THREE NOTABLE REPRINTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 112, 14 May 1927, Page 21

THREE NOTABLE REPRINTS

"KolUngStoues" by O. Henry; "Treasure Island" and "Kidnapped," by B. L. Stevenson. London: Hoddcr and Stoughton.

Wireless, motor-cars, aeroplanes, and telephones have made all the difference to tho present-day reader of stories and novels of twenty years ago. For instance, in "The Country House," John Galsworthy writes delightful descriptions of the London hansom nnd Piccadilly—between Hyde Park corner and St. James's street—as it was 20 years ago; now nil very, very much changed. Tho hansom is extinct. Furthermore, in the same novel, he tells how a groom saddled hnd vodo away in great haste for the doctor, when to-day the medical man would be rung up on tho telophone. So it is with Q. Henry in some ways, and yet human nature is immutable, and it is his deep insight into and sympathy with human nature that makes O. Henry a writer for all time. This particular volume is one of the library edition of the writer, his twelfth and final volume. Its humour and pathos are blended with all the skill of the apothecary which, in fact, 0. Henry, or Sydney Porter to be correct, actually was at ono time in his career. English literary education cannot be said to be" truly comprehensive unless it includes a course of O. Henry, and as presented in this edition his. works will fully justify their places on the bookshelves of discerning readers.'

The two Stevenson new editions are in a cheap and handy form, but well printed in bold type, stoutly bound, and have coloured frontispieces ami title pages. Tho stories need no high, commendation at this date.