Los Angeles herald., 1908-07-27
Between New Book Covers

A number of brilliant tales by George
Randolph Chester, which have APP
peared in popular periodical under
the title of Get Rich-Quick Walling-
ford,' are now issued in book form,
with the subtitle, 1.-THE Cheerful Tale
of the Rise and Fall of an American
Business Buccaneer." Although this
string of stories is capitally written
and will insure a chorus of laughter
from most business men who read
them, to many they are only a pitiful
exposition, albeit somewhat exagger-
ated In places, of the dishonest spirit
ruling throughout the commercial
world. For Wallingford is nothing
more nor less than professional swim
dler, with brilliant ability for getting
up great schemes, drawing other peo-
pies capital into them without invest
ing anything himself, and then when
the swindle is eonsummated, for quiet
ly dropping out his own pockets well
lined, leaving his supporters in the
lurch. Operating always within the
law, none of his victims can touch
him. There is swing and dash about
the big fellow which will lend a GER
tain charm to him when viewed by
people who are themselves possessed of
moral LESSONS, which makes the infiu-
ence of such a book decidedly corrupt
ing. Even when finally caught within
the meshes of the law, at last, and APP
parently booked to travel a straight
road to the penitentiary, he is helped
out of durance by former victim,
whose schemes have succeeded.
Get Rich-Quick Wallingford. By
George Randolph Chester. Philadel-
phia, Henry Altemus company.
Comrades Two" is a most delight
full tale of nature, love and good fell
lowship. The author appreciates the
beauties of nature even ON the bleak
northwestern prairies, and gives free
expression to her love for 1t. She
loves her fellow man and especially
loves 1.-The one" and she tells the story
of her doubts and fears, and of her
love, as only a woman can when COM
muning with herself. And this is what
she does, for the entire tale is the
diary of the woman, written appar-
emily not for publication, but in the
sheer delight of acknowledging to her
self her love of the world, her enjoy
ment of life and her delight in close
comradeship with mankind. And she
does not hesitate to expose the inmost
secrets of her loving heart.
There are no characters in the book
except as the writer brings them in,
writes of them and describes them.
OF course the tale is told in the first
person and she herself Is nameless.
Throughout the book she Is simply
a." And her characters, too, are
nameless, except as they are called by
'1ove names"
There is 1.-The Pippin," her father,
lovable and childlike, so-called because
of his blushing bald head. There is
1.-THE One" who needs no identifica-
ton, but is absent until the last chap
ter of the book, when he is made to
appear and complete her happiness.
There are, too, the "Stepmother,
bless her." 1.-THE Sage" 1.-THE Sidar,''
my Grandfather" MY Grandmother, "
1.-THE Lady Dr. "a willful child, 1.-THE
Parson," "The Newsman" (who knows
everything going on and talks of iD,
And there is also 1.-THE One again.
He is never forgotten, though absent.
1t is a pleasure to read the book, but
it must be read in full to be appre-
ciated, page by page, and 1t should be
Comrades Two" BY Elizabeth FIRE.
mantle. London, William Heinemann.
Recently the book stalls have beer
flooded with books, which, If not laud-
ing the disreputable. certainly verge
upon the indicate. The great sue
| cess of Three Weeks" and other lik'
| books has brought a flood of publica
| lions treating OF marriage ana Socla
| ties in a manner that would not b.
| tolerated for moment In family con
versation. 'The Cobbler" is such {
| story.
Here the hero and heroine are mar
ried in the front chapter; they spend
their lives practically apart, but are
drawn together and learn to love in the
last chapter. The period between mar
riage and lawful love is spent by the
woman in pursuit of education ano
shin as a business and in illegitimate
love as a pastime. And this illegiti-
mate love is not attractive at all; 1t. is
rather repulsive. His first is an ig-