The San Francisco call., 1904-02-07
JJ Bell Creates
Rare Mrs. McLerie


AMEs JOY BELL. the young
Scotch journalist. is making hay
while il is vet his boon TO bask
IN the feetfng sunshine OF popu-
lar favor. Wee Macgregor"
made his name known about a
year ago then followed Ethel" a
bright little tale which detracted moth
ing fropR his well-earned reputation.
and now he gives US still third, Mrs.
MLer5e." This Is making hay with
a vengeance.
II is evidently Mr.. Bells endeavor to
revive the popular taste for the Scotch
Burr which passed with Watson's 8
Bonnie Brisr Bush" and Barrie's
Tommy" stories. Perhaps II is over
rash 20 say that the Scotch dialect
story has passed: IL may be true that
Bells latest book clearly demonstrates
that the land o. cakes is with US yet
u "a certain, however. that Drumtoch-
~, Thruns and all those places OF
sGinted memory had their distinct
vogue once and are not now the Nee
cas- OF the Caledonian votaries that
they were Eve years ago.
Mr.. Bell works along precarious
trails. A story Ike Wee Macgregor"
or Mrs. M'Lerie" depends for its sue
cess entirely upon the caprices OF the
moment on the part Of the reading
world. This specialization in the dia-
lect story is a great chance; il may
make the author famous for the min
ute. but the glory is not for long. Ed
ward Townsend, who was ten years
ago an unknown reporter upon this
paper. suddenly fared into popularity
with "Chimmie Fadden" and then went
out. Peter Dunno with his "DOoley
had q great vogue for a time and then
the public left him. Not long ago q
certain Seumas MacMannus was hlling
the MAGAZINES with Irish stories, but
now his name is forgotten. Thus fare
the dislecticians. May the fates be
Kind 10 Mr. Bell.
Mrs. NLerie" is distinctly a clever
book Il is q novel and brilliant
achievement out Of the beaten paths OF
literature For those who are able 10
enjoy delicate caricature and bubolng
mirth Mrs. MLerie" Will have an es-
pecially strong appeal
The author has chosen 10 reveal his
gadding old Scotch gammer out OF her
own mouth and therefore he has cast
his little book entirely in dialogue. Mrs.
MFLerfe and her boon crony, Mrs.
Munro. sit over dishes o. tea" and
babbIe along DELIGHTFULLY."- about stuffed
birds. liver pills. Masonic societies or
church rafles. Mrs. MLerie is so un-
consciously ingenious, Mrs. Muro SO
Quick 10 prompt and correct her frleno
from the iaughably lacking store Of her
erudition. that the sum total OF these
Two auld wives opinions upon things
and things is refreshingly humorous
Yet beneath all the quaint humor ana
the sly fun there is a little thread OF
sornething solid, Of a character picture
which makes a strong appeal TO the
hart Not a crochety old lady TINS
Mrs. M'Lerie. nor q scold, but low
able old soul VINO respects the wishes
Of her man" TO the veriest 9ot ana
u hose love for her son John wee
lassie'' reaches even 10 the oepths Oh
her canny Scotch purse
Mrs. Nf'I,erie's "Glasgie" Scotch Is
not hard 10 read One does not nave 10
nsuse between g choke ana shee]e
"a mouth the words which fall from
be- orscular lips. When she is relat-
~ l,,,elv circumstances her burr IS
.of+ened into vivid Queens English
For example, when she pours into
Mrs Munro's ear the stirring tale OF
how she was chased by Mistress NC
Cordndale's goat there is no mincing
OF her rrs-
They tried to gar me believe 1t was
. tame Koat-a tame gOat-an' II WIS
fist wantin' 70 play WI me. n tame
Foat-G TAME
But maybe II wis tame goat
Mistress MLerie.'
For once in her life Mrs MLer1es
face lowered on her friend IL Wisht
ye had seen the beast as near as
eidi'
"'Aw, weel; 1 suppose ye're rieht
aboot Il bein' Wild yin
~ suppose I am
che Century Company, New York;
price, 81 oo.)