The San Francisco call., 1907-06-30

uescrloe or even to broadly character
I1e these stories by 20 Henry" lie
seems SO completely in sympathy
WIN the life he describes a s almost to
pe one OF them. and when he gives a
sketch Of high life" II has a distinct
HaVor OF the underworld.
He has a fine power of dramatic
description. as witness this next quota
tlon- Liz has just killed her unfaithful
lover at a dance:
LIZ ran out and down the street. swift and
ssue as woodcoek flying through grove of
sapiings at dusk.
Nowhere but in the big cities 4 ,es it survive.
sna s, nere most of all. where the ultimate per
fection OF culture, citizenship and alleged SUI
periority Joins, bawling in the chase
They pursued sbrieking mob Of fathers,
mothers, lovers and msidens-howling. yelling.
the wolf in the big city stand outside the door.
siege.
Knowing her way. and hungry for surcease.
she darted down familiar paths. until at last
her feet struck the dull solidity Of the rottiug
pier And then it but few painting
steps-and good mother East river took Liz II
her bosom, soothed her muddiy but quickly. and
settled in five minutes the problem that keeps
nights burning o nights in thousands OF pastor
ates and colleges.
Humor and pathos alternate in these
stories. but the quality which deserves
the highest praise is the deep human
note of interest which the author
strikes squarely and firmly in the cen
ter.
The initial story. R'The Trimmed
Lamp" is not the best in the book.
BY that, however, is not meant that ii
is less interesting; it is just that they
are all so good it's difficult to choose.
The story of Elsie in New York" the
last of the collection of %. is one of the
most pathetically humorous of all.
No, bumptious reader this story is not q con-
tinuation Of the Elsie series. But If your Elsie
had lived over here in our big city there might l.
have been chapter in her books not very diner-
ent from this.
Elsie is looking for position and
the numerous difficulties she encounters
are funny enough at their distance, but
more tragic to the friendless girl.
kind-faced old lady at an employ
ment agency offers her $50 a month to
be her maid.
Elsie is about TO stammer CRATE
full acceptance when a young woman
with gold eye glasses steps forward.
II am Miss Ticklebaum," said she, "of
the association for the prevention of
jobs being put up on working girls
looking for jobs. We prevented A
girls from securing positions last week.
I am. here TO protect you. Beware of
any one who offers you a job How do
you know that this woman does not
want to make you work as breaker
boy in az coal mine or murder you to
get your teeth? If you accept work of
any kind without permission of our as
sociation you will be arrested by one
of our agents"
She encountered snags of various
sorts; a prohibitionist objected to her
working in a candy store because they
sold a kind of brandy candy balls
Between these two stories are many
which are even better than their ex-
cellent and picturesque titles: The
RubaiyatF OF a Scotch Highball." "A
Madison Square Arabian Night
.'Brickdust Row" "A Harlem Tragedy"
The Tale of Tainted Tenner," are
some OF them.
These tales are more than worth
while. One can safely recommend them
to ones friends.