The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-01

Now, this is not to say the novel is
commonplace-far from it.. Unless life is
commonplace to you to look upon, this
novel will not deserve SO to be ranked by
you. 1t is the story, as stated, of an in
herited tragedy. Zelda's mother had been
brought to an early grave by the harsh
ness and selfshness of her husband The
mothers sister takes Zelda abroad and
tries to wean her from the home she
has known. But when Zelda returns,
from sense of duty she again makes her
home with her father, who is also the
trustee of her mothers estate. The
fathers attitude toward the girl and his
course in business lead up to such
break as can only be regarded as tragi-
cal. = 49,
But if the story is an inherited tragedy,
it Is also an inherited romance. The ro-
mantle element colors brightly-as bright
ly as in the lives of average mortals-the
gray of Zelda's sky. And therein lies the
story,s greatest strengthen the portrayal
| Of the saving joy Of love. In what sense
the love is inherited is Mr.. Nicholson's
business to tell.
Of course, the chief interest is in Zelda,
and one other. But there is wealth of
portraiture in Balcomb,S man who puts
up a 'front.' He is young lawyer who
starts out in the practice of his profess
sion upon the theory that nothing sue
ceeds like the appearance of success.
Consequently he eXpends more gray mat
ter than he can spare in devising and
keeping up his 'front.' For example. he
describes to an old college chum one
method of impressing callers in his office:
| 1t was fake telegram That girls trained
to bring in a message every time I have
caller If the caller stays thirty minutes, it's
| two messages-in other words, I'm a fifteen
minute schedule. tip the boy in the telegraph
office to keep me supplied with blanks. It's
| great scheme. There is nothing like a telegram
to create the impression that your office is a
seething caldron+of btsiness4S Old prexy in
| town the other day. Say, he must have thought
I had private WIRE
It does not take long for Balcombs
! front to get punctured in this case. which
| is poetic justice, and therefore properly
| belongs in good story.
| One also finds some choice bits of the
epigrammatic here andfthere. as when one
of the chara cters remarks: "A club is
mans idea Of heaven, they say: any
| thing when you ring; noFapologies and no
| questions asked So
Altogether the book is one of much in
/ terest and promise. 1t points to still
better things by the author, in the realis-
| tic line. -
1 The Bobbs Merrill company, Indianapolis.
4 Good Laughs for the Laugh Lover. -
Stories about cheerful Americans are to
be found in Charles Battell Loomis' More
| CheerfuI Americans, Some OF the cheer
full ones are Of that, type which mixes
large, quantities of irresponsibility with
! the cheer, as, for example, Alonzo Buck
4 ingham, who WAS onahis way to his we'd
ding got interested in a talk with a fell
low passenger, forgot to get off at the
right station and, despite heroic efforts,
lost the girl who would have been his
4 bride but got tired waiting and married
1 the best man. q.
] But there is more in, the book than
that; there are directions for writing a
novel for the masses, and. as that is the
4 kind that fattens ones bank account.
4 why that is the kind you want to write.
y We are sorry Mr.. LOOMS gave the Sc
4 crets of the profession publicity until
: we had our novel for the masses on the
4 market. -
Henry Holt s. Co., New York. $1.25.
New Edition of "cape Cod Foiks.'-An
edition de luxe Of Cape Cod Folks, by
Sarah Mclean Greene, has. been issued
in good time for Christmas. 1t contains
! an introduction by Emma E. Brown on
the circumstances under which the book
came, to be written. The illustrations
are another feature of, the edition. They
are taken from real scenes and will be
studied with enthusiasm by those who
have found pleasure in the book.
|. DeWolfe,, Fiske & Co. Boston, Sl.5O net