The sun., 1909-01-23
NEW BOOKS.
Il viii Mako the Reader Laugh

Mr.. William J. Locke's story OF 'Septi-
mus John Lane Company Is amusing
Septimus Dix was unimposing to the eye.
His own eyes. Of pale blue. were unspec-
ulative. He had detached. dreamy air,
likewise an air OF having been injured
and Of not minding. Fora Middlemist
vas taller than Septimus and moro mas
eve. She vas a magnificent creature,
chose husband had died OF delirium
'remens six weeks after the wedding
Pecause Of that biting and almost in
credible experience she had foresworn
men The story takes abundant advan-
tago of plain opportunity to be amusing
when It brings Fora and Septimus to-
gether at Monte Carlo.-Zora, the man
hater lin theory and temporarily, and
Septimns, who made Fora think of a
child in need Of it's mother.
I, Is pleasant for two TO lunch together
at Monte Carlo. The story convinces the
rcadcr of this where it. says: Between
vou are substances which IL we're gross
20 call food, dainty mysteries Of coolness
and sudden favors-a fish salad in which
the essences Of sea and land are blended
W cold, celestial harmony; innermost
kernels Of the lamb of the salted meadows,
where must grow the asphodel on which
Vt fed, in amorous union with what men
,all a sauce. but really oil and cream and
herbs stirred by god in dream; peaches
in purple ichor chastely clad in snow ,
iuelting on the palate as the voice of the
divine singer after whom they are named
inelts in the soul"
Septimus regarded his companion ear
restly as she smiled at him over the spoon
full Of Melba peach which she was going
10 put in her mouth. He confded to her
that he had never had the pleasure of
lunching with a lady before "No one
has ever wanted me- said Septimus.
1T has always puzzled me TO know how
men get to know women aud go about
With them" He added gravely: Il
think ii must be gift. Some fellows have
a gift for collecting Toby jugs. Every
where they 60 they discover Toby jug.
! couldn't find one II tried for year.
There Ia more amusement different
IN kind. when Mr.. Sypher appears
large, horid, enthusiastic inventor and
proprietor OF Sypher's Cure, a remedy
for maladies Of the skin, Both Septi-
mus and Mr. Sypher endure well as en-
tertainers Mr.. Sypher's experience
With his own cure when he blistered his
heel in Geneva is related in a way that
ia very funny. But the story is not mere
fun. II understands and takes full ad-
vantage cf the magic that may be worked
hv joining humor felicitously with pathos
Septinus was persistently and very ef-
fectively absurd. but he had tremendous
heart His service to Fora s sister Emmy
when Emmy was left in trouble by Nor
haunt Prince. the faithless leading man
N the theatre where he was engaged,
vas noble. and the account of II is skilf,ll
rnd will move the reader Similarly
Nlr Sypher ia not permitted TO remain
merely farcicsl figure; he is extricated
frorn the patent medicine business and
set m ways where his fervors can express
themselves less grotesquely than vas
possible while his genius was concerned
with advertising
~ il TO be remarked that two newly
published books GIr. wells's "Toro-
Pungay' being the other have dealt
satirically with this theme Of ratent
medicines When we consider further
the very interesting and trenchant work |
performed by Mr.. Samuel Hopkins
Ada ms in the magazines we must con
rhi4 that the patent medicine PEOPLE /.
ore not without the feeling az this time
ttat they have been the objects of con- /
slderahls and warm attention