THE CRIMSON BOOKSHELF --- LETTERS OF WILLIAM JAMES

Stephen Leacock has added once more to the rapidly growing library of his literary travesties. In his latest book, entitled "Winsome Winnie," the great American humorist presents a series of new Nonsense Novels which seem destined further to enhance his popularity with that very large sphere of the public who avidly devour everything signed by his magic name.

There is no doubt that Mr. Leacock is supreme in his particular field of literature. No one but he can paint such successful cartoons of modern foibles and conventions, so delightfully satirical yet withal so absurdly true. The imaginative sketches he conceives abound in unconscious witticisms, in masterly touches of caricature, which produce a fresh burst of laughter at every page; and above all, by the judicious employment of exaggeration, he never fails to achieve the desired effect. One can as easily read his essays without laughing as go swimming without getting wet; the ridiculous twists to his tales, the whimsical matter-of-factness with which he describes his characters and relates events seem to touch a hidden spring in the reader which necessarily provokes mirth.

Judging Mr. Leacock's latest effort, one finds that although each individual bit of nonsense in the collection is essentially clever, some are more spontaneous, more appealing to one's sense of the comical, than others. "Winsome Winnie" deservedly finds first place in and supplies the title to the volume.

"Broken Barriers, or Red Love on a Blue Island," is perhaps even more mirth-compelling in its descriptions of utterly foolish incidents following a shipwreck; treated with a vigorous hand, it hurls chunks of humor, as it were, at the reader, who, if he be in the right mood, finds his vision obscured at times by tears of laughter. Uncontrollable chuckling seizes him at Mr. Brown's ludicrously chivalrous attitude to his fair companion on the desert isle and their common adventures it is only a pity that the ending is rather weak.

Next in order of merit we would select "The Blue and the Grey," a story of the Civil War. That familiar piece of fiction which has for its theme the young southern officer, carrying despatches amid impossible difficulties, the Battle of Gettysburg and the tiresome elaboration about the relative positions of the opposing forces, is here, held up to a heavy barrage of ridicule. This sarcasm in turn is directed against the detective story of today in "Who do You Thing Did It? or The Mixed-Up Murder Mystery"--only the final outcome is not in accordance with the usual triumph of the Master Mind of today.

There are times when Mr. Leacock's efforts to be funny fall a trifle flat, when his satire or exaggeration are too obvious to "get across." Thus "John and I," "The Kidnapped Plumber" (except for a few brilliant flashes) and "Buggam Grange" seem somewhat forced. "The Split in the Cabinet" on the other hand is more successful in its treatment of the English political novel.

To record all the passages that excite a more or less emphatic degree of laughter would fill several columns. Suffice it to say that Stephen Leacock needs no press notices and in "Winsome Winnie" he is at his customary best.