The Washington herald., 1909-10-17
BOOKS AND BOOK REVIEWS.

FORTY MINUTES LATE and other Stories By
+. Hopkinson Smith. New York. Charles
scrbners' Sons Washington: Woodward
Lothrop.
The indescribable and elusive charm of
an. F. Hopkinson Smith story is admin
istered in small doses in an infinite va
riety Of form in the volume Of short
stories just published by Scrlbners, IN
der the title Of Forty Minutes Late
Besides the admirable tale which gives
its name TO the book. there appear be-
tween the same covers; "a Gentleman's
Gentleman 'Abijah's Bubble, "a List
70 Starboard," THE Little Gray Lady"
THE Man in the High-water Boots"
Riddles" Homo" and THE Parthe-
non By Way Of Papendrecht."
Most Of all Of the short stories named
have appeared IN magazine form and
there attracted the attention which the
wor6 of so weIl-beloved and firmly es-
tablshed author naturally would. Some
of the tales are the merest trihes, based
on some single incident. either imaginary
as IN The List to Starboard." or bio
graphical. as in Forty Minutes Late"
in which the authors personal experience
is recounted "A List 20 Starboard"
contains tragic element not often found
IN Mr.. Smiths stories. Pleasant episodes
OF lelsurely European journeys lend a
distinctive atmosphere TO several OF the
stories all told in the best Smith man
ner.
Books from the pen OF this author are
not sufficiently plentiful 70 permit OF
their attracting merely a passing inter-
est. They form a legitimate addition to
the library OF American classics, and be-
long TO the category Of stories which live
for more than a single reading. Forty
Minutes Late" is a book 10 pick up at
any time, and viii always be productive
of pleasure to the reader.
JUST FOR TWO. By Mary Stuart Cutting.
New York; Doubleday. Page Co. Washing
ton: Brentanos
A writer OF delightful magazine short
stories. which are perhaps as widely
read as any current fiction. Mary Stewart
Cutting occupies a field almost unique.
Her stories Of married life in the sub
urbs, with the Intimate, almost holy
touches Of sentiment and naturalness.
won for her a large circle OF devoted
readers. The latest cluster OF short
stories from her pen has been done into
an attractive volume by Doubleday, Page
& Co, under the title Of Just for Two"
and these are all love stories in a sweet
sympathetic vein which calls into play
all the writer's best and most wholesome
style The stories are The Enchant-
menL" The Path to Spain" THE
Wife" Miss Dream" "a Clear Field"
ard The ClOissone Vase"
The quality IN the Cutting stories
which most appeals is the consummRte
naturalness The writer displays a close
and understanding insight into human
character, particularly in the close re-
lationship of the sexes The men are
usually virile. distinctive types. and the
women Just the charming bundles OF
femininity that every man best loves 20
cherish and protect and TO hold dear in
his heart. The episodes in Just for
Two" are sometimes tense, but there Is
the undercurrent Of comfort tending TO
a happy and logical adjustment. A very
entertaining book and appealing to both
masculine and feminine readers. Each
story Is a mirror in which the reader
may see himself or herself faithfully re-
hected.
THE GAME AND THE CANDLE. Ply Eleanor
M. Ingram. illustrated by p. j.. johnson In
dianapolis The Bobbs-Merril Company.
'The Game and the Candle" is. in a
word, a stirring. thrilling dramatic Obut
hardly melodramatic) story Of adven-
ture. intrigue, and romance. The adven-
ture knows exciting climaxes. The in
trigue IS rich IN the vein Of sentiment.
The romance is touched with the couleur
de rose Of chivalry.
The hero IS a young American OF
breeding. who, to save the girl he loves
from poverty, unknown 10 her, DELHI
erately commits felony. His identity IS
never connected with a certain Leroy,
who. a few months later. is captured by
officers of the law and is sent TO prison
for a long term of years. Into this
prison comes Stanief, a grand duke Wis
iting America, who, attracted by the
man. aids him to escape. not only be-
cause OF his faith IN the convict, but be-
cause the latter renders him an import
ant service. Taken aboard Stanief's S
yacht. Leroy once more assumes his
name of Allard and, with the duke,
crosses TO an old world court Of royalty.
En- route the duke learns Of the death
OF the Emperor and of his own elevation
to the regency
Allard becomes his rescuer'4 confdant,
and. later Is attached to the personal
service OF the young Emperor. The lat
ter is dlStrustful and apparently is in
open hostility 10 the regent, whom The
people love. We are given the impress
sion-and with the most ingenious skill
throne Stanief will be forced to retire
rnent. The situation IS pregnant with
possibilities and OF these the author
takes splendid advantage. Inextricably
involved in this high intrigue is the dOu-
Bile love story-a most charming rO-
nance all pearl and silver, colorful and
delicate yet always plausible and effect
iva It has simplicity. direotness. strength
and tGa straightforward, irresistible ap-
peal that such virtues imply. The action
gradually focuses IN conclusion at once
remarkably surprising and unusually con-
vincing. Indeed, the st1ry IS best at its
moment Of denouement-which Is as Il
should be.
VIRGINIA OF THE AIR LANES. By Herbert
Quick illustrated By William r. Leigh In
danapois; The BObbs-MeTnn Company.
To introduce the heroine by having her
drop from tho sky at the herO's feet
must be set down as easily tho most dar-
ing and romantic feat that recent story
telling has accomplished. Herbert Quick
who arranged for Virginia Suarez this
unique and charming debut in his latest
story, Virginia OF the Air Lanes" has
other surprises besides. The book as a
whole is a surprise. It is romance. sky
high. original delightful Looking for
ward to the middle of the present cen
fury. the author has set his story at q
time when airships may be supposed tc
be IN as frequent use as motor cars are
now. The invention has not yet been per-
fected. however; the ideal ship is yet tC
be constructed. and the plot scheme OF
the story lies about the marvellous i'm
proved mechanism, Ike a great bird
which Theodore Carson, Of Carson's
Landing, Ala, has built. But the air
nevertheless. Is buzzing with boats: there
are already established many aerial bar.