The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-05

Mr.. Crawford once said, in effect, that
he was the only foreigner who ever wrote
correctly of things Roman. While this
may perhaps be a slight exaggeration, yet,
this writer undoubtedly stands pre-emi-
nent in depicting the warm implusive ma
ture of this people of the south. Mr. Craw-
ford knows thoroughly and intelligently
the people and the country to whom he has
devoted SO much of his ability and genius
as writer. So that we have grown ae-
customed to depend upon him for our
knowledge of this interesting hand; and
the greater our faith. admiration and de-
pendence the less have we been disposed
ITO listen to that large class of mediocre
writers who betray a curious inability to
understand and portray the Italian nature.
Now, however, Mr.. Crawford has a gen.
uine rival in his own chosen field in the
person of Maurice Hewlett, the young Eng
fish writer who has achieved such an en-
viable reputation as the author of Forest
Lovers" In his book, I'm Earthwork out
of Tuscany" Mr.. Hewlett gave the strong
est evidence and promise of this; now in
his most recent book, little Novels of
Italy," the author has achieved a new and
pronounced success for the book has
charm that is all it's own. The name Is
we'll chosen for although there fine
stories in the book. they can scarcely be
called short stories; they are indeed little
novels" there Is so much 1ife-so much
of the strange, impulsive, passionate Ital-
ian nature in each one. Whatever may be
Mr.. Hewlett's rightful burden of years, Ii
is in the guise of eager and joyous youth
that his spirit has seen Italy. and that the
Impressions in this volume have been set
down. As a result the book Is irresistible.
There are no mechanical words in 1t. 1t
bears evidence of being wrought with the
love that makes work vital. While he may
be fantastic here, or too intense there, and
occasionally not entirely clear, yet, his
work. as a whole, impresses the reader that
the author has felt his Italy through mind,
sense and soul and even while rejoicing
thereat has striven to make others ex-
perience the same sweet sensations.
While the stories are all excellent, per-
haps the choicest one Is "Ippolita in the
Hills" In this marvellous story, the gem
ius of the author is revealed in the full
est. He is ingenious, direct, versatile and
often brilliant He presents a picture of
Italian life for the enjoyment of the read
er that is vivid, impressive and rich in
local coloring. He draws a number of.
: characters for his scene that by a few
strokes of his versatile pen stand out clear
cut and masterful While the intrinsic
merits of style and construction are most
in evidence by their simplicity and charm
In "Ippolita," as in wanna Mr.. Hewlett
impression of his most artistic work, the
image of youth-impulsive passionate Ital-
ian youth. Here embodied in the person of
a young girl just budding into full young
omanhood-beautiful. sumptuous. frresist-
able A portrayal so strong and sweet that
the mind and heart of the reader are car
ried by storm. and Mr.. Hewlett's supre-
macy in Italian lands conceded. Just a
word must he added in regard to the beau
ty of paper and print a book so accepta-
bly, printed is ever delight.
To those who have attended the summer
school at Harvard university a recent book
by Arthur {Stanwood Pier will appeal with
peculiar interest. 1t is called 1.-THE Peda-
gogues," story of the Harvard summer
school, and gives wonderfully faithful
picture of the life described. The diversity
of people who make mp the classes to be
found in summer schools, with graphic de-
scrptons of the paucfty of their mental
requirements and their exaggerated hopes