The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-08
WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
The title Of Marie COrelli's new book Is
rather misleading. II Is called Boy.
Sketch" u. B. Lipplncott & Coz AS a
matter Of fact II is not what one expects
TO find upon reading q sketch: IL is a
book, and not at all In the nature of q
short story. A novel Of 3is pages Is not a
sketch In the usually accepted meaning
Of the term. ard yet Miss Coreih named
her book to suit her own fancy. She Is
doubtless right in calling II sketch OF
"Roy'S'' life. for IL Is but a portion OF the
young mans history that she sets forth.
The story begins with Boys cbilih BOD:
cit may be conceded by those who know
anything about married life and house
keeping that boy began his career among
curious surroundings. From his feeding
chair he saw strange sights-sights which
often puzzled him. caused him to beat mo-
notonous time with his baton-spoon In or
der to distract his little brain. Two large.
looming figures occupied his horizon-'Muz-
zy' and Poo Sing 'Muzy, was the easy
going stout lady in felt slippers. who gave
him his bread "A nd-milk and said he was
her boy: Poo Sing was. in the few tran
gull moments OF his existence. understood
to be Dads or Papa Boy somehow
could never call him either Dads or Papa
when he was seized by his staggering fits:
such terms were not sufficiently compass
sionate for en- unfortunate gentleman who
wss subject to malay which would not
allow him 20 keep steady on his feet with
cut clutchng at the si!eboard or the man
tlepiece. Boy lad been told by 'MuZzy'
that when Papa rolled about the room
he was very M ard the most eloquent
language could not iittingly describe the
innocent and tender emotions OF pity In
Boys mind when he beheld the prosenitor
OF his being thus cruelty afflicted.
IN n
heart In the midcarecr Of his drunkenness.
then the gentle murmur OF poo sing" from
the fresh. rosy lips OF little child. and
that child hts own son. might have moved
to sense Of uneasy shame and remorse
the particular tough and fibrOus nature OF
Captain the Honorable DArcy-Muir. But
Captain the Honorable was of that ancient
and royal birth which may be seen assert
ing itself in rowdy theatcr parties at res
taurants in Piccadilly. and he. with the
rest of his distinguished get. said openly:
'D-n sentiment As for any sacredness
In the life of a child or any idea OF grave
responsibility resting upon him as a father
fer that chiids future. such primitive no.
lions never occurred TO him. Sometimes
when Boy stared at him very persistently
with solemnly inquiring grave blue eyes.
he would become suddenly and violently
irritated. and would demand: What is the
little beggar staring at? Looks like
ID idiotr
Then, pouring more whisky out OF the
ever-present bottle into the ever-present
glass. he would yell TO his wife: See here.
old woman. this child is going to be an in
fernal idiot. A regular water-on- he-brain
knock-down idiot. Staring at me for all
tho world as II / were a goriliaI He's over
fed-thats what's the matter! Guzzling on
bread and milk till he can't get q drop
more down. Never saw such q - little
pig In all my - life"
BOY, lately arrived from the Infinite.
was guiltless Of his present dubious sur
rounoings. He did not make his Honorable
father a drunkard or his mother q sloven.
Boy used to compare 'Muzzy' with
another lady who sometimes came to visit
him. Miss Letitia Leslie, a wonderful vision
to Boys admiring eyes. q rustling. glisten-
ing dream. made UP Of soft. dove-colored
silk and vioet-scenfed old lace. and ten
der. calm blue eyes. and small hands with
big diamonds flashing on their dainty
whiteness-'Miss Lefty as she was gener.
ally called. and that purse-proud old maid
as Captain the Honorable frequently desig-
mated her Boy had his own title for her.
1t was Kiss Lefty instead OF Miss Lefty.
and he would often ask. In dull moments,
when the numerous perplexities Of his small
mind became too entangied for him to bear
Where is Kiss Lefty? Me wants Kiss Lat
| ty. Kiss Lefty loves Boy-Boy loves kiss
Lefty"
Miss Lefty was Q dear lady. indeed. She
was gentle, sweet and amiable. and pos
] sessed OF a fortune. Her lover mad died
Year, before. and shs had been faithful to