The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-08


 of the season is the publication O by the Harpers. of new novel by Robert Hichens author of the Call of the Blood and the Garden of Allah The new novel is entitled Barbary Sheep. Like his other books, it is story of love and of passion; and again the scene Is lald in the fascinating region of the Mediter- ranean-a region which appeals to MT Kitchens insistently and irresistbly.
 Barbary Sheep is story of the Alge- rian Desert. and vividly pictures it's won der and mystery and marvellous charm. The story centres about handsome young English-woman who, with her hus- band a man of wealth. is visiting North Africa The lure of Barbary Sheep takes the husband, an ardent sportsman, away on hunting trips; and his absences make her heart gradually, and by almost lm- perceptble degrees, grow fonder Of another-a scarlet-cloaked Spahi who Is not only a son of the desert, representing all it's magic and it's mystery, but is. at the same time an officer in the French army A man of education and of knowl- edge of the world.
 He pays court to the neglected wife and thrills her with his devotion; but she would fain resist the passionate lure Of such love-making even amid such sur roundings. Tragedy looms more and more imminent love becomes more dangerous and even there are the desert and us scenes and the picturesque people. and the splendid glory of rock and sand and color; and there is the same desert under the magical moonlight when the Spah and the Englishwoman walk together and he lures her with his devotion.
 The story goes on with swift and deep ening interest and brilliant charm of style to powerful climax, in which the hus- band, a bluff. manly, single-hearted man. who from the first had been underrated bv both his wife and the Spahi. plays strong and unexpected part.
 book of much interest, which the Harpers are publishing this week. is Ad ventures of Uncle Sams Soldiers. For the most part these stories of brave deeds in army life show the kind of men who guarded our west in the days of hostile Indians Although these tales are mostly fiction, vet the fiction is usually founded upon some incident of actual occurrence, and the essential truth of history Is throughout preserved.
 The old frontier posts have now dis appeared They were centres of a life of adventure and often of silent hero ism in which women and children, as well as officers and men, bore their full share. It was a lonely life, but full of picturesque incident and thrilling exper- fences. as these pages show.
 The stories are by number Of we'll known soldier authors, such as General Charles King, Captain Chales A. Curtis, Lieutenant Charles D. Rhodes. and oth- CTS. and by such well-known civilians as .Iohn Habberton; and that a large pro- nortion of the stories are by officers of distinction. who have taken an active and brilliant part in warfare, adds greatly to the value and interest of the volume.
 The stories are intended especially for younger readers, but are of kind which will please older ones also.
 Tn september will be published Hymns Every Child Should Know the latest ad- ditioo to. "F,yery Child Should Know se- ries issued by Doubleday, Page < Co. This compilation of hymns is in its way unioue Including the Praises of David' the Hymns of Moody and Sankey, 1t gives not only the text but the most famous and most beautiful melodies which have been identified with these hymns. The hook Is valuable as an educational factor in the training of children, as it makes them familiar with the lovliest works of inc great masters. There is brief sy- nopsIs of each hymn telling of its com poser and interesting facts connected with it's writing The book Is edited by Do- lores Bacon.
 On an old homestead near Trenton, N. I there is a field where the old English trumpet daffodils have been blowing Tor a hundred years and are now every spring. making Its glow anew with their golden beauty This field is the old Labor homestead In MT. Kirby's book. 'Daf- fodils-Narclssus." there Is a photograph of young girl picking daffoeils in this historic old field.
 Town Topics. in its issue of August e9 inaugurated unique and most mo- table feature in the historical literature of America--a retrospective social and re- minlscent history interwoven with re-