Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-29

a very charming book 1t is, fully illus trated with great spirit by w. T. Smedley. Most of these chapters have already ap- peared in Harpers Magazine and liar per's Weekly, and treat of what we may call Our New South, and it's resources. Entertaining and choice reading for us of the south and full of enlightenment and interest to the stranger of the southland.
 
 Mrs. Kate Douglas Wiggin, who writes such charming New England stories, is said to make twice as much money by reading her stories as she makes by writ ing them, but a reviewer relevantly re- marks, Lest this should induce every woman who writes to mount the plat form, let me say that Mrs. Wiggin is particularly good reader, and that she has made an art of what might easily be something else"
 R. D. Blaclomore, so widely and famous ly known as the author of Lorna Doone," has again dipped his pen among the Doone wilds, and now gives us Slain by the Doones, and Other Stories, a eol- lection of short stories. These are MT. Blacl0more's favorite scenes and the Doones belong as characteristically to him as do the East Tennessee people to Miss Murfree. Those who have enjoyed Lorna" will no doubt care for these sto- ries also. As for myself, I am not par tcularly attached to the Doones nor their mode of life.
 Mrs. Schuyler Van Rensselaer,, it is said, does all her writing on typewriter, ma nipulating the machine herself She says that the noise does not disturb her and that she can write four times faster that way than with the pen, though she writes rapidly with that instrument.
 Mrs. Burton Harrison writes all her own manuscripts and she works very rapidly. "The Anglo-Maniacs," and "A Bachelor Maid" were both written at white heat. With all her other duties they were only on the stocks three weeks each.
 "The Devils Playground" Is the very naughty title of quite a charming little romance, written by John Hackie, the past year. Now he gives us another some what similar, though equally entertain ing bright and vivacious. Sinners Twain" is the name of this new story, whose scenes are laid in the extreme northwest, in Canada. In the portrayal of it's characters it gives a vivid picture of some officers in her majesty's service. The young and beautiful heroine, who lives amid this great lone land" is known as Marie St Denis, no doubt one of the old aristocratic French names still existing in Canada. She Is a noble, UldlueIl, WAOSt illG IS JtOpetl dized and imperiled by the adventures of her father. who persisted in dealing in the liquor traffic obtained across the border. thereby breaking the law of the land.
 There are many apt and pointed re- marks through the little book such as the following:
 "A wise man, if he has not travelled, is as worthy of respect as the thoughtful man who has. in that he realizes his own littleness and paves the way to knowl edge. But a fool is like a fat donkey that ventures upon thin ice-he courts extinction by the weight of his own ig- norance."
 The next gives an idea of the spirited conversations of the officers. one of whom had unwittingly come in contact with several superior officers without becom- ing aware of their station.
 ''Oh, fire away Dick! I did not think 1t were possible for any human being to arrive at such lofty pitch of intel lectual impenetrabilityi Your utter lack of the perceptive faculty borders on the sublimew
 And you didn't seem to think it strange when he did not give you his card? Oh, no, don't suppose you thought about that at all"
 Great Scott" answered Dick; but now I come to think of it, did tell the