Education, Respectability

A LITTLE CLOWN LOST--Barry Benefield--Century Co. ($2).

Out of the rain, into the life of Shep Tideboy, came Phoebe Dibble & her father, Hooker Dibble, purveyor of herbs. During the night old Hooker passed on, was buried by a solemn little processional. Phoebe stayed on at the Louisiana homestead of the Tideboys until Shep's guardian, Cesar Honfleur, persuaded Shep to acquire an education, respectability. Shep & Phoebe were married. In an incredibly short time Shep mastered Latin, went to the University of Texas, won a fellowship. But Phoebe, tiring of trying to learn out of books, fearful lest she retard the progress of Shep, returned to the road, stayed several years, defied Shep's frantic efforts to find her. The Tideboy estate was sold to a Britisher, given to protracted orgies, and his color less, passionate wife. The Britisher fled during a drunken spell, joined the circus in which Phoebe was featured. One guessed at the ending. In his better moments (The Chicken-Wagon Family) Author Benefield has been compared with Barrie, Morley, Donn Byrne.