The Washington herald., 1913-09-14
Nv A. ID. Jacobson.


PRISONER IN FAIRYLAND The BOOB th1'
Uncle Paul wrote): By Asernon blAeAN0Ou'
New York-The Macmillan Company
"a Prisoner in Fairyland" is a lyric
Never have mysteries Of signs and
prophecies been so symboIized into the
magical qualities Of the human virtues
MT, BIackwood makes their light pour
through the hearts OF his characters:
STARLIGHT runs through the veins OF
Henry Rogers and through the veins OF
his cousins family, Of his queer but low
able characters, and especially of the pa
thetic, bedridden Mile. Denarie.
Into this little world Henry Rogers
brings the fairyland of his boyhood, to
which his manhood, after twenty years
of hard, practical business success, finds
him prisoner" The spell OF Henry
Rogers spiritual imagination gave them
the secret of shedding the body and TAX
ing the Starlight express to the Star
Cove" And Daddy wrote his wonderful
Star Story that expressed many things
that he had never understood, and its
success made things easier. He read the
story one night when it was finished
The words seemed written down in dew,
but the dew crystalliZed into fairy pat
terms that instantly flew about the world
upon their mission of deliverance. In
this ancient network of the stars the
universe lay fiuttering, and they lay with
it, all prisoners in fsiryland.
Thinking was living, whether material
results were visible or not: yearning was
action, even though no accomplishment
was apparent; thought and sympathy,
though felt but for a passing moment,
flashed along the milky way. and So
called tangible results that could prove
it to- the senses. provided that no ade-
qu; test was required of accomplish
ment or success. and the symbolism OF
the story. the fantasy. they also under
st ~.
This is Mr.. Blackwoods own story of
"A Prisoner in Fairyland,' in its mean
ing and its message. We all want to
get aboard the Starlight" express, which
h" alone can operate in contemporary
fiction. 1t will bring US to the wisdom
which only children seem to poSseS, :
Henry Rogers found il in the delightful
awakening of his own childhood in the
imagination o. limbo and Monkey. 1t
VIII bring US TO understand his little
CO. IS. the first sight of whom had lit
FOR him the stars and the universe. not
10 forget 10 mention Mr.. Herbert Mont
mOrency Minks. Mr. Rogers secretary.
one OF IN. rare beings who may be
counted On-a quality better than mere
rains, being Of the heart" More than
ever in this book. Mr. BIackwOod proves
himsel prophet. an artist realist Of
the unseen world 'T the human heart.
GARDEN OF SPICES: by Kcth Fraser.
New Iork-GC"FEe II. Dorsn CumIany. Price
SIS
This book will be read by all who love
"hildhU' Il. The small heroine, Elspeth
has been motherless since her birth and
IS the Idol of her father. grandfather
and the Laird" an old family friend.
This trio called by her her three sweet
hearts. all do their best TO spoil her, and
would no doubt succeed were it not for
the cUunter-infuence of the Dragon"
otherwise Janet. Elspeths ''dour'' Scotch
nurse, VINO sternly practices Solomon's
advice aneEt 'sparIng the rod"
1t is not until nearly the last page that
one understands the true love that lies
Underneath her grim exterior. On the
other hand. the Laird and his gentle
hOusvkeCper rule by love. not by fea-
Happy events come in quick succession
to Elspeth. from the bathing place made
fer her in the river by the old mans
own hands to the Harvest Home. when
she leads OF the first dance with the
Laird. But Elspcth's Saturday nights are
her CrOWuing happiness Then she sleeps
IN her futh,r'S bed. conveyed there after