_The Powder of Sympathy._ By CHRISTOPHER MORLEY.
_The Powder of Sympathy_ is a collection of whimsical, verbal morsels,
colyumistic in length, but not for the most part in character.
Discourse upon the shortcomings of the Long Island Railroad, or upon
the vicissitudes of mongrel dogs in pedigreed kennels no doubt is
admirable colyum copy; but Mr. Morley has included in his latest book
an equal quantity of semi-serious discussion about books and about
authors. We can think of no one who can impart to the reader his
own genuine enthusiasm for good books so well as Sir Kenelm Digby’s
publicity agent. (Incidentally, we consider Mr. Morley’s observations
on Sir Digby’s character, habits, and work as the most titillating
particle of sympathetic powder to be found in the whole book.)
It is a book for every mood. If you feel the need of a laugh, pick up
this salmon-colored work and choose at random from the forty odd titles
that speak for themselves. If you are beginning to wonder whether you
will ever again find prose that will thrill you with its bold and
powerful use of the strong red roots of our English vocabulary, read
“Santayana in the Subway”. If you still have a morbid interest in the
higher side of the culinary art known as distillation, you will find
enlightening Sir Kenelm’s directions for making “ale drink quick and
stronger”. In any case once you open this book you will forget where
the blues begin.