The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-17
FOR THE BOY AND
FOR THE FATHER.

In ''The Gentleman Ragman" by VIII
Der Nesbit, author of THE Trail to Boy
hood" &c. Harper & Bros, publishers,
the reader is introduced 20 a family IA
miliar but originally named American per-
Isonage in the character of the 'Emig-
ger
In a late paragraph of the initial chap
ter the word is explained in a provincial
boys pronunciation of the French word
lemigre This boy, Jhonny Thompson by
name, is the presumed narrator of the
tale. and life in an inland village-of enor-
nous interest TO ali who delight in char
lacter delineation and ripe humor-is set
forth from a boys ingenious standpoint.
The story opens with the advent Of the
"Emigger"-a popular Virginia type of
hero-into a small world that contains a
quizzical, dry, and altogether lovable coun-
/ try editor, a squire whose chief accom-
plishment is footing upon a locust leaf"
an embryonic Sherlock Holmes named Os-
car, quasi actor and william, few
sweet-hearted women TO carry the ro-
nance, and the local characters 10 fur
nish atmosphere.
There is also a Southern feud, brought
to a happy issue in a shooting scene at
the church door on Sunday morning n
double wedding CT the Emigger and The
/ editOr-rather elderly brdegrooms one is
/ led to beleve-dn earlier escape from
4 drowning, when the Emigger fishes
Jhonny from the dangerous shoals. and
/ Oscar runs into town without clothes TO
spread the news, and a-plcnty Of delicious
epigrams and stories running in the
groove Of friendly satire.
/ Orphena, the village pOetess, starts the
/ barefoot cure in PlainVillc, and her lead
lership of the suffering women over
lstubble fields and pike furnishes delight
/ ful material for one OF the best chap
tiers in the book.
/ Orphena writes poetry every time any
one dies. and the editor. VINO sometimes
stretches the truth, says on one page:
one time there was a funeral and the
preacher asked oh, death, where is thy
stingT The friends OF the late deceased
arose ia a body and read one of Orphena s
poems.
Again he says: You're one Of the peo-
pie who think being d journalist Is sit
! ting IN a swdy-baCE chair chewing fine
cut, and writing cards of thanks 20 folks
who have laid a fine pumpkin on ye edi
torial desk And still again u believe
I
getting us the biggest list of subscribers.
Better offer a p3rlOr lamp. That
would be as good as me. II would smoke
and 20 out nights. TOO.
After the Emigger has given Up his
business of ragman 10 90 into partnership
with the editor. the two men have the
following conversation: "Biest if ] didn't
come near forgetting that item. You see
Mel Simpson is one of the leading anti
race suicide men in these parts. The cen
sus takeT always gets IN a days work by
the time he has taDulateG the Simpson
family. And, besides, naturally being
as poor as Jobs turkey. Mel has about
the largest and most varied assortment
OF dogs owned in this section Of the couu-
try. Now. I understand that the first of
the week Me! went somewhere 10 put IN
% couple or three days work. Naturally.
when he came home, he was not feeling
In good humor, work being q trying ex-
perience for him. And % add 90 his an
Iu0yance De learned that during his alb
/ sence q new member OF the family had
arrived"
New baby"
Just SO. Boy. Picture OF mis- pJ. sup
pose. And Mel is boiling mad about it."
About the bdby?'
Indirectly Mrs. Simpson, for the FIRST
illlt lA ltl ne Eyt ilit lta0 on liliE III
naming the infant. and she sent for a
preacher and had IL baptized and chris
tened Leo. Mel is downright fierce
about IT,
Doesn't hc like the nance?
Yes he likes the name. That's just the
trouble He says be was saving that
name for a dog he was going 90 get this
fall and now his wife has stolen IL Tor lle
youngster"
/ In The character Of JhOnuy. ar Nesbit
/ had created q trustworthy, manly boy
loved by every one in the story. and
pressed into service as best man at the
double wedding. lie has one trying day
going shopping with his parents. but we
cannot feel sorry for the experience. as
/ il treats Us to q faithful description Of
country methods of trade There is Il
vigor, freshness and wholesome grip on
familiar facts Of life throughout this story
which is bound 20 please the average boy
It IS a book that the boys father viii
enjoy as we'll In THE Gentleman Rag
man." Mr. Nesbit has more than ever
proved himself humOTist without malice
a satirist without sting.