The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-02-04

REALM OF BOOKS
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BY PAU PRY.

"Glimpses of Italian Court Life" by Typhosa Bates Batcheller. Published by Doubleday. Page & Co.
 In this beautifully presented volume en- titled "Glimpses of Italian Court Life. Mrs. Batcheller writes of Italia Ado rata" which she explains in her preface is that country to which we all turn with common love and admiration for it's natural beauties given of God, for it's great and historic past. for its present and heroic re-blrth into the world of great nations and last but not least for the charm and rare intelligence or the Italian people,"
 The book is composed of a number of letters which were written by Mrs. Batcheller while in Italy to her father, mother and an intimate friend and for this reason give a clearer picture of her experiences in this sunny land. Most of the letters are from Rome. where the author spent so many happy days as she explains. and where of course she had the largest opportunity of meeting the many notable people of whom she writes so delightfully."-. In the concluding lines of the preface Mrs. Batcheller writes:
 Here then I offer to Her Most Gra- cous Majesty. Queen Elena of Italy, some of my experiences gathered in that dear country trusting that In my impressions of Italian life, which I have tried to pie ture something may be found to interest and please her majesty, as well as my friends and readers everywhere.' Mrs. Batcheler landed at Naples and her let ters begin with descriptions of this beau tiful city and it's environs. Thence to Rome. which the author treats most fully and delightfully."- from the point of view of an ardent sight-seer to the fullest de- scriptions of court balls. and her present. aton at court an audience With HIS y1Holiness and innumerable distinguished personages. The volume which is a large one and fully illustrated, concludes with two letters-from Boston and New York setting forth the conditions of Italian emierants to this country. She writes; Now there are over 10000 Italians in Boston, among whom Is owned S2,Ooo,0OO of real estate. They begin to feel that they are part of a great city in which they have definite legal rights and inter- nsts. and in which they almost inva- rial5ly make excellent citizens"
 Memoirs" by John H. Reagan. IL. D. Published by the Neale Publishing company.
 This volume is a large octave. hand some paper and letter press; substantial ly bound in buckram cloth with let tering and top in gold. The announce ment of the "Memoirs' quotes: Some men," says the Hon. Roger Q. Mills, speaking to the Texas house of repre- sentatives, "some men are born with the materials out of which greatness is made and they achieve greatness. Judge Reagan was born with these ma terials. physical and moral in his blood and brain. and greatness came to him by the law of development" The Me moirs" are written with special reference to secession and the civil war. Edited by Walter Florins McCaleb. Ph. D.. and with an introduction by George P Garri- son, Ph. D.
 In the preface the author writes in ex- planation of the memoirs: First, my hope is that by example l may stimulate yc uthful readers to honorable aspirations and second, 1t is my desire to show by authentic documents. Confederate and Federal the justice of the cause of the late Confederate states. Subsidiary to these two purposes is one which l think has been partially fulflled-to give more or less connected record of the events of my own time" Judge Reagin was postmaster general of the Confederacy sometime United States senator, chair man of the railroad commission of Texas president of the Texas State Historical association. His life was many sided. ac- tive, honored and useful: he served his country and his state in many capacities. and he always served honestly, writes a recent reviewer. The Memoirs are writ ten in modest. straightforward way The truth is, what the author cares most about, and that Is evident on every page.