I rather think that if I had the opportunity of discussing with Elinor Mordaunt her Old Wine in New Bottles (Hutchinson) and had the courage to say what was in my mind: "Don't you think perhaps that your vigorous and unexpected characters are out of story-land rather than out of life?" and if she riposted, "But is it necessary they should be like life if they are life-like?" I should be left with no more effective retort than "Quite," or something just as futile. For there's no doubt that these queer villains, Chinese dealers, bold sailormen, travellers, rapt lovers, do get over the footlights in an effective way. They do the things that are only done in magazines, but they do them with a gusto which engages the attention. Perhaps indeed that's what the author meant by her ingenious title; though I suppose her device of setting before each story a longer or shorter, more or less relevant, passage from the Old Testament gives a clearer clue to the precise way in which she interprets "nothing new under the sun." I cheerfully prescribe of this old wine one or two bottles at bedtime. Better not, I think, the whole case at a sitting.
Tramp. "Yes, Mum, I'm an old soldier; fought in the—"
Mrs. Tommy Atkins. "D'you still remember the Army training?"
Tramp. "That I do, Mum. Haven't forgotten a single word o' command."
Mrs. T.A. "Then, About—turn! Quick—march!"