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THE HAPPY TIME by Robert Fontaine

THE HAPPY TIME

By

Pub Date: June 18th, 1945
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

A change of title (originally reported as Name of a Blue Cow) and a double shift of date, makes it virtually a necessity to repeat this report -- originally given in the bulletin of 2/15. We liked it then. We like it now...Poignancy and pungency for the disillusions and illuminations of a boyhood in Ottawa, recaptured in the individual idiom of his French Canadian people, and fully expressive of the gaiety, the delicate ratiocination, the amoral amorousness of the race. Here was Papa, with his perforating philosophy and his lenient outlook -- Mama and her gentle affection -- Uncle Louis whose love of wine brought on a fear of butterflies; Uncle Desmonde who collected garters and Grandfather who collected ladies of over fifty. There was the time when the Boy learned the efficacy of loud prayer; when he became fascinated by Mignonette's nightgowns and promptly lost Mignonette; when he made the unfortunate attempt to climb to heaven on a church steeple; when he corrupted a Syrian boy with the Vie Parisienne; when stealing apples for an Eve called Sally brought arrest, etc. etc. Exploits of a sentimental education which provides much that is engaging and endearing.