Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-08

WHO lives across the pOnu, that poSS'-
J bly, If he had read these books he would
| not so publicly confound "Bara bias"
| with Satan and Other Publishers
| Is it not enough to gladden. the human
heart, consumed as it so usually is by
cankering, belittling cares and strifes
pertaining to existence on this mundane
sphere, to have real "find?" Not a
| gold mine, as would quicken the
| pulses of the avaricious heart, nor an
opportunity" as would attract the ac-
| lively energetic, but find" that cheers
while it charms the bibliomaniac, for
there are many along the dusty, broad
road called life. This find" which has
the power to cheer even the callous heart,
is a little book by a hitherto unknown
writer to me, Anna Fullers-and is "A
Literary Courtship Under the Auspices
of Pixies Peak
In this dainty little book one will find
originality and novel IDEAS and to be
thoroughly enjoyed the reader should
snatch awhile from busting cares, and
in solitary secluson read 1t at one sit
ting. 1t is all so delicately, gracefully
and smoothly written and the pointed
flashes of wit recur with such natural
ness and brilliancy that the reader soon
becomes interested, then charmed, then
smilingly happy. AS to the novel con-
ception of the line of action, 1t may be
permissible to say this much that John
Brunt,' by the pers .stent adherence to
one inherent characteristic, obstinate
and unyieldng though it be, opens the
way for a charming little recital, with
maiden as love as the central points. 1t
was this Mr.. Brunt, when attending the
| ''pow-wow'' mot political, thought had
| an uncomfortable habit of not being able
| to yield in any argument, no matter how
we'll sustained or logical the points Of
| his adversary. One day in deep and
| earnest discussion the position was taken
| by one "pow-wow" member that women
| assumed the masculine nom de plume
| In so many cases because 1t was advanta-
| geous and more apt to sell the book than
with feminine appellation. As usual,
| John Brunt took the offensive, and with
| Characteristic pertinacity assumed that
| a good book would sell and receive. ap-
| plause and favor regardless of the au-
| thors sex; in fact, he averred, a femi-
| nine appellation was an advantage.
| John Brunt was an author with repu-
| tation well established. After this dis
| pute six months passed by when the fol-
| lowing incident took place:
"'Hello, Jack said I.
"'Hullo, Dick said he with a pleased
sort of grin. You're just the fellow I
was wanting to see.'
Now II there is anything that makes
| man feel good 1t Is that kind of well
| come. So different from the way a
woman sticks out her hand and says
very happy 10 see you MI DlchSOH.
Not that that is such'a bad thing to hear
either, only you know they will say it
| just the same, whether they mean 1t or
not"
Then John Brunt tells Dick he has
written a novel, by which he proposes to
| sustain the position he took six months
| before in the dispute.
Have you chosen your nom de
| plume?'
"'Yes, just about I am going to use
| woman's name
"'You don't say so! and what is the
| name?' e-'
"'Well, / have had several in mind.
| should like to know what you think Of
| (here he fixed me with his eye, as though
he had been taking aim and said, with a
| lingering emphasis) '"Lllian Leslie
| Lamb
Il still kept my countenance, though
| with difficulty. There sat John, great
| strappling fellow, with his sunburnt
| face and sandy moustache, his strong,
| pronounced features and keen eyes, the
| typical camper-out and clubman, and in
| his great deep bass voice he was propos-
| ing to call himself Lillian Leslie Lamb!
| He meanwhile did not seem to see the
| humor."
Well. this was the coup de maitre, the
| book was published with Lillian Leslie
| Lamb attached and soon became a tear
| ing success. Now, are you yankee for
/
| next?
Col William Henry Savage, when he
wrote my Official Wife," made just
| claim to distinction, and in the literary
| armament blazes with a splendor, at least
| in the dazzling cover of his books, unri-
| vailed save by his fellow luminary, Mr..
| Archibald Clavering Gunter Some folks
say Mr.. Savage has learned to be very
wicked since he wrote MY Official Wife,"
| His Cuban Sweetheart" late novel. in
| which Mr.. Savage collaborates with Mrs.
| A. c. Gunter, the wife of the famous au-
| thor of rMr. Potter" and "Mr. Barnes"
His cuban Sweetheart Is a~romance
| of the oId2fashioned sort, which manages
| very agreeably to catch the readers at
| tention at the first and hold 1t SPELL
| bound all The way through. There is the
"mysteriously buried treasure" which
| never fails to do its share In claiming a
| responsive interest, and the old-tlme viii
| lain Is present in the form of priest
! full of guile and deceit but whose wicked
| intents and designs our plucky and in
| genious young heroes have no trouble at
| all in overriding and exposing, and,
| eventually Observation-Disclosures and
| crushed-Aback to his Cuban home. The
story, however, Is very pleasantly told
| and written, and no doubt will find many
| appreciative readers. PAUL PRY.
Lucas mixed paints, all shades. guaran.
! eed-Mayberry-Watson
Miss Lula Cheshire of the
| Trodo Pa1a1a after an 9b9arI ne