"Mary Poppins is probably intended for children, but is delightful reading for grown-ups."

Exceptional Nursemaid. "MARY POPPINS." By P. L. Travers. Reynal &amp; Hitchcock, New York, $1.50. Mary Poppins is the tiame of the nursemaid who came on a high east wind to take care of the four Banks children living in Cherry-Tree Lane. They lived in a rather dilapidated house which needed a coat of paint, because Mr. Banks, who owngd it, said to Mrs. Banks that she could have either a nice, clean comfortable house or four children. But not both, for he couldn't afford it. And after Mrs. Banks had given the matter some consideration, she came to the conclusion that she would rather have Jane, who was the oldest, Michael, who came next, and John and Barbara, who were the twins and came last of all. Mary Poppins was the "great exception." She came without references and demanded every other Thursday off from one to six, because she said that was what the very best families gave. Then after a long, loud sniff that Indicated she had made up her mind: "I'll take the position." "For all the world," as Mrs. Banks said to her husband later, "as though she were doing us a signal honor." She became supreme ruler over the nursery. Out of a carpet bag that the children themselves saw was empty she took seven flannel nightgowns, four cotton ones, a pair of boots, a set of dominoes, two bathing caps and a postcard album. The first night she put them to bed she gave all of them medicine out of the same bottle. Michael's was straw berry ice, Jane's was lime-juice cordial, and then Mary Poppins poured herself a dose. As she corked the bottle she an nounced that hers was rum punch. Mary Poppins talked with the wind, the birds, the animals, and even put old ferocious Admiral Boom, who lived next door, in a cage at the zoo and had the tiger prod him gently with a stick to make him swear and roar to entertain the other animals. . The author, Miss P. L. Travers, Is a young Irish woman who began inventing stories for a tiny sister at a very early age and has just gone on doing it. Mary Poppins, she says, is probably made up from all the "Nannies" she had in Australia, where she was born, and in the British Isles, to which she came as she was growing up. Like "Peter Pan" and "Alice in Won derland," "Mary Poppins" is probably intended for children, but is delightful read ing for grown-ups. M. C.

The Tampa Tribune

"Mary Poppins is probably intended for children, but is delightful reading for grown-ups."

"Mary Poppins is probably intended for children, but is delightful reading for grown-ups."

The Tampa Tribune