Books: Come In, Gents

HEATHEN DAYS 1890-1936 — H. L Mencken—Knopf ($3).

Henry Louis Mencken admits that "the resurrection men" have had him in their "animal house"—his way of saying that he has been in the hospital. Illness has not prevented the Baltimore sage, who believes that beer is very close to the meaning of life, from drawing off a third foaming, savory volume of reminiscences.* As much as he loves beer Mencken loves "competence ... in any art or craft from adultery to zoology." This book is further testimony to his own competence as the nation's comical, warm-spirited, outstanding village atheist. He still stands ready...