The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-04-10
SOME NEW BOOKS.

BY PAUL PRY.

all the woes of human pickering, but the
peaceful end closes the varied scenes like
calm benediction.
by the Fireside," by Charles Wagner:
Mcclure, Phillips &, Co.
Here is a little volume that will delight
the appreclative reader. As its name i'm
plies it Is not concerned with the strenu-
Gus acts of the outside world-its mad en-
deavors and oftimes vain purposes. 1t
presents rather a cheerful philosophy cf
l'fe which, emanating from the hearts
around the quiet fireside, seeks to show
itself in a life of inspiration and good
will 1t is a &c spell of mutual love and
jaded fancy with exciting Incidents and
impossible human action: but 1t will in
spire and renew the inner man with gen.
tie suggestions of the best way to live
and how to obtain the greatest happiness
In life. 1t may not teach the reader any.
thing new but so many careless strivers n
this work-a-day world need just such In
spring and helpful words-immortal COM
monplaces, the author says, among which
We need to refresh ourselves as in a
fountain Of youth. The volume is divided
into a dozen or more chapters upon as
many subjects. The greatest lesson posi-
bic TO be learned Is contentment. seconded
by loving service, and who will deny thst
it is a lesson needed by the multitudes?
Under the title "The Roof-Tree' the
author writes: First we must aim for n
minimum of change, become less and less
birds of passage, not leaving for trivial
reasons a dwelling which has become a
part of our life, and to which the first
Impressions of our children are perhaps
attached There are two divorces that
are doing our society to death, mans di-
vorce from the soil and his divorce from
the home"
1.-THE family spirit" the author says,
destroys neither the value nor the force
Of individuality but it teaches the indi-
yidual that he is member Of a whole,
and makes him incapable of living as
though he were alone or absolutely
separate from those about him. Through
the family spirit we learn that others are
somewhat part of ourselves, man
touches man, Let egoist become a
father, for example: he experiences an
inconcevable surprise. God gives this
lesson to man, that egoist by nature, and
He gives it to him in the family, that
later he may profit from it in society"
The author has many suggestive
thoughts in his chapter 1.-TWO make
One" One thought alone can be quoted !:
mo, the accord of two wills Is neither
easy nor swift 1t is not bestowed with
groom's gift. 1t must be acquired and
conquered, like everything of real worth
Like artistic faculty and moral strength
1t demands constant cultivation, and even
those who once attain it may gradually
lose it from lack Of care"
There are so many pages well worth
while" but the chapter on Good Humour
at Home" is especially apropos He says
Have you ever observed that good hui
mour Is frequently commodity Of export
and that when 1t has been distributed
abroad none Is left for domestic con-
sumption? That there are people with II
wide reputation for it, who carry relief,
relaxation and cheerfuness wherever
they go, who nevertheless fulfil no such
mission in their homes" And again, II
would put good humor in the ranks of the
virtues, II I did not call 1t rather a bou-
quet of virtues for there are days when
to be good humoured requires nothing less
than entire trust in God and great love
for man. with energy. promptitude and a
little fine malice to boot"
The April Scribner's contains timely