The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01
THE BOOKSHELF
Continued from Page Thirty-one)


trasts-almost theatrc in their intensity
but surely no contrast could be greater
than that of this girl of non-English de-
scent, dreaming her dreams in the qiuet
country rectory with an anarchist for her
companion.
The next step in her unusual career
was workman's cottage in slum of
Roubaix a little town in the north of
France. which is famed as a hot-bed of
anarchy. Here she was sucked into the
whirlpool of revolutionary plot and prop
aCanda-through girlish curiosity and
without consideration, as was Fatalite
the heroine of THE Hippodrome' Iso-
lated from her English guardians, with
revolutionaries as her only companions
she lived the life of these enemies of So
ciety and translated their secret papers
for them. More fortunate than Fatalite.
she contrived to escape their clutches
support herself by giving lessons in En-
glish. Then she found it advisable to
change her hiding place and served for
season at a tea shop in Nice.
Ultimately, having completed ''The Hip
podrome', under the influence OF these Gu
rious environments. she returned to Lon
don to attempt to get it published. 1t Is a
book which reveals an ardent tempera-
ment and as unconventional life-knowl-
edge as anything in modern literature.
And this book is literature. 1t is great
novel writing-a wonderful and daring
outpouring of an unusually fine imagina-
ton, combined with an exceptional and
fiery experience. Having read this book.
the destructive impulse which prompts
anarchist revolutionary, acts of emotional
violence ceases to be problem. The Sc
cret angle of the anarchist viewpoint on
the world is ours.
"WALLINGFORD IN HIS PRIME
BY George Randolph Chester. The Bobbs
Merrill Company. Indianapolis.
1t is seldom that an author can carry
the same character through so long con-
tinued career without the least Tagging
of interest. AS a general rule. the stories
that center about a certain fictitious in
dividual after they have run part of
their course acquire a sameness that
causes the reader to abandon them for
something fresh and new.
But In the case of George Randolph
Chester's stories of the inimitable ]. Ru-
fus Wallingford, the public is continually
crying for some more OF the same. The
reason is that Chester, by some peculiar
method all his own, causes his nero to
seem as new, each time be appears, as
the sun when it arises afresn over the
hills every morning.
So in this new story we see Walling-
ford. as usual, but Wallingford. wilier,
DETER and more slkillful in the art of
business legerdemain than ever before
He has more schemes than you can shake
stick at for transferring the other fel-
lows money from their pockets to his
own and each scheme Is brand new.
Blackie Daw, his side partner. Is with
him again, and Toad Jessup, the faithful,
freckled little gamin, also. But besides
them Mr.. Chester introduces some new
characters who are fully as original and
amusing as any he ever created in his
earlier stories. Blackie's actress wife,
Violet Melissa, who would become an
esthetic dancer just because she wants to,
not because she is .'cut OUT for that sort
of thing: and Professor Flopsie, truly a
personality, well worthy Of standing, be-
side the Toad and Blackie in the ranks
of Wallingford's cohorts-these are some
of the new characters who add to the fun
in this new book of Wallingford's busi-
ness escapades.
Things start off with rush IN wal
lngford in His Prime" j. Rufus gets on
the trail of money before you can say
Jack Robinson" and never loses the
scent until the very last page-and then
he doesn't lose it. he simply gives It up
for little. To begin with ne noats
scheme for manufacturing portable sum-
mer houses that are impervious to heat
and cold and all other annoyances with
characteristic energy and skill ne lays
his plans. and. with Blackte's AID. soon
separates a certain young man from
large portion of his income.
Wallingford leads the way In project
to build boom town, and them wnen