-Wit and Elegance
A La Carte, By L. E. Jones, (Secker and Warburg. 125. 6d.) .1 wisx there were not so much irrationally blank paper in this book, and at least twice as many of these delicious morsels. Mr. L. E. Jones is the best of all doctors for the curing of the bldei, even the deepest indigo blues ; though he can be gracefully serious as well as elegantly droll. But he is much more than droll. He is a consti- tutional wit, a wit of nature's making, a man with a schplar's mind and a poet's accelerated fancy ; so enticing and so accomplished that he can safely dare to be sentimental—and that is because he reveals, below sentiment, the underlying pattern of a central, generous and urbane humanity.
The hand of an expert chef is evident in each of these delectable and appetising little dishes ; and if the lighter devices, the vols-aa- vent, are more likely to please than some of the more substantial inventions, that is not to say that all are not of equal merit in their fashion. For Mr. Jones combines an astonishing versatility of choice and learning with an enviable consistency of style. It is, in fact, his perception and analysis of style which give to his work its peculiar sureness and ease, the gifts of a whimsical sobriety and a studious wit. No other modern writer is equally dextrous in the art of composing pastiche or parody. It is easy enough ta'reproduce the ponderous bullying style of Johnson or Bosweff's obliging inanity ; but who, except Mr. Jones, could write these flawless imita- tions of Pope, Chesterfield and Oliver Goldsmith ? Who could have dished up so lightly this little masterpiece of Queen Victoria denouncing the "Pin-Up Girl" of Ashburton ? And where can you find anything so wickedly and so wittily delightful as the extracts from the diary of Sir J. E. Millais "white. •painting Ophelia" ?
It is only possible to match a parody by Mr. Jones with another parody by Mr. Jones, and I would perhaps choose for this purpose the conversation with George Moore about the hat-shop in Ebury Street, or the fine double satire of the extract from Sir Max Beerbohm's "unwritten Autobiography." (And how strange it is, by the way, to observe the close resemblance between the styles of Kipling and of Chesterton when they ate dissected by one so skilled in the anatomy of literature as Mr. Jones.) It is impossible to write a good parody without being able to write something as good, or nearly as good, as the original. Mr. Jones is undoubtedly the possessor of this ability.
The quips and epigrams, the verses (both gay and serious) and the translations from the French in this little book are all of them truly delightful. Whether it is the notable epitaph on Sir John Harrington, who invented the royal water-closet, or the two lapidary .lines on himself, the exquisite whimsy on the Madonna of Pinturicchio, the sonnet on Mr. Churchill or the graceful offering to Harold Nicolson —the mastery, the wit and elegance are never lacking. Nor can Wo imagine a more skilful translation than the verses from Du Bois Hus, which have a Miltonic beauty of cadence and line ; unless, indeed: this is to be found in the splendidly ingenious version of Desportos Icarus. And, then, finally, we have the liqueurs and the coffee-- clerihews and limericks, letters," bits and pieces." These little gamos of the spirit are fully as enjoyable arid as well-chosen as everything else in the book. Whether" they are sharp or subtle, allusive o%
direct, the brilliance Of a friOst ingenious and alert humour Is always present. Many of the pieces have already appeared in the competition pages of The New Statesman and Nation. Mr. Jones expeesSA his thanks to the editor for allowing him to reprint them, and his tders Will certainly do likewise. One is always cautious in accepting a Publisher's opinion {if publishers have opinions) of his own wares, Jut I agree heartily with Mr. Jones's publishers that this book Is 'the perfect Christmas present." And why wait until Christmas ? It is a perfect present for the literary reader, and I advise every such reader to buy it for himself without any loss of time. The book is produced with becoming elegance and is prettily embellished with
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