Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-13
CURRENT MAGAZINES
SHAW AS A PURITAN


The oft-heard question, is Bernard
Shaw serious? finds what many will
regard as a final answer In G.. X. Ches-
terton's romantic biography of the
famous Fabian. Bernard Shaw is the
most serious man alive, Chesterton
emphatically declares; and he thinks
Il quite possible, "even amid that blind
ing jewelry of q million jokes, to dis
cover the grave, solemn and sacred
joke" for which each play of his was
written. Both Shaw and Chesterton
are in the direct line of descent from
the worlds most serious writer's, Its
testers: and this book of Chesterton's
is really a wonderful work of biograph-
ical portraiture. 1t Is also summing
up of his own side of the controversy
which has long existed between Shaw
and this his most provocative critic.
The controversy, Mr.. Chesterton would
have us believe, Is one between Cath
olicism and Professionalism. in its larg-
est Implications; but although his
readers are likely to agree with him
as to the singular protestant virtues
of &c, b. ST." and to admire the way
in which he expoundssthose virtues, 1t
Ia doubtful If the orthodox of either
creed would welcome such spokesman.
Mr.. Chesterton discerns behind all
Shaw's mutiform appearances, criti-
cal, dramatic and political, the inflex-
ible Puritan philosopher; and however
much he may quarrel with or misln-
terpret him, 1t is nothing less than a
stroke of genius to place on the head or
the man he portrays a steeple-crowned
hat.-Current Literature for November.
The man who wrote the Confessions
Of a Best Seller" the leading article
of the November Atlantic, is obviously
a past master of the trade he tells of.
In his paper he gives the complete list
of the Ingredients necessary to make
novel which viii pass the 100000 mark.
The November installment of the
DIARY Of Gideon Wells" deals with
the circumstances surrounding the
death of Lincoln. 1t is the most accu-
rate and detailed account in existence
of Lincoln's last days, being written
only three days after the events oc-
Cured.
"The City's Noise" by Hollis God
frey Is another in his series dealing
with the problems of the city dweller.
Mr.. Godfrey not only recognizes the
existence of these problems, but points
the way to their solution.
"Treadmill Justice" is the significant
title which George w. Alger gives to
an able and lucid article showing the
infinltude of legal delays which sur
round justice as 1t is administered in
America.
1.-THE Making of a Professor" by
Grant Showerman, is a pleasant satire
upon our higher educational system;
and in vocation Teaching" William
T. Miller presents his solution to the
problem which confronts the young
person who has to choose a profession.
In "The Year in Italy Homer Ed
miston gives a brief resume of politi-
cal and social events in and concerning
italy during the past twelve months.
trimmer in Our Chambers" by
Elizabeth Robbins Pennell. is a sketch
of a faithful English servant. with
several we'll known artistic and liter
airy figures appearing in the back
ground.
An, interesting literary study in this
number Is a review and comparison of
recent English and American fiction.
Two unusually distinctive sketches
are maria and the Conjure Man." by
Henry II. Bennett. and Through a
Bank Window" by Eleanor B. Rich
ardson.
The second in Miss Anna Ful'er's
new series of Pratt portraits, 1.-The
Dean Of the Boarding House." appears
in this number and does not fall below
it's predecessors in interest and charm.
Other stories are ''The Coming o. the
King by Ruth Sawyer, and "In No
vember," by Edith Wyatt.
Miss Ida M. Tarbell begins her new
historical serial in the November
American Magazine. This will be the
most important work Miss Tarbell has
undertaken since her History of the
Standard Oil Company" It's theme
will be the American woman and the
important and heroic part that she has
played in shaping the destinies of the
nation since the Revolutionary days of
1776 The series will be illustrated with
many beautiful portraits.
This issue of the American Magazine
also contains the first chapters of
"Simon the Jester" William ]. Locke's
new novel WHICH is said to be the most
thrilling he has yet written. The sec
ond article about "Barbarous Mexico"
by John Kenneth Turner also appears