Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-09

there, I am told. are raving over you vanced and up to date to admire a woman whom they are pleased to think a little bit wicked"
 Me wicked' shrieked Trilby, her Irish up.
 
 The little chapter on Lost Chords with acknowledgement to George llgerton." is possibly the very best in the book. l haven't read "Dscords,' but l know the trend of the work, and this is an admirable travesty upon the new woman as portrayed by such works rich, indeed, and scathing in it's quiet sarcasm.
 Could anything be added to our re- membrance of "The Idiot to make him more charming and real? Yes, here is some wit that is even worthy of the re- doubtabe John Kendrick Bangs:
 We're going to start a great Con. solidated American Humor Factory said the Idiot, as he caroused on buckwheat cake and bit the sausage square. ''Who are we?" asked the Bibomaniac, with his usual under-cur- rent of skepticism Bangs and l." said the Idiot as he pocketed buckwheat cake No. 1 and drew No. into firm position.
 What Bangs? John Kendrick Bangs. the humoriSt?" asked the poet in wide eyed astomshment.
 "Do you know a real live author?'
 "The same,' said the idiot, playing for position on the left rail of his plate. Bangs and l are bosom friends You must understand that John Kendrick Bangs, who writes for the great maga- zines, J. K. Bangs ofithe Sunday papers, Carlyle Smith of the comic weeklies J. Kendrick Bangs of the Yonkers Citizen and John K. Bangs, the politician, are one and the same individual. 1 am the bosom friend of the whole aggregation"
 "'The aggregation must be shy of bosom friends when it takes you," sniffed MT. Pedagog.
 Under the heading of "Novels That Everybody Read" we find some worthy, discerning criticism of many notable books. Lord Ormont and His Aminta' receives kindlier criticism than is usual ly bestowed upon its moral teachings, even by those who consider George Mer- edith the foremost living writer of fic- tion in English.
 "rhe Manxman" comes next under re- view as one of the notable recent works.
 When Hall Caihe wrote ''The Manx- man" he had the advantage of big can vass, and strength and force enough to fill it. The artistic effect of such a book is cumulative. The author can show his versatility without jarrng your nerves by sudden changes of style and mo- tive
 Of f'Tess of the DUrbervilles" of whom we are all so fond, he says: While you read there is no woman in the world but Tess, and to you, as to Clare in the light of early morning, she is no longer the mill1maid, but visionary essence of woman-a whole sex condensed into one typical forml There is a. Greek large ness and simplicity about Tess which is very appealing They are written in the melodious English of which Hardy has long been an acknowledged master"
 Not to specialize, there are delightful notes upon '"rhe Prisoner of Zenda,' Ships That Pass in the Night" "Pem- broke" and of this latter work there is one clause which I think truthfully re- veals our feeling upon reading this york; although conceded a work of art. It is: "The reader, not a New Eng lander, will close the book with admiration for the writer's skill, but with considerable satisfaction that his youth was not spent in a New England village" In fact, to put it stronger, did not thankfulness ascend as incense from your heart of hearts that your lines did not fall in a New England village for we can truthfully exclaim with Colonel Carter after reading Pembroke, By gad, sah we may not be makahs of the republic, sah, but we know how to live respectfully, affectionately and honora- bly with our own peoplen'
 And were there ever so many disagree able pickering people gathered together as in "Pembroke"?
 There are more good things in this 1it- tie work. and some that are below par and that we may incline to skip but try to write suppressed chapters" and see if you can beat "Droch."
 PAUL PRY.