The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-12
REALN OF BOOKS
BY PAUL PRY.

things of sentiment. All Americans-even New Yorkers-should thoroughly enjoy adding this captivating "Colonep' to their list of literary acquaintances.
 ''The Spirit of Christmas" by Henry Van
 Dyke. Published by Charles Scribners s
 Sons.
 "The Spirit of Christmas'' is the title of little volume made up of some half dozen stories upon the same theme Christmas, though treated from different points of view. Everything that Henry Van Dyke writes is chaste and beautiful and all that could be desired from lit- erary point of view. And from the char acter of Dr. Van Dykes previous work it would not seem that any comment could possibly be made upon It's thought from religious point of view. And yet. surely 1t must be admitted that in the present little volume the first story, en- titled "A Dream Story-the Christmas Angel" too strongly emphasizes the ma teria1 at the expense of the spiritual. Heaven is a condition and the thought of materiality expressed in the discus- sons of evil and unrighteousness and anger and war should have no conceiva- ble place therein. It Is such erring hu- man thoughts. the more subtle being clothed in beautiful literary style and dic- tion, that tinge our spiritual conception of such things and leave an erroneous impression that the Sacred Word does not confirm.
 and Christmas-Living" and Christmas Prayers''. are beautiful in thought and sentiment. In conclusion to short Christmas sermon the author writes: Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world-stronger than hate, stronger than evil. stronger than death-and that the blessed life which began In Bethlehem nineteen hun dred years ago is the image and bright ness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas. And if you can keep it for day, why not always? But you can never keep 1t alone"
 'Auto-Suggestion-W It Is and How
 to Use It for Health, Happiness and
 Success" by Herbert A. Parkyn, M D. X c. M. Published by Suggestion Pub
 fishing Co. Chicago; cloth and gold, 75
 cents.
 gestion," the publishers make the follow Ing outline of its salient points:
 This book Is a practical attempt to show how the mind may be directly in- fuenced by auto-suggestions or self-sug- BestioHS, Io DflHS aDOut cOnd1I10nS Wn1cn produce health, happiness and success It teaches that man has inherent powers which If understood and rightly used will solve practically all the questions of life.
 Directions are given for the forma ton of correct habits of thought, manner and conduct; positive instructions are given for improving the memory; for strength ening the will, for increasing those fac ultes on which success depends; courage, n a atra tion, faith, etc.
 The question of health is fully treated and directions are given regarding the physical wants of the body; the subject of personal magnetism" is not myste- rious occult something, but quality of mind and manner which can be cultivated by all. The author gives his explanation of how cures are wrought by various cir cles and religious sects, shrnes, relics, etc.; there is chapter which deals with the question of making realities of desir- able mental pictures; or how psychic i'm ages may be made to take tangible form. The key note of the book is found in these expressions:
 Thought tends to take form in action" and "as man thinketh in his heart, so is he.'
 "Nedra," by George Barr MeCutcheon.
 Published by Dodd Mead x company.
 In this new story, "Nedra," just from the press, George Barr McCutcheon has made quite departure from his previous very popular stories, Beverly of Gran stark, etc. Readers, too, will no doubt regret the departure, since the later story is by no means up to the authors usual clever, skillful work. This may though be matter of personal prefer ehce, and at any rate "Nedra" is sure to snare largely in the popular favor ac- corded all this young writer's stories.
 Nedra, let it be explained, is an is- lahd, on which are to be found a strange and impossible race of people. and not the heroine as readers very naturally in- fer.
 MT. McCutcheon's best and cleyerest work IS his character work and in Lady Tennys" and Grace Vernon, he has added worthy ones to his previous list where Beverly holds fascinating court. Ills masculine characters are good and strong also. and Hugh Ridgewav js Inc best in the story-original, natural and resourceful-character which make him acceptable and pleasing to the reader. The plot of the story is quaint concep- ton and is dexterously carried out. al though it grows exceedingly improbable and perilously ridiculous towards the end of the story. The illustrations are by Harrison Fisher and are perfect gems. ihcS uiuoubttufy duu STedIlV 10 the per- lection of the story as whole.
 Bulletin 2s on Mexican antiquities has been. issued by Chief Holmes of the Bu- reau of American Ethnoogy. The vol ume is exhaustive and extremely valua- ble. The contents include apers on Mex lean and Central American aftiuuities calendar systems and history. Numerous charfs and illustrations add interest to the book.