The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-28

M Birmingham has written charm
 Ing little beck, which has Just been published by L. c, Page < Co.,, nes- ton, Mrs, Woodruff calls her book "rho Little Ghsistmaa shoe" lt Ia aetiatleally Illustrated by plantha W. Horne. and while beautiful story fos children, it eannot fail to interest older readers.
 The story Is laid ln Switzerland, and opens in Geneva In a quaint little shoe shop in the Rue du Rhone. The author brings together a young lad of the peas ant class, Marcel Le Bois and Marguerite. the little daughter of the Count of Beau mont upon whose estate the father or Marcel Is voodcutter. Marcel has inher- tied health and strength. and is able to climb to the topmost peaks of the Alps He wears homespun trousers and oiue cotton blouses, and little wooden shoes sabots as they are called. Marguerite IS a cripple. She wears the richest of little frocks and little white shoes.
 T win tell you something, Marcel said Margarurite, your shoes can help you do so many things, but mine will always have to be still, for you know have never walked"
 The French children put one of their shoes at the fireside Instead of hanging a stocking on Christmas Eve, and Mar gurite has one of her white shoes filled with bonbons from Marcel and this is the beginning of their friendship
 Marcers heart is full of pity for his lit tie afflicted friend and he longs to be able to help her to walk. This desire be- comes so great that Marcel confesses to his mother his ambition to become sur geon and later he is sent to Vienna and his ambition is gratifed. His early ac- uuaintance with the distinguished Dr. Reviliou and other incidents that shape his career are told with simplicity and charm.
 The closing chapter Is laid years later and the peasant lad has become the most celebrated surgeon In Europe. It is Christmas Eve again and gathered about the fireside are his wife and their children and grandchildren. Marcel Is telis'g story of Christmas long ago when he found a little white shoe upon the hearth, the shoe that belonged to Margurite, now the wife of the great surgeon, whose skill had enabled her to walk.
 The story of Marcel and Marguerite will appeal at once to all children. It is refreshing in it's purity as the Alpine breezes blowing about the Swiss high ways. and throughout it's pages are taught beautiful lessons of gentleness, patience. unselhshness. kindness. and love. It Is a little book with mission beyond that of the usual run of stories for children. and gives the author dis tinctiye place among writers of childrens books.
 Mrs. Woodruff has lived in Geneva, and Is, therefore, able to describe with accuracy the scenes of which she writes. While this is her first book she is by no means unknown in the literary world. She has written several delightful stories which have appeared in the leading mag azines and she has been frequent con tributor to various newspapers. An ar ticle from her pen on the Outlines of Masonry's published a few years ago at tracted wide attention.
 Before her marriage Mrs, Woodruff was Miss Jane Porter Scott of Louisville. Ky, the daughter of Dr. Preston B. Scott She is a member of the Authors club of Louisville, which includes so many women notable in American liter ature There Is Mrs. Evelyn Sneed Bar nett who is president of the club; Eva Madden, whose newspaper work and books have made her widely known; Mrs. George Madden Martin, whose story, "Ermy Lou; Her Heart and Life" ap- peared serially in McClure's and was published in book form; Mary Leonard, Margaret Steele Ander- son. whose poems and sonnets have ap- peared all over the country; Mrs. John Vandercook, who is now residing in Lon don; Margaret Womack, Annie Fellows Johnston, Sallie Marshall Hardy. who is a sister of Mrs. J. Bruce Morson of Birmingham; Alice Maggan Rice, the author of Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch;" Ann Crawford Flexner, who is one of the cleverest of women dramat- ists Mrs. Flexner has written the dra- matlzed version of Mrs. Wiggs," which will be presented this season, and she created the wonderfully dramatic pos abilities for Minnie Maddern Fiske Tn 4tA Ig.l.