New-York tribune., 1911-10-21
A NEW BARRIE BOOK
Peter Pan Brought from the
Stage Into a Book.
PETER AND WENDY. BY j. NJ Barrie.
Illustrated by T. II. Bedford. limo, PIP
Wi. 267. Charles SCribners Sons.

PETER AND WENDY. BY J. NJ. Barrie.
Illustrated hv T. ~. Bedford. 12mo, PIP.
VII 267. Charles Scribner's sons
Collectors of acquaintances are well
aware Of the danger they run when they
turn their attention to celebrities. Those
fearful wildfowl have terribly disil-
lusionizing way with them when you
meet them in private life. So it is with
trepidation that we accept Mr. Barrie
invitation to know Peter Pan "off the
stage" Seen through the golden haze
of the footlights Peter has been ire
sistible. Would he be the same Peter
when we met him face 10 face and .ol-
lowed him, far more closely, through al
his adventures with Mrs. Darling's ch'l-
dren? Heis quite the same-which is 10
say that he is as Napoleonic as ever and
entirely beguling. Peter and Wendy
takes US captive.
The book is successful because it gives
Peter Pan reality and makes him the
hero of a well knit, animated and thor
oughly interesting narrative. The story
as a story. is skilfully told; one simply
must follow it to the end. And the style
is Mr.. Barrie at his best, delicate, vivid,
whmsical-abOve all things whimsical.
Perfect are the little unexpected turns.
"An was as still as salt" The tale Is
full OF little phrases like that. Mr.. Bar
rie has. too the gift for reciting his mar
rative with certain gravity and at 'he
same time never overriding it. DE Is
quiet. matter fact, even when he IS
describing the most amazing things. 1t
was a girl called Tinker Bell. eXquisitely
gowned in a skeleton leaf, cut low and
square, through which her figure could
be seen to the best advantage. She was
slightly inclined to cmbOHpOipf." Yes, we
do believe in fairies when they are thus
couvincingly portrayed.
There are a good many passages in the
/ book which it would he amusing to
quote. passages which you enjoy because
they are so like Barrie and because You
can see how they will bewitch the youth
/ full mind. There is one upon which We
dotc for it's allusion TO "gnomes who 're
mostly taiors." Why are they all tall
ors? We wish We knew But if we
must choose a fragment let it be this nc
count of the awakening of "Neverland'
when Fctcr, Wendy, John and Michael
come flying through the SKY.
! on this evening the chief forces OF the
| island were disposed as follows The lost
J boys We're out looking for Peter. the pirates
were out looking for the lost hONs, the
redskins were out looking Tor the pirates
and tho beasts were out looking for the
, redskins They were going round ana
round the island, but they did not meet
because all were going a. the same rate.
All wanted blood except the boys. VINO
liked 10 as q rule, but tonight Wcrc out
10 greet their captain. The boys on the
Z island vary. Of course, in numbers, accord
ing as they get killed and 50 on ana WnGl,
! they seem To he growing M, winch y
/ against the rules. Peter thins them out;
hut Al this time there were SIN or them.
counting the twins as two. Let us pretend
/ 10 lie here among the sllSarcane ana Wdtch
them AS they steal by I'm single hle each
| with his hand on his dagger.
They are forbidden by Peter 10 look IN
! tho least like him. and they wear the skins
of bears slain by themselves i'm which they
/ are 50 round and furry that when they
/ fall they roll They have, therefore be
come very surc-footed.
In this circumstantial way Peter Pans
story comes true IL Will impose 1b-
solute belief among the youngsters ana
il will fill those eXacting critics with JOY.
Nor will they be disappointed in Nr.
Bedford's illustrations. These have a
daintiness quite worthy Of the sweet
grace Of Mr.. Barrie's fancy.