The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-29
An Interesting Howens Story.

The reader will find himself Immediately
interested in Mr.. W. D, Howells's story Of
'The Son Of Royal Langbrith" (Harper Il
Brothers. The revelations Of heart senti-
ment in the case OF Royal Langbrith's
sons mother, aged 40 and for nineteen
years widow, and DR.. Anther, the-family
physician, a bachelor of IS, are interesting
to begin with. The doctor wastes no
time in proving himself a good man and
good company, and we believe, too. that
the reader will cordially approve OF the
widow.
When Royal Langbrith's son comes along
he quite stirs the air. Easter came late
before it. even in the Mid-New England
latitude OF Saxmills. when James Langbrith
brought his friend Falk home with him for
Q brief vacation The two were from
Harvard, and Falk was the son OF German
doctor settled in Kentucky. Mr.. Howells,
Of course, considers the types; likewise the
social aspects Of the manufacturing village
Of saumills. In the fourth chapter we find
James agitating his gentle mother by pro-
posing "a dinner in Falk's honor. my
notion" said he is to have a good, big
dinner-twelve or fourteen at table, and
yQel u lou dItcLWdlut VIII supper dDOuC
midnight
This was stupendous in the eyes Of q
Saxville housekeeper. James" said she,
Il wouldn't know how to do it, In his
large way he set her right upon this point.
Il don't want you to do it," he said Il
propose to do 1t myself. will have the
whole thing sent up from Boston, Be-
tween her gasps, says Mr.. Howells, he went
on. All have got to do is to write an
order to White the caterer, with particulars
OF quantity and quality, the date and hour,
and 1t comes on the appointed train with
three men in plain clothes; two reappear
in lustrous dress suits at dinner and sup
per, and serve the things the other has
cooked at our range. press the button.
White does the rest. he brings china,
cutlery. linen-everything. All you have
to do is to hide Jerry in the barn and keep
Norah upstairs to show the ladies into the
back chamber to take of their things
You can put our own cook under the sink.
You'll be astonished at the ease Of the whole
thing"
Mrs. Langbrith protested family. The
Idea was too large and splendid to sink in
all at once. 1T will he easy said she.
@but -" Jam interrupted her with
tender mockery. But would 1t be right2'
he said. He turned to Falk. What did
tell your In New England the notion OF
ease conveys the sense Of culpa bility.
My mother Is afraid she would have bad
conscience II she took all the work and
worry on herself she would feel that she
was pa wing the penalty OF her pleasure be-
forehand; IL she didn't she would know
that she must pa for II aftsrward.'
1t Is proper to add that the meal In honor
Of Falk did not come. along with the walters
and the cook from Whites. At the begin
ming Of the seventh cha pier it says: THE
compromise between Boston dinner
and Saxmils tea, which the mother and
son had agreed upon, prospered beyond
the wont of compromises 1t vas a very
good meal OF the older fashioned sort.
and it was better served by Norah, from
her abit Of such meals than could have
been expected with the help Of the niece she
had got in for the evening.
The turkey was set before Langbrith
and the chicken pie before his mother.
Norsh asked the guests which they would
have, in taking the plates, and brought
the plates back with the chosen portion.
and the vegetables added by the host or
nosteSs from tne deep OlsneS on Cnelf TlgnC
and left. There were small plates Of SUBJ
sdiary viands, such as branded peaches
and sweet pickles, which the guests passed
to one another. Tea and coffee and cocoa
we're served through the supper by Norah's
niece from the pantry, where she had them
hot from the kitchen stove. There was no
wine till the ladies left the table, when
Langbrith had Norah put down, with the
cigars, some decanters Of Madeira from,
as he said, his fathers stock. He had a
little pomp in saying that: 1t seemed to him
there was something ancestral in It,"
From this characteristic fight Of realism
we may turn to bit OF dialogue between
falk and the doctor. The doctor speaks:
L suppose you and James are thrown a
good deal together at Harvard
This last year. yes. since he took the
editorship OF Caricafure"
oh, indeed, he must be very popular,
then. to have that"
Not very" Falk delivered this answer
TRANQUILITY, the story says. He looked
steadily at the doctor as he broke of his
cigar ash, and added: "A good many Of tho
fellows think he's an ass
That was because Of Jamess patronizing
manner. The young man believed that o