivalrous gentle
men. They famous shots and fence like French.
men. The Lacy Diamonds is the third OF the series
and sort OF sequel to "Harwood" though il is not
necessary TO have read the one to enjoy the other
Their diamonds have long been a curse to tho Lacy
family, and good ever comes TO their owner on ac-
count OF prophecy accompanying them in these
Words
Empurpled with blood drawn from kinsmans veins;
The curse numbered jewels their stain do retain
Till the salt waves Of ocean shall wash out the stain
Who hireth Redkeep, of the Lacy strain,
A and half score may never attain,