The San Francisco call., 1910-04-03
The Fascinating Mrs. Halton''

"Sheaves." etc. Published by Doubleday,
Page & Co., New York. Price, $12o.
The works of E. F. Benson have been
curious study. There has never
been the slightest question that his
writings have been remarkably bril-
liant; at the same time his critics have
been irritated to the verge of madness
over almost all of his later work. He
was at his very best in social satire.
His "Dodo'' will live long as an example
of brilliant dialogue and its caricature
of English society life, drawn direct
from people of the world. "Dodo" was
an inspiration, we conclude, for, realiz-
ing its brilliancy, the author has tried
to initiate it ever since and machine
made" is stamped all over his work to-
day.
In his latest tale, "The Fascinating
Mrs Halton," he attempts again to
show US London society. 1t is not
really fair to London, for the tale
might have been set in America for
all the local color one finds in 1t. In
the opening scene of the book there is
a faint glimpse of the old Benson In
the dialogue between Daisy and Gladys.
Daisy is a joy and this first sketch of
her is really all that makes one finish
the book One hopes and hopes to the
very end for something's something
which is never realized.
AS for the story itself, 1T is nope
lesslv ordinary-not even the idea is
original Mrs. Halton is Daisys aunt,
a few years her senior and loves her
like a sister. She has been widow a
year. which time has been spent on
the continent. Daisy longs for her re-
turn-no one can fill her place Daisy
needs advice, too, for she has two
suitors and can't quite make up her
mind between them. One of them has
been sort of steady since childhood
and she treats him more like a brother
The other, Lord Lindfield, is a brilliant
man of the world Cat least, Mr.. Benson
tells us he is), a great catch, and
Daisy is fiattered by his attentions. He
is not in his first youth and therefore
1t is considered just so much more fiat
tering TO have him single out young
girl like Daisy with his attentions.
Mrs Halton is told of the state of af-
fairs by Aunt Alice" before Daisy has
a chance to speak and then makes her
great plan. She will entice Lord Lind
field away from Daisy at all costs, the
reason being that he is one of several
men who were responsible for the
downfall of Daisy's sister some years
before. LOEQ 1LlUQliSlu QOCS liOl hiiON
that Mime. Rougierre, whom he has
known too well in Paris, was Daisys
sister and Mrs. Halton wishes to keep
1t a secret from everybody IL possible.
She herself is engaged to a fine young
man and he has much difficulty in eX-
planning her actions. Daisy can not
understand at all and poor Mrs. Halton
is misunderstood by everybody. Nothing
very original about the plot and
orlxa G dnVplOnad In the
telling of it. 1t is little more than a
sketch badly padded to make book
and only Mr.. Benson's fine writing
carries the reader on. He is hopelessiy
uninteresting and Is no longer the art
ist who excused his own eccentricities.
He is no longer to be reckoned with
among English hctionists.
The Yale University press makes the
important announcement that 1t will
publish during the autumn Of this year
'.The Records of the Federal Conven-
ton of 1884," under the editorship of
Max Farrand of the department. of his
tory at Yale university The federal
convention of 1887 was the most impor-
tant body of it's kind in America for
1t framed the constitution of the United
States. The proceedings of this con-
vention are naturally of the greatest
interest because the intention of its
members has been an important factor
in the Interpretation of the constitu-
tion It's work has, therefore, attracted
a great deal of attention, and much
study has been devoted to it. Various
editions of the two or three principal
records of its proceedings have ap-
peared. Until now the printed records
have been scattered through a dozen
-or more different works, and there has
been, until this time, some material of
considerable value unpublished. Evi-
dent need has thus existed for this new
and complete edition of THE Records
of the Federal Convention" whicn
brings together, in a single work, all
of these scattered records.
It is expected by the Yale University
press that the exhaustive search made
by Professor Farrand will result in the
present work proving to be a defini-
tive edition of the Records of the Fed
eral Convention of 1897" 1t is ex-
pected that the records will appear in
three royal octave volumes, with a
special limited subscribers edition on
English handmade papar.