2 JANUARY 1926, Page 33

Adventures in Understanding.. By David' Gra y son. (Hodder and Stoughton. 7s.

6d. net.)—These character studies and sketches of life in an American city are linked together by a running commentary in which Mr. Grayson expounds his philosophy of life. It is not a bad philosophy, but there is at times a familiar unctuousness, a stilted sim- plicity, in its exposition that is just a little exasperating. The story; Such as it. i§, deals with a -countryinan*§ enforced visit to town, and it tells how he finds goodness in unexpected places, and, finding it, pats it on the back encouragingly. There is a great vogue for this sort of thing in America, and it has a growing following here ; but always it will be pumpkin pie to the particular.