The San Francisco call., 1910-05-01
"The History of Mr.. Polly"

York. Price 81. 80
~ r. II. G. WELLS has succeeded
so many times in pleasing his
public that one takes up his
new book with interest. The
publishers prepare us In a measure by
the announcement on the paper wrap
per, but, of course, what they have to
say is entirely favorable. and what
we have to say is not 1T, is almost
in humor of the kind which makes
each reader think as he reads that he
is one of the few who can really ap-
preciate that. We know how finished
are this authors character studies, so
we expect Mr.. Polly to be all that it
is in that respect, but it does not
seem to get anywhere. Here is al
most the entire life history of Mr..
Polly. and there is no story That
may be Mr.. Polly's fault, and he is per-
haps a type, but his whole life is so
dreary and sordid 1t is quite impos-
sible to become the least bit inter-
ested in him. The author holds the
interest, but only by his style and
cleverness. When he says, Let me
tell the history of Mr.. Polly from the
cradle to the present difficulties" we
are delighted to read such appreci-
ative bits as this:
There had been a time when two
people had thought Mr.. Polly the most
wonderful and adorable thing in the
world, had kissed his toe nails, saying
myum, myum,' and marveled at the
exquisite softness and delicacy of his
hair, had called to one another to
remark the peculiar distinction with
which he bubbled, had disputed
whether the sound he had made was
just da da or truly Intentionally dadda,
had washed him in the utmost detail,
and wrapped him up in soft warm
blankets and smothered him with
kisses. A regal time that was, and
four and thirty years ago. and mer-
ciful forgetfulness barred Mr.. Polly
from ever bringing its careless luxury,
its aristocratic demands and instant
obedience into contrast with his pres
ent condition of life. These two
people had worshiped him from the
crown of his head to the soles of his
exquisite feet. And also they had fed
him rather unwisely, for no one had
ever troubled to teach his mother any
thing about the mysteries of child's
Neutrality-suspicious. of course, the
monthly nurse and her charwoman
Il is
fifth birthday the perfect rhythms of
his nice new interior were already
darkened with perplexity :"
No less perfect is the picture of the
boys school days. First, Mr.. Wells
gives a fine description of the ideal
education, so that all the clearer is the
contrast which follows:
THE education of Mr.. Polly did not
follow this picture very closely. He
vert for some time to national
school, which was run on severely
economical lines to keep down the rates
by a largely unframed staff; he was
set sums to do that he did not under
stand, he.was made to read the cate
chism and bible with the utmost in
dustry and entire disregard of punctu-
alton or significance, and caused to imi-
tate. writing copies and drawing copies,
and given object lessons upon sealing
wax and silkworms and potato bugs
and ginger and iron and such like
things, and taught various other sub
iects his mind refused to entertain,
and afterward. when he was about 12,
he was jerked by his parent to finish
off In a private school of dingy aspect
and still dingier pretensions, where
there were no object lessons and the
studies OF book keeping and French
were pursued (but never effectually
overtaken) under the guidance of an
elderly gentleman who wore a monde
script gown and took snuff. wrote cop
perplate, explained nothing and used n
cane with remarkable dexterity and
gusto.'
Mr. Wells positively forces his read
ers to continue reading, hoping always
against hope that something may come