THE "FLYINC INN."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2007, 14 March 1914, Page 9

THE "FLYINC INN."

MR. CHESTERTON'S LATEST ' - "FANTASY." IJAXJjaj

Chesterton's new book (an advance copy qt;wluch:l owe. to the courtesy of tho puolishers, Messrs. Metliuen-and C 0.).. is a Jantasy .somewhat in-tho style ot Jiis ..'Napoleon of dotting Hill." The title is "The Fljing Inn." English reviewers seem to dilfer a good deal as to tho merits of.the new story; which is a wildly fantastic attack on "teetotalism, and a plea for the return of John Bui) to the ruder, and as the author contends, more hearty and wholesome life of his ancestors. Ho pictures an entirely now England, in which, owing to the influonco of a fanatical statesman, Lord Ivywood, Mohammodan ideas are forced upon the people. All inns aro'abolished, save a few which aro allowed to remain as curiosities. Such privileged hostelrios keep their signs and can sell alcohol. Without the allimportant sign, to vend ale or sum or any similar "vanity," as Mr. Stiggins wculd have said, is a penal offence. But an ingenious..adventurer, an Irishman, da ex-sailor, one Captain Patrick Dalroy, discovers a way by which he can defy thoso who would destroy "tho ancient Christian art of drinking." An innkeeper,"Humphrey Pump, has broken the law-, and his inn is to bo closed. Pump and Dalroy. howover, carry olf the sign of "The Old Ship," plus a cask of rtirn and a, cheese, and forthwith start a crusade or guerrilla, warfaro against the ruling "teetotallers" who, by the way, can drink aa much as they like in their own hemes! Wherever stands an inn sign, there tlio law allows •liquor to be sold—of course such signs have previously boon made, very rare— .Ifijid so Dalroy and his publican fricud

start a "Flying Inn." With malicious humour they carry tho sign of "The .Old Ship" into temperance meetings,' meetings of ethical societies, and the like, into oven the houses of Cabinet Ministers. Naturally, wherever they go, there is the very douce to pay. Thirsty souls indulge too freely, crowds howl for refreshment, and thero is serious rioting, the proprietors and conductors of the "Flying Inn" disappearing as sQbn as Lord Ivy wood's special temperance police arrive on*tho scene. Then off go. Mr. Pump and his friend, to turn up at some new after various adventures and the singing, en route, of bacchanalian ditties,- some of 'which, are very funny, others mere doggerel.- I quote a sample or two. .Hero, .are a'couple of verse's from a war song: Before the Roman came' to Rre or out to Severn strode, The rolling English drunkard made, the rolling English road A reeling road, a rolling road, that ram- | bles round the shore, And after him the parson ran, the seiton and the squire; \ A merry road, .1 mazy road, and such as we did tread The niglit we went to Birmingham bv way of Beachy Head. * I knew no harm of Bonaparte and plenty of the Squire, And for to fight the Frenchman I did not much desire; But .I.'did bash their baggonets because •' they came arrayed ■To straighten out the crooked road an English, drunkard made', Where you and I went down the lane with ale-mugs in onr hands, The night we went to Glastoribury by way of Goodwin Sands.

"It is nonsense, of course," says one reviewer, but "it is immense nonsense." Some of the songs in "The Flying Inn" seem to suggest memories of Edward Lear's delightful "Nonsense Verses." Here, for instance; is an ingenious comparison, of-the present day "degenerate grocer," and-the old-time "mine host":

■His.props aro not.his children, But pert-lads'underpaid, Who call.out. "Cash!" and bang about To work his wicked trade; He keeps a lady in a cage Host cruelly all day, "• And makes her count and calls her : "Miss"

Until she fades away. The righteous minds of innkeepers, Induce them now and then

To crack a bottle with a friend . Or treat unmoneyed men. But who hath seen the Grocer Treat housemaids to his teas Or crack a , bottle of fish sauce Or-stand a man a cheese? The wicked Grocer groces In spirits and in wiiie Not frankly and in fellowship As men in. inns <Io dine ; But packed with soap and sardines xAnd carried off by grooms ■ For to be snatched by Duchesses And drunk in dressing-rooms. ■

Tho "wicked grocer groces" is distinctly reminiscent of Lewis Carroll, but neither that delightful humourist no; Calverley, nor Edward Lear, .would have imagined tho sly', malicious "knock," in the two final lines, at the latter day .grocer millionaire,' whose contributions to. "party funds" earns him tljq much Chesterton is' If ere Jiit'tfrig'as a type'vastly in favour in .certain political circles in England. "The, Times review (January 22)' is not very appreciative... B[ere are the concluding sentences :-r-The story is not funny oh tho. face of it;, and it dresses, up in a vague allegory Mr. Chesterton's favourite ideas that England is going_.to the dogs, that the good old religion is de:id, that Asiatics are getting too much influence, and that wo shall not be ourselves again till the good old English country sido is what it used to be and old-fashioned' inns, not tied to brewers, are kept by "mine hosts" of the Tabard description, and the good old bluff old, hardy old, sturdy old , English epirifc, with its mine- of country lore and its contempt for books, once more takes the lead to the confusion.of aesthetics, politioians, poets, Jows, and sentimentalists. Possibly-lie is right, but the goodold English spirit would certainly not understand Mr. Chesterton."- Methuens publish thobookj which, as I.have said, should be out hero shortly.' v An advance order', to your bookseller-is- "Liber's" advice. ' ■■'..'■