The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-12

dimples In the snow is the creature that
made them; each one IS fresher than the
last, and 1t Is only a question of time for
me to come up with their maker"
After long and wearying pursuits and
cold, bleak days and nights spent In tho
depths of the forest alone Jan remained
true to his desires and never thought of
falling by the waysde so long as a track
or TRAIL however uncertain, spurred him
on to ultimate success. Often with wary,
careful step he came within sight Of them.
"How they did seem to look with their
great earsi How they spell-bound him by
the soft gaze that he felt rather than saw!
1t was bewilderng to see the wonderful eff
fortress way in which, by tiny toe-touch,
they would rise six or eight feet In the
air He would watch them until they be
gan to run away. Jan stood intensely gaz-
ing until they were out of sight, and 1t new
er once occurred to him to shoot" But a
quotation cannot serve the purpose, the
text must be read in it's entirety for 1t Is so
perfect a whole. It is one continued fascd-
mating record of long searches, usually I'M
successful, and of perfect days and nights
spent in the woods. Such a woodsy breezy
book could have been written by no other
than a man perfectly familiar with the life
he depicts. Mr.. Thompson not only knows
this wild life perfectly, but what is much
more uncommon he loves 1t in all it's
to his readers some portion of Its joy and
its simple charm.
"Active Service" by Stephen Crane.
Frederick A. Stokes Co.; for sale by Smith
& Montgomery.
Stephen Crane first gained the public ear
by his verses which were pronounced by
some of the knowing ones as vigorous,
original and full of promise In conse-
quence he was taken up by several of the
maturer literary people, who were sure of
their own positions, and given a good OPP
portunity to make a name for himself. Mr..
Crane can never complain that fate has
not been kind to him for few young writers
have been more 1eniently and encouraging
ly dealt with. In 1.-The Red Badge of
Courage" Mr.. Crane gave the strongest pos
sfble evidence that this confidence had not
been misplaced; 1t was an unusually strong
work in many respects. In one or
two of his other stories he has not
been so successful. Then he published
another book of poems, WAR Is Kind
which has received in many instances en-
thusiastic praise. As the verses were orig
inal, stricking and full of the individuality
of the young author they likewise were
given a most unique setting. For the book
Is a wonderful example of artistic printing
and binding. VIII Bradley seems to have
given his artistic fancy full sway and the
result is volume bound in gray and black
Will gray, uechre-ouScu PnPo.i' "N-
specially manufactured for the edition.
Those who are interested in the collection
of unique specimens of the publishers art
will surely add this little volume-"War is
Kind"
In this state of uncertainty as to Mr..
Craine's real literary ability the public has
awaited with much eagerness and interest
the appearance of his new work upon
which we heard, from time to time he was
so busily engaged active Service" is a
novel, and longer piece of work than any
Mr.. Crane has yet undertaken. 1t is well
printed and published and no doubt will
possess a genuine interest for large class
of readers who enjoy the excitement given
in the tale of young newspaper corres-
pondent acting in the capacity of rescuer
of a party of Americans. The action OF
the story takes place in far-away Greece
during the war between that country and
Turkey We know that Mr.. Crane was