Word: lardner
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That Edna St. Vincent Millay does not destroy the illusion which her henchmen and harpweavers have created is small compensation for the fact that Mr. Mencken resembles a well-fed lodge-member. Colonel Lawrence's profile is sufficiently romantic, Ring Lardner's face is tinged with the traditional gloom of the comedian, and Sherwood Anderson, fortunately, gives an impression not incongruous with his writing. But these are exceptions. They cannot counterbalance D. H. Lawrence's beard nor Ford Maddox Ford's chins. And all the world now knows that the authority on behaviorism in blondes is herself a jet brunette...
...proposed, " 'But don't bring Earl,'" says the laundress. A Princeton co-ed sisbooms "ad Nassaum." Yale sings "Beulah, Beulah." Funnyman Donald Ogden Stewart's technique is borrowed for an interview with Golfer Bobby Jones, aged one, in a lavatory. Pleased with himself, Mr. Lardner then interviews Horace Greeley in a bathtub. Toward the end of the book a Laplander lands in his lap. They marry and live in Gluten, N. Y. Divorce ensues. Queen Marie sings "Dat watahmelyon hangin' on de vine." He marries a Swiss called Geezle. He reforms the theatre by undressing...
...after the story is under way, no fairminded reader will deny that Mr. Lardner is doing his flat and level best not to get funny. Chapter Six begins: "It was at a petting party in the Whits House that I first met Jane Austen." He took her to see Gov. Al ("Peaches") Smith, who complimented her: "I thought The Green Hat was a scream...
...autobiography will sell these days without some pranks at Yale. So Mr. Lardner recalls football days under John Paul Jones, a grandfather of Coach Tad Jones. He tells how a big guard named Heffelfinger got called down for unclean nails; how Brinck Thorne got his neck tickled by Ted Coy. There actually are three men by those names, and Mr. Lardner knows it. Books have been written before this on the theory that people dislike seeing their names in print and will pay $1.75 to keep at least one copy out of circulation...
...Lardner has not shirked a single chance to rid himself of the reputation for "depth" which jealous fellow-writers recently fastened upon him. He puns along stoutly, just to show what he cares for humor. " 'If you do,' " he remembers a laundress retorting to one of his advances, " 'I will be hot under the collar.'" And he unblushingly sets down his comeback: "'Underwear...