The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-08-04
An Ingenious
Criticism
BY r. A. mitchell.

JlubOnt dh ohlbptt having hVhG IoAS
scribbIing than was good for his
health, was ordered by his doctor to
20 into the country. He chose small
town called Hollywood because there
was library there, and II he was for
hidden to write he could at least read,
which was not what his doctor intend
ed at ALL He wished his patient to be
out OF doors-walking, driving, boating,
and the like.
Jimson went into the library as soon
as he reached Hollywood. 1t was a
small affair, and he had read most OF
the books 1t contained. but there was
that In the atmosphere OF the place
which attracted him, and he would
rather read a book he didn't like than
none at all. He had finished writing
brought a copy with him, which he
deposited in the library.
One day while he was sitting at a.
table intended for those who wished
to read in the library with book be-
fore him the silence of the place was
broken by the entrance of woman.
/ She had quick step and piquant
look about her. Going to the shelves
containing Rction, she cast Der eye
| rapidly over the books ard at once
| pounced upon Jimson's novel. Evil
| IDENTIFY she had exhausted the shelves
and recognized new book the mo-
ment she saw 1t. Being in a hurry to
/ 49, - ,Ixr a I1r xx-tp axxxy
and began its perusal
This interested Jimson very much
indeed. more than the book he was
reading. An author Is hungry for
criticism. and he watched the young
lady as she made the pages fly. satis-
fed that his production was making
profound impression on her At times
her brows would contract at some ac-
ton or sentiment it contained; at 9TH
ers her face would take on a benign
expression when perhaps character
was showing some heroic trait. The
book was d short one. and the lady
read it at one sitting. When she had
finished and was about replacing 1t on
the shelf Unison stepped up to her
and. bowling, deferentially said:
beg pardon. | am a stranger In
the town. with nothing to do. | am
unfamiliar with the books in this Ii
brary and would be greatly obliged to
you If ron would recommend me
something to read"
Fiction, history. travel, philosophy
or what?'
Fiction. i have noticed that you
have been absorbed in book you
were reading. Could you recommend
it?'
mo"
Jimson was quite taken aback by
this, but he recovered himself and
said:
Il am surprised. from the interest
you appeared to take in it. to hear you
say that What is there about 1t you
don't like?"
THE characters"
aWhat's the matter with them n
well, there's Margaret Lee. What
did she want to throw herself away
on that country professor for when
she could have made Donald Kimball
happy and saved him from drink?
Then there's Edward Atkinson, the
most perfect flop / ever heard of. 1t
seems to me can see him now pranc-
ng along. the conceited puppy, think
ng himself the most splendid fellow
n the world Old Mrs. Perkins. who
vas forever worrying over that boy OF
lers because he wouldn't wear an over
,oat or rubbers. was fool. She would
ieelare that he shouldn't have another
,ent of spending money for week,
hen give him a five dollar bill for
ootball She was spelling the boy
How did you like the hero?'
THE hero. | would just like to get
lold of that man, He aggravated me
more than any character in the book.
Why. If be made love to me as be did
o Alice Lonsdale I'd-I'd''-
what would you do?'
I'D stick pin in him."
II suppose these persons will imme-
lately pass out of your mind now that
on have finished the book"
"Not at all. / shall remember them
ways"
"what for-their general cussed-
ess?"
"0h. don't know! I suppose so"
Thank you very much for your in
Drmation. | don't think I'll read the
ook after your description of it."
II certainly wouldn't"
Unison wrote his publishers that he
ad got an ingenious criticism on his
ovel. He didn't think the book would
o. Persons who read it would not be
kelly to recommend it to others.
The next day be went to the library
gain and while reading looked up at
a entrance.
There's that little fool who criti-
sed my book" be said to himself
She nodded 10 him as she passed.
ent to the fiction shelves and took
,wn a book Unison. who was watch
e her was astonished to see that
was his novel She sat down with
and was soon as much absorbed in
ms the day before. Unison went up
her and said.