The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-24
SOME NE w BOOKS

BY PAU | PRY.

fortified castle and an italian palace,
crescent on those parts of the house that
were built by Henry the Second; and
sketched the history of the place, talk
ing about Marshal SAKE, Stanistaurs of
Poland. the Revolution OF 1892. and SUBJ
sequent tenancy of Berthier. l can tell
YOU that when once I was started, the
absinthe-driver was bowled over. l
simply sprawled all over Chambord.
talked for once as well as l knew how,
directed all my remarks to Miss Ran
dolph, who-'though | say 1t as shouldn't
seemed dazzled by my fireworks. Any
how the F'renehman was done for, mad
Miss Randolph and l plunged into an
interesting talk, shunting the new ac-
quaintance upon Aunt Mary.
The touring continues to the ancient
city of Blois, where the great many
Widowed famous chateau springs aloft
from its huge foundation, the old home
of the kings of France. - 1 suppose its
only tenanats now are ghosts said Miss
Randolph can imagine that l see
wicked Catherine de Medci CHANGING at us
from that high window near the
tower =" But Brown continued as
guide to the little party. Its sort of
object lesson in French architecture and
history, showing at least three pc
11OQSs anu WntIl Aiioo iAoHdOipA
looked upon that perfect open
staircase bewildering In its carved,
fantastic beauty. wasn't sur
prised to have her ask IL she were
dreaming 1t, or If we saw 1t too. Its
lace, stone lace she said, and so 1t is.
Il could be so good If | always had this
staircase to look att she exclaimed. 1t
didn't seem to have any effect on Cath
crime de Medcis soul, but then | suppose
when she lived here she stopped indoors.
I'm sorry / said yesterday that Francis
the First had a ridiclous nose. A man
who could build this had a right to
have anything he liked, or do any
thing he liked =
This chateau country of the Loire Is
one of the most interesting spots on
earth, centering as 1t did, the old Court
life of France.
Then on the Amboise and chenouceaux
when lonely May Stuart went singing
through the rooms and gardens and knew
there the happiest days that she was
ever to know. At Tours, our young
American heroine learned to appreciate
Balzac on his mature heath" as she
never had before and was tempted to
name her car "Balzac,'' because it, too.
was a violent and complicated genius. !"
A little incident occurred at the fas-
cinating little hotel in Tours. Miss Ran
dolph wished to order champagne to
drink to the health of the new car, but
decided that champaign sounded rather
dissipated for two lone females, she COM
promised on "Vouvray."
ut was too ridiciously cheap, but it
had a delicious flavor and Aunt Mary
and I. being merely females, agreed that
it was more delicate than any champagne
we had ever tasted. We drank your
health and the cars, and tlen | had a
sudden inspiration To the lightning
Conductor said I, raising my glass.
What lightning conductor? And what
do you mean?" inquired Aunt Mary.
The one and only Lightning Con-
duetor-Brown,' l explained. l have just
thought as a good name for him, now
that he has chance to spin us across
the world at such a pace with new
car
From Touraine, with its world of men,
cries, the trio is carried across a cor
ner of Spain to Marseilles, thence over
the world-famous Upper Carniche road
past Monte Carlo and on to "Blossoming
Italy, One of the most interesting
parts of the journey is the trip down into
Sicily. 1--WE gazed out over the tum-
bled mountains of Sicily. Suddenly a
shaft of sunlight broke through the
tiOuuS ana ueSceHueu 10 edIln ike u BOl-
den ladder. The white mists coiling
round us disappeared; the clouds
floated away before. a breath of
balmy wind, and the landscape
lay bright and clear at our feet.
Then OH what is that?' exclaimed
Miss Randolph. I followed the glance
of her eyes and far away there was
great white floating cone Of pearl
soaring up into the sky. Yes. it was
Etna We turned aside to the ancient
Greek stronghold of Fort Euryelus, you
who know your Thueydides better than l
do, are probably well up in all the thrill
ling events which took place years be-
fore Christ: but the Goddess depended
largely upon my lips for bread-crumbs
of knowledge. From a tower of piled
stones l pointed away towards Etna.
with Taormina at its feet and said, there
there lies the beauty-spot of Sicily.
Thus / got in my entering wedge"
The book is written by C. N. and A.
NJ. Williamson, and is in the form of
letters. Miss Randolph writes to her
father In America and Brown to a chum
in England. In this way there is a re-
freshing and delightful variety in the
style, although the unity is perfectly pre-
served throughout. There is a light
graceful, yet accurate mention made of
some places while a very satisfactory
fitness to others. Throughout the text
is spirited and is characterized by many
bon mots and vivacans, epigramatic lit
tie thoughts, as well as humorous incl
dents which make the story thoroughly
fascinating.