The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-15
Per.onnI and Pcrtiuent.

 | the value of what is nearest to us. I had to come to New York to learn the value of lsweet-gum-tree. The sweet l gum tree it seems grows neither North nor West, only South. It is one of the few woods that we Southern peo- pie think worth nothing, good only for cutting down and leaving to rot as Icumbering the ground.
 It was good only to exude sweet gum for children to hunt, find and chew. It was good only to dye the l winter woods with most gorgeous blots of red and gold and deep purple leaf masses.
 l with those beautifully formed sweet gum balls that illustrators have taken F up of late to make into artistic "tail piecesT for Southern stories.
 Now I learn that Is most valued wood for the carvers. In the techni- cal departments of Columbia college no wood Is more valued for making the book racks, the pen-trays, the letter | files that the wood carving students make No wood takes a more satiny gloss, no wood carves more satisfac-- torily, the carvers of these artistic things say:s Tt slices off like cheese" Don't waste @sweet-gum trees. but just learn where this good wood is needed.
 When remember the old gardens of the South wherS-pomegranatesg grow I am forced to wonder why some ambi- | tious fruit grower has not planted sev- eral acres of pomegranates. No fruit | is more easily cultivated. The bushes sprout up into hundreds of switches any one of which will make a tree and bear fruit the second season. The fruit sells at ten cents each in New York, They are shipped from Spain. They are plucked very green and never ripen. They are as different as possi- ble from those luscious red-seed, gapinS ones that swing in August sunshine down in our Alabama. It is & fruit which can be plucked ripe in our gar dens and reach the Eastern and west ern markets in good condition. It Is fruit that needs no culture. It is attacked by no sort of blight nor in sect. It is the healthiest and hardest growth of the South.
 Let's ship pomegranates.
 FIammariOn's ssThunder and Lightning
 Camille Flammarion, the celebrated French astronomer. has been collect ing data regarding the havoc wrought by lightning, and from this valuaple information he has written book or striking and popular interest which will be published in this country under the title Thunder and Lightning, The chapter headings are: The Victims of Lightning; Atmospheric Electricity and Storm Clouds: The Flash and the Sound; Fireballs; The Effects Of Light ming on Mankind; The Effect Of Light ming on Animals! Trees and Plants Metals. Objects, Houses, etc. Light ming Conductors; Pictures made by Lightning.
 
 Lafayette McLaws' new novel, Maid of Athens" with Lord Byron for the hero. just published. was really writ ten it is authoritatively asserted long before any of the recent Byron noVels were published This young Southerh author planned her latest book snort ly after her two previous novels, When the Land Was Young. and "Jezebel," were issued.
 Little. Brown and Company announce third edition of Judge Walter C; Moves, American Raiload Ra ies; which the Nation terms the best pal anced book on the subject that the present controversy has evoked.
 second edition of Anna Chapln Rays New Quebec romance. Hearts and Creeds," is announced, while the Canadian edition will bear the imprint Of the Montreal News Company Mss Ray has succeeded admirably in relat- ing the consequences of the marriage of a Protestant girl to Roman Cath ollie without giving offense to anyone.
 Arthur Stringer has taken a new and unhackneyed theme for his new novel, 'The. Wire Tappers." The hero, an elec- trical inventor. and the heroine, a beautiful English girl by sheer force Of circumstances become associated with a man who attempts by wlre-tap- ping to beat the pool room. The events which follow are vividIy upfolded by , MS- ~trAnSAr, who is one of the most