The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-21

THE Northerner." by Norah Davis, Pub
llshed by The Century Co.. 1905.
sarhe Northefner'' is the first published
book by Miss Norah Davis, and is of
special interest to people in this city
from the fact that Miss Davis made her
home here for some years. She was at
tached to the federal court for the north
ern district of Alabama, in the position
of slerk. stationed here in Birmingham.
And as the author quantity expresses 1t,
ut was in the courts of course, that
I met my book" One of the strongest
seathres of Miss Davis story is her ex-
cepuonally clever work. descriptive of
the lawyer and questions of law and the
courts.
THE Northerner'' Is a strong cogent
piece of work; ably conceived and evolved
and most charmingly written. The author
has written previous stories and articles
which have appeared in different maya
zines, but when 1t is considered that this
Is her first published book, Miss Davis
Is to be congratulated upon the unmls-
taxable talent that Is evident. In the
opening chapter she introduces the reader
20 a moonlight scene in Dixie, sweetened
by the scent of June roses and where we
play such a prominent part in the sue
ceeding events of the story. The hero
is g. northern capitalist who purchases
a street railway and lighting plant in a
small Alabama town. Following is
chapter from life as Miss Davis sees 1t.
The canvass is a broad and the
strokes are mastery and strong, and
without any suggestion of uncertainty
on hesitancy.
Labor problems arise. the color ques-
ton plays an unduly prominent part, and
sectional prejudice is used to an unWar-
rantable degree in securing the author
desired climax. Mob violence, lunehing
and strikes are handled in a clever and
dramatic way by the author and the hu-
man element, the double love stories are
sweet and tender and beautiful
But Miss Davis has taken the point OF
view of the southerner and distorted 1t
On an understandable manner to serve the
purposes of her story. The southern
reader recognizes at once the perverslon
of his dearest traditions and native SEN
Hments, and the undue and unwarranted
emphasis which is laid upon southern
pretIdice while one cannot but deplore
the unjustness in offering such picture
to the northern readers. Falls in made to
appear like a great big baby; though the
intention Is that he shall only appear
as a martyr. II Falls Is depicted TO
prove to the northern capitalist tnat
when he comes south lie HeeuS SOlhOeiAh6
else besides money, he has not been
drawn in vain. He proves conclus1Vely,
even to the most casual reader that
ne needed tact, business sagacity and
certain amount of understanding OF the
demands of ones environment Wherever
that may be.
The use of the incident of Rose as it
affected the love affairs of Falls and Hugh
is unworthy of Miss Davis.
We want clever strong work, descr1p-
tive of southern life and conditions, true
and unequivocable; but perverted and
untrue conditions and problems are I'M
profitable.
1.-THE Awakening" by c. Wickliffe Yulee,
The Neale Publishing Co., 1905.
In the word 1.-The Awakening Mr..
Yulee has given a story of Washington
life that is above the average and Is
exceedingly readable and entertaining. IN
the last chapter the author says:
"Thus the only palpable result of Mon
tresor's seven months residence in WASH
angton was securing beautiful and
charming American wife-a very. common
place achievement. But, unknown 10 ms
friends great deal more had happened.
All of which is entertaining and most In
herestingly described by the author MT
Yulee is evidently thoroughly familiar
with Washngton-the city, its types, us
institutions; and his point of view OF dts
social life IN the eighties VI "AAO AAAAAS7
teenth century is diverting.
,rbe character work is especially clever
and good, while the conversations are ex-
ceptionally spirited and original. the
vivid pictures of almost every Phase OF
life at the capitalize smart set drawing
room the Hobbies, the Senate cnaihper'
with contrasting scenes in the manor
houses of old Maryland give the narrative
snovement and charm. After all 1t Is
dove story. and in the words of the au-
thor .let me confess that all have writ
ten is Montressor married a wife. Is IL
not enough.
Altogether 1.-THE Awakening is an ex-
EXCEPTIONALLY good story, smoothly and even
Nv told, crisp and dashing in style with
Ingenuity and originality in thought and
Incident that is most acceptable
1.-THE Black Spaniel" by Robert Hichens.
Frederick A. Stokes Co., 1906
Robert Hichens has chosen unusual
themes and unique fields for his literary
endeavors. thereby achieving in his work
exceptional results.
In 1.-The Garden of Allah" as we'll as
mis- latest work, 1.-The Black Spaniel the
author by these means forces his con-
centions into the consciousness again and
again. and almost surrounds the reader
with his own atmosphere.
Few English authors have caught the
wttchery of the east and presented 1T in
such palpitaung beauty ana reaHty as
Mr. Hichens In 1.-The Garden of Allah
he caught the spirit of the Sahara and
wrote a remarkable story, full of poetry
and beauty; pulsing with human life and
passion. In THE Black Spaniel he has
taken a religious theme of the far east
and has woven it into the noof of an Eng
fish story and made dt seem very real,
natural and plausible. His basic point
As the use of the Iindoo belief that the
SOU of a man who has lived an unworthy
life at death enters into an animal and
must work upward. Upon this he builds
a very curious psychological superstruc-
ture that is most remarkable. 1t oanles
the reader but compels and holds the at
tention to the last word, even against the
will. And so subtle is his theory that
the reader finds himself unconsciously en-
PERTAINING and weighing his postulates.
His theory that the English DOCTOR be-
cause of his excessive sympathy In MS