HUMOROUS STORIES. By Barry Pain. (T. Werner Laurie. 8s. ed.)-The
publication of a book of seven hundred and fifty-four pages of humorous matter is a brave adventure, for even though that matter is already a proved laughter- maker, how many, jokes can bear repetition, and how many times can the average man laugh over the reading of even a short story ? The gallantry of the late Mr. Barry Pain's publishers merits a great reward, for they have actually produced a book which contains a laugh on every page; which may be operied at random or read from cover to cover without fear of boredom. As Mr. Alfred Noyes, in the preface, truly says of the author : " When he put on _his motley, he said things that, were not only devastatingly funny but often devastatingly true as a criticism of human folly." It is impossible to select the' best from among so many delights, but the most Satisfyingly amusing pieces in the volume are " Mrs. Murphy," " Edwards " and " Tamplin's Tales of His Family." _ The jokes in them may be old to Some of us, but they can never grow stale, and even if they could it would not be the author's 'fault. "He never repeated himself : as he said, " Even a hen does not try to lay the same egg three times over ! " - -'
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