The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04
''The Climbing CouryateIs"
By Edward W Townsend. author OF 'Chlm-
mie Fadden,' etc Published by Frederick
A. Stokes company. New York.

mie Fadden," etc. Published by Frederick
A. Stokes company. New York.
Edward w. Townsend says in his
preface to The Climbing Courvatels"
that the story was suggested to him in
France. He. with few other Ameri-
cans. went from Paris by way of the
Seine to a "charmingly absurd little
resort on the banks of the River Marne,
where they had lunch on the lawn be-
tween the river and the old brick inn"
There came to them an itinerant sleight
OF hand performer. One member of the
party who was much more skilled in
legerdemain than the professional
turned the tables on the man and made
him stare wide eyed at wonders that
he could not approach. This brought
forth tales about many who had fols
lowed the calling and about some who
had once followed it, but were now ad-
mired members of sedate society. The
glimpses of the profession were so
fascinating to Mr.. Townsend and the
possibilities of the situation created by
a prestidigitateur entering good society
seemed SO great that THE Climbing
Courvatels" was at once evolved.
The story is bright and gay and while
in it's present shape rather impossible.
every line in II is amusing and much of
it is very human.
Dick Courtney and his wife, Betty,
4ldkS DccH hnOWH Oii Tic Sld5S dS tIc
Courvatels They are sleight of hand
performers, but of the very best. and
have made lot of money, which Betty.
the wise one OF the family, has invested
very well. The time has come, at the
opening Of this story, when they decide
to retire from the stage and make q
home for themselves and their children.
They have two children, a son and a
daughter Paul and Virginia, who have
In he Of nz
only seen during vacation. These chill
dren think their parents are globe trot-
ters and have been kept in perfect ig-
norance of their profession. The parents
feel quite sure that their identity will
never be suspected.
Our looks are an asset, you know"
says Dick to Betty. "and I know we
were wise never to be pictured except
in our makeups.
The world knows the Courvatels-
me with the toothpick, waxed hair on
lips and chin, you with the blonde wig
and the o. myl how surprised I am
eyebrows. But no one has a lithograph
that would hook US UP now with the
Courvatels."
Their stage experience gives them a
great deal of poise and self-possession
which helps them through many dan
gerous moments, and slowly but surely
they gain an excellent position in a Sc
lect summer colony outside of New
York.
The tale of their triumphs and the de-
light they have in them is refreshing
reading, and when their children come
home from school and are at once sue
cesses 1t seems that their cups Of happi-
ness are full OF course, a villain has
to appear. and for time he causes q
lot of worry in dear little Betty's heart
but everything is all right in the end
IT is not until the book is finished thai
one realizes that it is a very well done
social satire; so well done that ways
and means and motives are not consid
cred at all while reading the story.
The book is full of slang, for Betty
and Dick must let off steam somehow
and so talk the jargon of the stage
when they are alone. Mr.. Townsend
has proven what he can do in slang II
his "Chimmie Fadden," and. while this
is much more refined, If such wore
can be used for slang, it is every bit al
amusing. The book is well worth read
ing.