The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-24

Henry Worthington Idealist'-By Mar
garet Sherwood.
The many readers who have enjoyed Miss
Sherwood's former books, IAN Experiment
in A1truism," and-"A Puritan Bohemian"
will eagerly welcome this new book from
her pen. Henry Worthngton' Is of wider
scope and of more complex interest than
any of her previous productions. The young
hero is a graduate of a foreign university
and newly-made assistant professor of eco
monies in a notable American university.
His ideals and aspirations lead him, in his
economic work, to investigate the workings
of mammoth department store in his ma
tive town. His earnest investigation led
him to the conclusion that this huge con-
Germ was managed like machinery, with
utter disregard for many human beings
who contributed to its success; from the
half-starved, poorly paid women and chill
dren in the Sweater shops" on to the cash
girls who worked for a dollar a week. to
the clerks who worked for 50. So and 81 a
week. He found, too, that they not only
worked for starvation wages, but the poor,
frail girls were fined for every little misde-
meanor, and that, although the law COM
PEELED the stores to provide chairs for the
women clerks, they We're fined If they sat
nm them All these points and many more
such as the cost of living, ETC.. were inyes-
tiSated by the young economist. However,
all this was we'll enough; but, it so happen
ed that this particular establishment was
mot owned by the superintendent whose
name was over its doors, but was the sole
property of a wealthy citizen named Cor
don. This Mr.. Gordon had an only daugh-
tetr who happened, likewise, to be inter-
ested in economic questions, and who Sc
cretly left her palatial home to be a clerk
In her fathers department store at $500 a
week, simply to pursue her investigations.
Just here the author gives most ludicroqls
Though perfectly truthful account of Bar
gain Day." when coarse embroidered
handkerchiefs were advertised at ten
cents, novelties in neckwear, at twenty
mine, smoking jackets today only at nine
ty-eight, and at the book counter The Bo-
hemian Briar Bush for five cents 'Reye-
ries of Bachelor for twelve, and a vol
ume of selections from Byron, through a
mistake of the buyer in this department
was conspicuously displayed as Don
Juan's works at nineteen cents" Of the
scene that followed Miss Sherwood says:
"All day crowds of women poured in at
each door, fought for precedence at coun-
tiers where half hours hard elbowng re-
suited in saving two cents on a purchas
bonnets were twisted, facings torn from
skirts, a woman who had bought plaster
cupid in the art department dropped it on
the floor and angrily listened as the heels
OF her fellow customers crushed it to
atoms. The owner picked up one plump
arm, carried 1t home and afterwards dis
played it, glued to bit of blue plush 1T
cost only seventy-nine cents she always
remarked with pride. The usual price is
one-forty -niner"
The trouble began for the young profess
scr economist when his ideals led him to
denounce in his class money made in this
way.
There is a love story which runs through
the book and gives it vital, human interest
Aside from the fact that the book is an in
teresting study on economic lines and a Sc
rious problem that confronts civilization
today-that of the condition of underpad
women clerks, the book is we'll written and
is an interesting piece of fiction. The au-
thor is evidently very much in earnest and
this sincerity gives the story great persua-
siveness
1.-THE Other Fellow'-By r. Hopkinson
Smith.
No writer in the south is more read and
revered than Mr.. f. Hopkinson Smith, and
the announcement of any new work from
his pen is always of interest. Although
Mr. Smith devotes a large portion of his
time to his business. which is practical
enough, he also finds time to spent his
summers abroad in Holland and in Venice