The Card. By Arnold Bennett. (Methuen and Co. 6s.)=-An anonymous
character, in the last sentence of Mr. Arnold Bennett's novel, speaks thus of the hero of the book : " He is identified with the great cause of cheering us all up." This dictum might be well applied to certain of Mr. Arnold Bennett's novels, the most notable of which, "A Great Man," has been the subject of heart- felt gratitude in these columns. The Card is a story of a similar character, and everyone must agree that it is a most entertaining specimen of its author's particular type of humour. Edward Henry Machin, described by Mr. Bennett as " a card," and nick- named, as a saving of time, by his mother " Denry," is a striking specimen of the vulgar, pushing, and slightly eccentric young man. Denry is a man of large ideas, which he makes a fortune by exploiting. It is difficult to convey to our readers the entertain- ment provided by his adventures or by the calm impudence with which he makes use of all favourable opportunities for social advancement. Mr. Arnold Bennett's hits at the frailties of human 'stare are also very diverting. As an instance, we may quote Denry's astonishment when the young lady he is rather in love with has a headache, but goes on talking all the same. " He could not help thinking what marvellous self-control women had. Now when he had a headache—which happily was seldom—he could think of nothing else and talk of nothing else; the entire universe consisted merely of his headache." Women always accuse men of being entirely absorbed in their ailments, but it is seldom that men have the honesty to admit that this is so. By a clever touch, the author makes Denry in his marriage prove himself, on a sudden impulse, untrue to all his ideals of advancement. We very much doubt, however, whether each a person as Denry would feel that he had attained to supreme honour when he was elected Mayor of Bursley. If we read his history aright, in a few years Denry would have found that this position by no means satisfied his ambition. He would have begun to exploit "fresh woods and pastures new" in the quest of higher honours.
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