New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-18

Mr.. Jacobs's stories 1eal with the folk Of small
shipping. with the men of London barges and
schoOners, but he is varied as though he had
travelled over half the world for his material.
He is fond of certain types but he keeps pre-
senting them in a new light he passes from
one yarn to another And to make his pages
more diverting he brings from time to time a
wholly unexpected character upon the scene, a
black cat of apocalyptic possibilities, deserter
who is to other deserters Mr.. Jacobs is to
other humorists and invariably he is setting
forth the facts Of the situation with a quiet, dry
touch that is irresistible Some Of his episodes
are little masterpieces. Witness the climax to
Mrs. Bunkers ChaperOn." or that to "A Har-
Dor Of Refuge" the stroke of ingenuity upon
which the events of "A Black Affair turn
We have no intention Of indicating just what
they are. The reader who once took up this book
would grudge every surprise; he would want to
test each new story for himself, and, having
tested them all, the chances are that he would
sigh in the midst of his laughter for more.
Mr.. Foster also inspires that last sentiment.
His small book is too small. Written with skill
that loses nothing of its effect through being ac-
of three stories suggests that the author could
to flag Nor would his inventveness weaken.
Apparently there is no limit to it. The stua-
tions in these plots grow funner and funnier.
In the last of the three tales, THE Man Who
Looked Like the King" Mr.. Foster rises to
heights of comicalty. Moreover, he never ceases
to be plausible. The extraordinary happenings
he relates always seem the most natural things
in the world. lie has a smooth conversational
way with him, and without making any pre-
tence to fulness Of characterization he cOntrives
to body forth his most fantastic personages in
realistic manner. In brief, it is a buoyant, art
less little volume one to captivate and to leave
a pleasant memory behind.
The humor in "The Pursuit of the House
boat is sometimes labored. but the occasional
creakings do not interfere with the progress OF
the uncanny craft through a remarkable series
of adventures. The neatest thing in the book Is
the introduction Of Sherlock Holmes as captain
of the Gehenna on the relief expedition sent after
the houseboat. Mr. Bangs hits him off in
genuinely amusing fashion. So also does Mr..
Newell in his illustrations to the book, and Mr..
BANGS deserves the gratitude Of his readers for
that one thing if for no other, for having made
the picture possible. Mr.. Newell is in his way
a master No one else can make comic draw
ings quite like his Not only has he very
picturesque and original style, but there turks
in a face as he draws 1t n little more absurdity
than could be put there by any other draughts
man of the day. Sherlock Holmes in these pict-
ures is a marvel Of expression. The picture en-
titled Judge Blackstone refuses to climb to the
mizzentop' is n triumph Mr. Bangs and Mr..
Newell work together with marked sympathy,
Int the artist has thrown himself so completely
into the spirit of his authors text as to emerge
with that spirit absorbed into his own and de-
welcomed into a creation that he alone could have
put forth. Were these pictures published in