The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1914-08-20
An Ingenious
Criticism
By F. A. Mitchell

Unison, an author, having done mor'
scribbling than was good Tor hi
health, was ordered by his doctor t.
go into the country. He chose small
town called Hollywood because thers
was a library there. and If 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 bt
out of walking, driving, boating
and the like.
Jimson went. into the library as ,sooI
as he reached Hollywood. It was 8
small affair. and he had read most OF
| the books it contained. but there was
that in the atmosphere of the place
which attracted him. and he would
rather read book he didn't like than
none at alt He had finished writing
a novel before leaving home and had
brought 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 fiction, she cast her eye
rapidly over the books and at once
bounced upon Jimson's. novel. Evf-
IDENTIFY she had exhausted the shelves
and recognized a new book the mo-
ment she saw/it Being in hurry to
get at it, she took seat by window
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. salts
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 Il short one. and the lady
read it at one sitting. When she had
finished and was about replacing it on
the shelf Unison stepped up to her
and. bowling. deferentially said: -. .
BEG pardon! am a stranger in
the town. with nothing to. do. l am
unfamiliar with the books in this H.
brary and would be greatly obliged to
you If you would recommend me
something to read"
Fiction. history. travel. philosophy
or what?"
+ Fiction. have noticed that yon
have been absorbed in. book You
were reading. Could you recommend
it?" >.,s ~ =
ANo." .~.s>
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 it you
don't like?' .-
THE characters"
whats the matter with them?''
We'll. there's Margaret Lee. What
did she want to throw herself away
on that country professor for when
she could have made Donald Kimba!l
happy and saved him from drink?
Then there's Edward Atkinson. the
most perfect fop /. ever heard Of. 1t
seems to me | can see him now pranc-
ing along. the cOnceited puppy. think
ing himself the most splendid fellow
in the world. Old Mrs. Perkins. who
was forever worrying over that boy of
hnP h<>v In .
coat or rubberS. was IL fool. She would
declare that he shouldn't have another
cent of spending money for week
then give him five dollar bill for a
football She was spelling the boy"
How did you like the hero?"
THE hero: | would just like to get
hold of that man: He. aggravated me
more than any character in the book.
Why. if he made love to me as he did
to Alice LonsdaTe l'd-Pd"-
What would You dog"
''I'd stick pin in him!'
II suppose these persons will imme-
1iately pass out of your mind now that
you have finished the book
:, Not. ut all. shall remember them
always"
What for-thefr general cussed-
ness:''
"Oh, Idon't know! l suppose So"
Thank you very much for your in
formation l don't think I'll read the
book after your description of it,
Il certainly wouldn't.
Unison wrote his publishers that he
had got an iIye1ll1OuS criticism on his
novel He didn't think the book would
60 Persons who read it would not be
likely to recommend it to others.
The next day he went to- the library
again and while reading looked up at
an entrance.
There's that little fool who criti--
cised my book he said to himself.
She nodded to him as she passed.
went TO the fiction shelves and took