The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-26

"Colliers Self Inaexing Annual: lVo. PubAshed by P. F. Collier x son. New York.
 The comprehensive volume, entitled "Collier's Self Indexing Annual, is one or the most elaborate and useful works or the kind ever published. ]. is contem- poraneous encyclopedia and pictorial his- tory of men and event of 1. past year, as they were recorded and described by the worlds foremost specialists in every department of human progress. John It. Meader is editor in chief ana he is as- sisted by over one hunorod authoratiVe writers. Among them are found sueh names as Hon William H. laft, Secretary of War. Hon William P. Frye, United States Senator, Dr. William T. Harris, United States Commissioner Of Education, Prof. William Hallock, Columbia Univer- sity, pr. Charles A. Mac, Cornell uni- yersity, and scores of others equally well known.
 In setting forth the Plan and Scope of the work the editor writes in the prface
 'In general, the purpose of this work may be said to be the authorative pre- sentation in dlscuss.ve fashion of the con dition and progress during the past year of every department of human activity In which any considerable portion or the public Is interested This record Is illus trated by photographs of the chief actors and most striking scenes in the drama of the yeAr This m, .erial has been, as 1t were predigested for the reader, that 1t may be immediately hssimilated, and so form an available part of this working capital of information ana Ideas. It Is particularly intended that the world workers-the journalist, the professional man. the farmer, the mechanie-shfll ma 1t an indispensable tool of trade
 Almost every conceivable subject 1t would seem. Is treated in the completest manner and while it is essentially re- ference book, and handy one in that 1t is completely indexed, yet 1t forms an in- teresting volume for the careful reader who would be thoroughly informed upon all subjects All of the articles arc most Interestingly written and it Is a DOCK that will prove of incalculable profit and pleasure in every hone.
 La Belle Paysanne," from the French of Madame Charles Reyband Published by The Neal Publishing company,
 Although La Belle Paysanne' is trans lated from the rench it nevertheless re- tains the quaintness and delicacy or style which must have marked the orl- ginal. It is an odd story. entirely out of the ordinary and full of human passion and fervor after the first few introduce tory pages are past And while it has to do with human error and sorrow and de- picts the deepest ard :nJs- impetuous emotions of the human heart, yet the readers Intense sympathy is subdued by the quiet dignity and manner Of reclt- all The scene is laid in Province In q i little domain, so to speak secreted In q fold of the Alps, on the southern slope or that chain of mountains which gradually descends to the mouth of the Var. The time is just after the Revolution. while there is still felt an ominons silence and depression La DeAe Paysai.ne' is the beautiful daughter of the .;aron de Male peire known to her friends as Madem- oiselle de Malepeire. Upon the gaining or the sobiquet of 'The Beautifu. Peasant hangs the sad story of love and sorrow.
 Narratives of the Career of Hernando De Soto" Edited with introduction and notes by Edward Gaylord Bourne. Pub lished by A. s. Barnes company.
 In this new history of tho fir explorer of the south the publishers announce that this Is the first time that the wonderful story of De Soto's career has been pre- sented in full from the originaI narratives. "In addition to the classic histories of the gentleman of Elvas and De Biedma, which have not been accessibla to general readers in sepaGs form, this volume contains the indispensable narratives of Rajel, De Soto's secretary, which Is now translated for the flrst time for this vol ume by Professor Bourne of Yale uni- yersty. It is contemporary day by day record of singular importance
 Miss Civilazation" by Richard Hard ing Davis. Charles Scribner's Sons.
 Richard Harding Davis little comedy in one act entit,ed Mi civilization has just been issued from the press. II appears in very dainty covers of brown with a wash drawln.. of Ms Gardner, the heroine. The comedy is founded on a story by the late James Harvey Smith, and it is especially adapted for presenta- tion by amateurs. It is very clever lit- tie comedy giving in and enter taining way Miss Miss Gar,lner's ex- perience with three burglars. t is bright, witty and spirited with plot that is in- genuous although exceeding ly simple. Ainslee,s for March contains the second installment of David Graham Phillips Wall street serial, '"rhe Deluge." The wonderfully vigorous and graphic picture which was promised by the opening chap ters seems to be in a fair way of being realized, if we may judge by the con- tinuation Of the narrative in the chap ters published m tho March number. II is unquestionably the best work that MT Phillips has yet done in .he spcrsal field of commercial fiction. ye may use such phrase, and it is altogether likely that it will confirm him in the .endency he has hitherto shown toward this class of novels.
 l.. c. Page & Co. are Is. uing the second book of prose essays by Bliss Carmen
 author of "The Kinship of Nature, '' "sappho," Pipes of Pan, etc. The new book is entitled "The Friendship of Art. ' Readers, whose only acquaintance with Rider Haggard is through .iis remarkable story She" vii. be surprised to learn that he has written two fat volumes or social problems entitled 'Rur-l England and "The Farmers Year." On account