The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-20
 REALN OF BOOKS

BY PAUL PRY.

Wild Animal Celebrities" by Ellen Velvin, F. 2. s. Moffatt, Ford & Co.
 Ellen Velvin will be remembered as the author of Behind the Scenes With Wild Animals" Animals With His tories," and other books of this na- ture, which have proved to be most popular. The authors latest work Is a unique one among animal stories, be- ing tales of Wild Animal Celebrities" In the preface the author says: ''The stories contained in this book are of actual animals, nearly all of whom are 1 still living and on exhibition in various l Geological gardens and menageries in 1 different parts of the world. The facts related have been given me at first hand from the naturalists and trainers in charge, and most of the animals de- scribed are old personal friends of my own"
 The first chapter is on "Lions." and tells of some of the famous lions of captivity in most intimate and chatty way. "A Few Big Cats" is the next chapter. Accompanying the stories of these well known animals are excel lent pictures of them that add very much to the pleasure of the text The book is an excellent one for youthful readers, instructive and entertaining to an exceptional degree; and a book,  to readers among the "grown-ups" who are fond of animals.
 "Government for the People" by John c. Ten Eyck. Published by Moffat, Ford & Co.
 "Government for the People, by John c. Ten Eyck, who is a member of tho New York bar, is little book that condenses into brief marrowy state ment the essence of good government, | local and national. in America. It is little sermon addressed by the au- thor to those well meaning citizens whose own sh shortcomings are wholly responsible for the bad government of which they complain so loudly. It out | lines our system with consummate l clearness, showing that while ma chimes and leaders are altogeth CT nec- l essary, their character is wholly at the dictation of those citizens who care enough to perform tn cir simple politi- | cal duties.
 | Hampton and Reconstruction" by Ed 1 ward L. Wells. s1.50. Published by the State company, Columbia, s. C. The appearance of another book on re- l construction from tho hand of the dis- 1 tinguished author and soldier, Edward l.. 1 Wells, is of special interest in the south 1 land especially as 1t does so much to
  i over this period of our history.
 | MT. Wells has had unequaled facilities l for gathering the materials for this book. l He not only has his own great store of memories of Hampton, both during the war and in the dark era of reconstruction, | but he has had access to every other l source of information about the great l cavalry leader and statesman. The author served with Hampton in the famous Le- | zion, and his previous book, Hampton and His Cavalry '64," Is the authority on l the magnificent military career of the 1 great Carolinian
 1 In the present book the author takes a wider canvass and of the scope and purpose | of the work the author says in the pre- face: ''This sketch Is part of the biogra- phy of a people the great American peo-
 pie, at a most important period of its
 life" And in conclusion he says: "Il
 will be made clear how the states resur- rection from the grave was brought about ] by Wade Hampton, and that In the paclf- ication of the entire country. in the res
 toration of fraternal feeling, mans
 handiwork was so widely benefcent as
 his: that he was in the truest, most pa
 triotic, most exalted and most all-embrac
 ing sense of the term a Union man.
 "Ted in Mythland." by Hermlnt
 Schwed. Published by Moffat. Yard &
 Co.
 Ted in Mythland' IS destined to De ons
 of the very popular children's books o
 the season. For, while it is simply writ
 ten, diverting and entertaining, yet |
 has genuine worth to recommend it whlcf
 certainly cannot be said of so much o
 the senseless stuff writteA for their sup
 posed delectation. The present volume ]!
 unique one of its kind. and in the pre-
 face the author explains "In writing
 these verses I have endeavored to cove
 the main stories of Greek mythology: [,
 tell them as simply and unpretentiousll
 as possible; to make gods and goddesse
 seem more like Teds friends than stiff
 divinities and yet to retain in the en'
 something of the Greek spirit" 1t IS
 really excellent idea, this, of teachin,
 little children through the rhyme sens
 and imagination the old myths of Greece
 For only too few ever get even on speak
 ing acquaintance with them, and vet 1t |
 a subject that all should know sometnini about The stories are told in verse an'