Houghton, Mifflin and Company have just brought out a new book by Margaret Deland, entitled "The Wisdom of Fools." It is a series of short sketches of the lan Maclaren type, dealing with life in a manufacturing town in the West. The one thing which makes itself almost painfully apparent throughout is the cynicism of the author. In a sarcastic manner she sneers at the existing social system, and in a covert way advances the ideas of socialism. Like much else that has been written, it treats the world as being all wrong, all employers being grinding oppressors and all poor men injured and down-trodden. The general impression left by the book is one of gloom and foreboding.

On the other hand, much in the book is cleverly done, although the author is at times unreal. The descriptions are especially good, leaving a crisp and vivid impression in the mind of the reader.