Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-09-30
MYSTERIOUS Mr.. sABIN
In Plot and Construction
A STORY THAT is A STORY.s

This statement we wish accepted Ia
its idiomatic sense and not as Phillips
Brooks meant his remark to the fond
mother of an unprepossessing infant
" Madam, here is baby that is \
baby"
Even the critic forgets his cunning
and falls under the spell of Mr.. Open
helms rare power, reading on with
quickened pulse until the last chapter
is done.
In the 397 pages covered by the tale
there is nothing lost by side issues.
such as long winded descriptions OF
scenery or persons, philosophical dis
sertations, arguments or historical rec
ord.
From the very first chapter interest
begins, and like the course Of rapid
stream which draws all debris intu
its whirl, all the incidents are quickly
sucked into the vortex Of the onward
movement. Mr.. Oppenheim's English
is good, but he does not show 1t off:
1t is used as q conveyance only. ana
the reader forgets all about style and
plots in wondering with Mr.. Densham
Lord Wolfenden and Mr.. Felix. whr
Mr.. Sabin and his beautiful niece
Helene really are.
Mr.. Felix early gives up the pursuit
OF the lovely girl having matters later
on to settle with her uncle; Mr.. Dem
sham subordinates everything to news
paper enterprise and shadows Mr.. Sa'
bin alone. leaving to the only one who
could win her, Wolfenden, the winning
of Helene. The author certainly has
the art OF endowing Mr.. Sabin with a
large diplomatic air, OF letting in just
enough light upon his character, his.
tory and acts to make him appear OF
formidable, international Importance.
yet keeping him surrounded with an
opaque halo Of mystery.
There is truth, what may be called
diplomacy, with dark political schemes
shading 1t all, love enough for relief
and thrilling action in every chapter
But the episodes are not dropped In
too thick and fast, there Is not at any
time a sense OF forced situation, and
what happens at the end Of each turn
while often surprising, is acknowledg'
ed by the reader to be exactly what
ought to have happened.
without provoking the organization
OF any Mysterious Mr.. Sabin Clubs Of
Sherlock Holmes schools, this book will
easily bridge many a dull gap In life
and hold with tightening grip, ever,
reader who gets beyond the first chap
ter.
Those who read this book and whit
haven't read the other novels by TIL
same author will want to have tn
titles, so here they are: "A Prince o
Sinners" and Anna. The Adventures
which have been highly praised.
Another book, THE Master Mum
mer," will shortly be issued by Little
Brown & Co.
Mysterious Mr.. Sabin. BY E. Phil
lips Oppenheim. Cloth; 12mo. 80
PIP. Little, Brown & Co.. Boston
$3.50 net.
This story, now in its sixth American
edition, Is as sweet and wholesome
book as we have seen in many a day
We see no reason why 1t should b
placed in the David Harum" elias
because 1t deals with commonplace
people and has one character who eX
cells the rest in kindly qualities an
horse-sense.
There are many such persons In NeN
England, and the whole story ring
true to the locality 1t deals with.
Il There Is much humor In the boo
with many laughter-provoking incl
dents, and, think, It is safe to sa
, that more amusement can be had on
Of the reading Of the story than can b
derived from any other twenty-fv
novels Of the day.
Yet there is nothing vulgar in tn
whole volume; not line which cannC
be called pure and cloan.
Three sea captains who have almos
given up the sea, are settled In a littl
cottage on the coast, keeping house 70
themselves. Two are bachelors and tn
other is a widower.
AS they sit about the room the fol
lowing conversation ,ensues:
"Well," said Captain Fri, you an
Jerry can match cents to see who doe
the dishes. did 'em last night, so 1t
my watch below"
well, | shan't do EN-" declare
Captain Perez. blessed II I'd do tn
durn things tonight II the Preslder
OF the United States asked me to-"
"Humph!" sputtered Captain Jerr!
81 s'pose wou fellers think I'll do 'eI
all the time. II you do you're mis-
took, that's all. 'Twan't last night yo
done 'em, Fri; twas the night afor'
done 'em last night, and I'm read
to take my chances agin II we mattel
but I'm fingered II let you shove tn
whole thing off onto me. didn't shi
for cook no more'n the rest of YOU"
Neither Of the others saw fit to ar
swer this declaration Of independents