Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 18.pdf/49

THE GREEN BAG heaven —- even get your fingers through the wherein the right bore a bewildering re crack in the door, you stay right there. semblance to the wrong. Don't you ever take any chances on coming ' ' ' There are people who talk of the right path,' broke out the lawyer, impatiently, away to visit."" Much is said in this book as to the Squire's 'as though it were like this village road_ great knowledge of the law and of the im branching from the four corners here; that portant social questions of the world, but all you need is to look at the guide-board we are nowhere told that he was especially and go on.'" Squire Phin is Mr. Day's first novel, and learned in the physical sciences. Yet he advances a theory so logical, and of such in it he fulfills the promise of his earlier far-reaching and vital importance, that it books. There is a satisfaction, deeper and might well engage the attention of the more abiding than interest, or even pleasure, scientists and philosophers of the day. He in reading the successive productions of a is replying to the remarks of a too-inquisi writer whose work shows constant and marked progress toward the attainment of tive boy. "'Bub!' said the Squire severely, ' you're high ideals. Mr. Day has given us a boolc anxious to grow up to be a nice big man, full of the charm of swiftly-moving pic tures, the tang of the salt sea breeze, and aren't you?' the echo of the murmuring pines, but above "'Yep.' "'Well, there's nothing that stunts growth and beyond all else it appeals to the reader like using your tongue too much. That's by the kindliness which is the dominant note of the hero's character, and which is why so many women are shorter and slim mer than men. Now always remember that well expressed by the author's extract from all your life.' his poem, "Job Brown, J.P." "The boy stared up and down the big "If we could write upon that gravestun's face man, and closed his lips apprehensively." A list of what he'd done to help this place, We who dwell in the city, whether of the We'd have a roll of honor to his fame. legal profession or of other walks of life, But we should publish all our village shame — are apt to associate the country with the The shame that, thank the Lord, Job gentlv simple life. We sigh as we say, with Saint hid. Paul, " For what I would, that do I not; but An' when 'twas boxed, shet down and locked what I hate that do I," and we look with the lid. envy or contempt, according to the strength There'd be a list of heirs an' all their fights: The sorrows an' the heart-aches over rights; or weakness of our natures upon those who, There'd be the frowns, the snarls, the sneersas we believe, are not subjected to the an" scorn temptations and difficulties which beset and Out of the leavin's of our dead men born. perplex us. It is well to realize that life There'd be the threats an' mutt'rin's of di is no more complex or difficult for us than vorce, for others; that doubt, perplexity, and temp An' all the griefs that spring from Trouble's tation, are not matters of environment, but source. are encountered amid green fields, as well 'Twas better that this calendar was crossed as in the shadowy offices of city sky-scrapers. With note : ' By order of J . Brown not prossed. ' ** And so to this country squire there came CHICAGO, ILL., December, 1905. dark hours, and complicated situations,