“Miss Williams’s introduction | “The introduction is, it is of great interest, as it | must be said, an unpleasant takes us behind the scenes | piece of work ... in a style with the judges ... but still | whose lack of distinction is in the collection itself remains | marked contrast to the stories disappointing.”--Hartford | that follow.”--New York _Courant_, January 23, 1927. | _Sun_, January 18, 1927. | “Miss Williams in her introduction | “It is at least refreshing considers each | after the monotones of praise story with critical seriousness, | to which introducing editors and analyzes, and | have almost invariably praises, and compares, till | treated us; and even though one can’t help wondering | one may not always agree what she would say of a | with the specific comment Chekhov or a Maupassant.”--The | ... that fact need not detract _Saturday Review of | from one’s approval of this Literature_, May 28, 1927. | tempered, tentative editorial | attitude as constituting a | salutary and genuinely respectable | criticism.”--New | York _Herald-Tribune_, January | 30, 1927. | “If Wilbur Daniel Steele | “All competent readers had never written a better | will agree with the official story than ‘Bubbles’ he | judges as to the wisdom of would never have achieved | their first choice. ‘Bubbles’ the fame and popularity | is a profound, subtle, and which he not unjustly | highly finished piece of enjoys.”--Richmond (Va.) | work.”--New York _Sun_, January _News Leader_, January 17, | 18, 1927. 1927. | | “To me the story [Bubbles] | “Mr. Steele’s really stupendous is not convincing enough to | story, ‘Bubbles’--it be really successful. Despite | is difficult not to overdo deft craftsmanship the story | superlatives in writing of this fails to become important, | appalling little masterpiece and even its pattern is beautiful | ... is one of Mr. Steele’s artifice rather than art.”--The | supreme achievements.”--Hartford _Saturday Review of | _Courant_, January Literature_, May 28, 1927. | 23, 1927. | “Sherwood Anderson wins | “Of the stories in this the second prize with a story | book, that by Sherwood Anderson