The San Francisco call., 1906-10-21
Study of Child Nature
That Rivals Barrie.

Since we were introduced to "Senti-
mental Tommie" By Mr.. Barrie. no more
charming analysis OF child nature has
been effected than is found between the
covers of "Don-a-Dreams," by Harvey
j. O'Higgins. But in theme only are
the two books similar. While the
heroes are about equally equipped with
the blessed imagination of youth. they
are subjected to widely different treat
ment- It was long time ere Mr.
Barrie's readers forsave him for hold
ing the delectable Tommie up to ridi-
cule and finishing him of IN such an
unpleasant way. but no indignation can
be aroused by Mr- O'Higgins' handling
OF his boyish ideal. Don, kindly taken
by the hand and led through a child
hood that involves bitter struggle for
livelihood. unaided by influence or
money. remains always a poet, gen
tie solitary, until success and happiness
crown him.
We are made to share the little fell
lows keen suffering when he discov-
ers that Santa Claus is a myth, and
while his brave effort 10 prevent like
disillusionment of his brother is con-.
Tincing. it does not tug at our heart
strings with quite the strength of that
chapter OF Barrie's in which the arrival
of the London-bred Tomplie and his
sister at Tnrums. their dead mothers
cCOllASA Is ue&CElDeQ-
ME bravely tries to ignore the differ
ence between the squalid Thrums of
reality and the magnificent Thrums of
his former imagination, and he loudly
extols the splendor of every humble
house that had been misrepresented to
them by their poor. foolish mother
when she little thought they would
ever see the place for themselves But
at night. to prevent the dear dead one
overhearing their disloyal ta4-.. the two
children pulled the bed covers over
their little heads and whispered dis
psraging comment on all they had been
taught 10 regard as above disparage-
ment. And while they wept in self
pity over lne fallen castles, their grief
was tempered by the elhsh pleasure Of
feeling that they had fooled God and
she who was with Him.
Nothing quite equal TO that is given
TO US by Mr.. O'Higgins, who is evident.
" determined that his hero shall never
for moment lose our respect How
ever. he imbues Don with enough con-
tradictions to save him from unnatur-
alness. A summing-up OF the boys
character that is worth the quoting is
by Walter Pittsey. a theatrical man
ager. who admires him, but believes he
lacks the grit and other qualities es-
sential 10 success in playwriting, which
Don is aiming TO achieve:
a play. man2 Why, plays the
most id intricate piece of mechanism
that was ever put together And to
make it live you have to be the master
Of life as well as the slave Of it. He
laughed abruptly. That's the truth
I'm telling you. ] just read it in a
newspaper. That's the trouble with
Don. He's as sensitive as a woman.
but he lives like woman, and he'll
never write a id thing, He's too
deep in his own emotions. He added:
Lucky beggar, LIES worth while
when you can live It as much as he
does Happy, or course he's happy.
He's too lappy to write. And when he's
miserable. he'll be too miserable to
write"
1t is hardly necessary TO add that Mr..
Pittsey turned out to have been q false
prophet. Don dreamed on, and. de-
spite the fact that 80 per cent of such
characters end in failure, he lived TO
see his dreams fulfilled That is why
the story Is better than Barrie's in
some respects.
(Don-a Dreams. Published by the
Century Company, New York. Price
s1.50.)