Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-17
GOSSIP FROM BOOKLAND.

 From the Time of Their First Occupation in Alabama in 1908 Un,il ls9i," is new work from the press of Roberts & Son or Birmingham, and is reverently dedicated to "the pioneer Baptist preachers of Ala bama'' bv the author, Rev. B. F. Riley, D. D., author of Alabama As IL Is" Dr. Riley was until recently resident of Bir- mingham and the honored president of Howard college. He left us short time since to accept the professorship of English in the Univt trsity of Georgia, No douot the author has many warm personal lrienos and admirers who will hail with apprecia- tion this work.
 The book is of especial interest to Bap- lists, and will surely lake leading rank Tn Baptist literature in Alabama. As his. tory il will prove enjoyable reading to all who are interested iu the early manly ef- forts and achievements Of religious men during heroic times of Alabama's bistory The work seems to be comprehensive aud remarkably complete, written in concise and flowing style, with an evident appre- citation for facts and occurrences, whlch renders the work picturesque and interest ing in historical value. All who feel a conmendable pride in Howard college withiu Birmingham borders will no doubt find the first seeds of this splendid institution in the following:
 sIn 1874 an appropriation of sl000 was made from the treasury or the territory in aid of the schools which had been fncor- porated at St. Stephens aud Huntsville. This was the first appropriation of public monty ever made in the territory f1r educa- tioDa, purposes.
 There are chapters on "A Transition Period ., ,il!ei ms 6I Progress,n D "Cur- rents and Cross Currents, f" ''Darker Days,o etc. !, and ever we read oi the wonderful aud heroic deecs of the valiant soldiers of he cross during Alabama's varied history We read also that their ener- gies, plans aud money were always given to sustain and encourage education, and the Juds on and II Howard college are put the fruits of these noble endoavors. commend the book with especial pleasure to the many friends of Dr. B. F. Riley and to the public as d work of value and interesting Information.
 ""rbe Golden House: A Novel,'' by Charles Dudley Warner, author of "A Lit tie Journey in tho World, - has just been issued in book form, having previously run as serial story in Harper's. Mir. Warner has taken few clements of New York social life and by the simplest recital of daily occurrences has made one of the most delightful Of readable books, work unsurpassed by any in my remen- brauce for gracefulness of style and deli cate bumor and Mr. Smedley seems to en- ter into the very spirit of the author and gives pictures that portray with great iruthfuness the foremost occurrences of the work.
 What might be termed plot is 80 very meager in "The Golden House" that one might almost say it possesses none, and yet 1t is extremely interesting from first page to last, although it is an unusually lengthy work. Nothing could be more un' like than the romantic novel, "The First of the English" In which incident follows fast upon incident Tn so dramatic and rapid fxtI.s ft.,f nd mil haf fnd while in s'The Golden House'' we read with repose aud leisure, drinking in the subtle beauties of style and diction and tue rare, keen and wonderfully developed ana lytical powers, while we often discover the kindliest bits of humor, so innocentIy sar- castle as iu the following:
 sfs
 s'Perhaps Mir. Stalker understood this, for when the buyers had gone he remarked to the stable boy: MT. Delaney, he don't want to buy no hoss.
 .sWhen the inspection of the horse was finished it was time for luuch and the la bors of the morning were felt to justify indulgence, though each of the party had other engagements and was too busy to waste the time. They went down to the Knickerbocker. '
 Upper New York society is most realistic ally portrayed in the delineation of Jack Delaney and his devoted wife, Edith, and ! dark and lowering of the upper gaieties also have the authors attention aud a lit- tie love story IS there woven that is homely and very touching like an under current of real passion throbbing beEeith the glittering, unreal, calculating occur renees of high society life.
 Jack Delaney is no doubt very true DOT trayal of many such listless young men of fortune and favor, whose days ana nights, too, are all filled with little social noth ings. He has wife, Edith, whose nature rings true and sound, and who never de- ecends from the lofty ideals she pursues.
 "Edith denied herself the morning at tendance on the literature class that was sraking over the eighteenth century.
 ''rhis week Swift was to be arraigned. The last time when Filth was present it was Steele. The judgment on the whole had been forcible, and there had been little stir of tenderness among the bonnets over Thackeray's comments on the Chris tian soldier. 1t seemed to bring him near them. Poor Dick Steele, said the essay ist. Edith declared afterwards that the large woman who sat next 10 her, Mrs. Jerry HolloweIl, whispered to her that she always thought his name was Besse mer, but this was no doubt pleasantly. Poor Steele, 1t would have cheered his life to know that century after his death so many beautiful women, so exquisitely dressed, would have been concerning themsevss about him. The function lasted two hours. Edith made little cal. culation.
 Tin five minutes she could have got from the encycloI 60 lia all the facts in the essay, and while her maid was doing her hair she could have read five times as much of Steele as the essayist read; but Edith may have been too severe in her judgment. here was probably not woman in the class that day who did not go away with tbekEowledge that Steele was an author, and that he lived in the eighteenth century. The hope of the country is in the diffusion of knowlcdge.'