The Firm of Cunningham." When complex ladies figure in
masterpieces, than the key is unnecessary, and what you don't
understand, you can always ascribe to the "psychological."

Miss Hilda Spong, a clever actress who is always miscast and who is
rarely able to display her fine qualities, was this contradictory
"heroine," while Miss Katherine Grey, usually assigned to dark
melodrama, was the white-muslin girl with the Vassar mis-label.
William Lamp, as the boy who kissed, was possibly the best member of
the cast, that also included William Harcourt and Henry Bergman. "The
Firm of Cunningham" scarcely seemed built for "business."

A SEA SHELL

Behold it has been given to me
To know the secrets of the sea,--
Its magic and its mystery!

And though, alas, I may not reach
The clear communicable speech
Of men, communing each with each,

I have such wonderment to tell,
Such marvel and such miracle,
I needs must strive to break the spell.

Hence do I murmur ceaselessly;
And could one but translate me, he
Might speak the secrets of the sea!

CLINTON SCOLLARD.

FOR BOOK LOVERS

By ARCHIBALD LOWERY SESSIONS

Two recent books that deal with a theme familiar enough to novel
readers, but always stimulating. "The Garden of Allah," by
Robert Hichens, and "The Apple of Eden," by E. Temple Thurston.
Charles Carey's "The Van Suyden Sapphires" a good detective
story. Other books.

Two recent books are worthy of something more than casual notice for
reasons entirely unconnected with the question of their literary
merits, for they afford some material for reflection upon the
curiosity of coincidences and for speculation as to the value of the
priest in love as a character in fiction.

It is not to be supposed that undue significance is given to these
aspects of the appearance of the books in question, for no important
deductions are to be drawn from their nearly simultaneous publication;
it is not especially remarkable as a coincidence. It is, however, an
interesting fact that two novelists as gifted as the authors of these
two books have shown themselves to be should have been working out the
same theme in very much the same manner, and presumably at
approximately the same time.

The opportunity of the cynical critic is, of course, obvious, and he
will, if he thinks of it, lose no time in exclaiming that the most
remarkable t