Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-20

yer Question:" by Hon. William Jennings
Bryan, and Reform of the Currency"
by the presidents of the Indianapolis
board of trade and the chambers of COM
nerce of New Orleans and San Fyan-
cisco.
Features of the January number of
Harpers will be: Portuguese Progress
In South Africa" by Poultney Bigelow;
an installment of 1.-The Martian," by
gle for the Franchise" by Prof. Francis
N. Thorpe; Fog Possibilities" by Alex
ander McAdie; Science at the Beginning
OF the Century" by DR.. Henry Smith
Williams; Literary Landmarks of
Rome by Laurence Hutton; English
Society" by George w. Smalley; John
Murrell and His Clan" by Martha Nc
Culloch- Williams; Indian Giver," q farce
by W. D. Howells; "One Good Time"
tale of rural New England; "a Prize
Fund Beneficiary" by &c. A. Alexander;
and I'm the Watches of the Night" by
Brander Matthews.
Dear old James Whitcomb Riley's last
book of poems, "a Child World" comes
out from the Bowers Merrill company,
just in time to be used as token of
lore at Christmas-t tide, to those who are
especially fond of the tender pathos OF
his writings. This new volume is just
as full of heart-throbs as the verses that,
since childhood have made his name such
beloved one. 1t is with true heartiness
that we welcome its publication, and
wish for it all the success it so thorough
ly deserves, and which we feel sure, it
will gain.
Smith g. Montgomery, as usual, take
the lead in Christmas novelties. This
year they have a magnificent line OF new
calendars in all the latest designs, from
Frederick A. Stokes Publishing company.
The World of Cycling" gives glimpses
of The Girl and Her Wheel as she
appears in all countries from the swell
New Yorker to the Scotch lassie in her
plaids. There are handsome ones of
chrysanthemums and violets, faosimiles
of water color designs by Paul de Long
pee and Henrietta d. La Praik, as well
as the sweet child faces by Frances
Brundage. 1t is a treat to visit their
counters, where one always feels sure
of finding the daintiest OF gifts to be sent
as bright Christmas greetings to friends
both far and near
'"rhe Quilting Bee and Other Rhymes'
by John Langdon Heaton has lust been
received from the Stokes Publishing com
pany, by Smith & Montgomery.
Although this is Mr. Heaton's first
volume of poems, it is already receiving q
great deal of attention and arousing
much interest, so much so that the first
edition has been unusually large on ac-
count of the numerous advance orders
received for it. The first section of the
book is devoted to "home spun verses"
the scenes and incidents of which he is
fully familiar with, being country boy
from the Adirondacks regions.
Next he favors us with verses of city
life, under the head of 'Voices of Goth
am" Later he adds poems of love, then
comes ballads. and finally real gems OF
pretty childhood lyrics.
With such variety OF style his books
cannot fail to be popular with recitation
lists, who are ever eager for new recita-
tons.
1.-The Earth. and It's Story, a First Book
of Geology" by Angelo Heilprin, pub
lished by Silver, Burdette & Co. of Bos-
ton, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia
as an elementary text book on geology
by a geological who is acknowledged as
a high authority in the science, is unique
and perfect of its kind. II treats Of all
the general facts of geology without be-
ing too technical or analytical. A be-
ginner can understand it, and nothing is
omitted which is vitality essential to
complete popular treatise. The student
learns how mountains are formed by
foldings, overturning, breaking, and other
upheavals.
The interior of the earth is disclosed
with its volcanic operations; coral islands