The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-06
Literary Lights and Shadohs
BY s. MAYS BALL.

Stephens had become mixed up with one of these in 1879, as now, perennial South American revolutions; John had been on the losing siae and the government of Chilli had put a price on Johns head, on his shoulders or on-it didn't make much matter. So John was up against 1t lt- orally. He was in immediate danger Of being recognized in Valparaiso; he couldn't leave the city without pass port, all exits from the city were guard ed, so what was poor John to do? Noth- ing save await developments
 Just so soon as the author says any thing about waiting developments, it is time to hold tight and await the shock. John had to eat. even heroes in books are compelled to eat, ordinary as 1t may seem, so John ordered dinner and af- ter securing it, was able to rescue a beautiful woman, Lady Darlington, who with her aged husband had been in- suited by a drunken reprobate. The young lady Is very grateful naturally, she so expressed herself to John, every body seemed pleased and separated for the night When John retired to his nocturnal repository, which outside of romantic adventure story means, he went to bed; he had @ caller who under an assumed name, inveigled John Stephens into an enterprise which John understood to be the capture of ves- sel then in the Valparaiso harbor for the government of Peru, which country had then declared war with Chilli. It is only sufficient to say here that Johns ac- quaintance was the head of band of adventurers, which needed Johns skill to navigate a vessel anu knowing his predicament as to getting out of Valpar- also, had traded on his acceptance of a long chance-which John did. Now Lady Darlington and her aged husband had a yacht, "The Sea Queen," in the harbor. Lord Darlington attended party at the presidents palace and John together with his lawless band captur- ed. '"The Sea Queen" John thinking still that this vessel belonged to the Chilean government. The vessel is started out of the harbor and is gotten safely away; the next day the leaders of ns robbers or adventurers "broke the sFys' to John, to-wit: that they had captured this vessel to hunt treasure in the Antarctic regions. Then Lady Darlington Is dis covered with her maid on board and there is a heap of trouble to pay. be- cause of course John had become shit en with Lady Darlington. not know ing that she was married and all that sort of thing.
 Well, the story treats of the voyage of this vessel to hunt the long lost, but once seen by a member of this party, Portu- gese vessel Donna Isabella" contain ing unlimited wealth. There are numer- ous things happening in every chapter from ghosts up Ind down. to ship wrecks. to hold the interest and supply the thrill to any reader.
 The adventurers together with the "shanghied" Lady Darlington have very exciting experiences. The book Is really one of the best of the thriller" type of story; and Is as good as anything that MT. Parrish has previously sent forth which is saying quite lot In the book 8 favor, too. The book will please, and after all is said and done-that is what oboks. most of them. are written these days, to do.
 'The Riverman," By Stewart Edward
 White. CThe Mcclure Co.)
 MT. White, who knows his west, and better than that--compels his reader to know 1t with him. has recently written and published a new book, called 'The Riverman." In MT. Whites Arizona Nights" there are descriptions of the des- ert that are without doubt the best one can find anywhere. In his new book. "The Riverman," we are taken back to the scenes of some of the authors earlier stories-that is,. up in the Michigan pe- ninsular, among the saw mills and for ests.
 
 ago. The hero is one Jack Orde," the 'riverman," the boss of a gang of men whose work consists each spring in bring ing down, floating on the river. enormous amounts of cut timber to the mills on the lake. The book opens at the spring float ing of some 100000 feet of timber down 100 miles of river. Jack Orde is the boss" of the river gang. Joining the party simply as 8 sight-seer. MT. Joseph New mark followed the river gang down the river. Newmark and Orde became great friends, and together took contracts later to do all of the lcS-foating on the river that Is, made kind of monopoly of the work. In the meantime Jack Orde meets, and falls in love with Carroll Bishop a lovely girl visiting friends in Orde's home town. Orde determines to marry Miss Bishop, and does so, only after many trying experiences in New York, where he went to win his sweetheart.
 Joseph Newmark turns out to be the villain of the story, just how 1t will be left for the reader to discover. Jack Orde and his wife live at Bedding, Mich. the little saw mill town. They grow rich and are very happy with everything until Newmark shows his hand and 1t is in overcoming Newmark's underhand meth ods that the denouement of the story deals.
 "The Riverman." however. Is particular ly interesting and most pleasing in it's pictures of the old times of lumber-cut- ting, river floating and lumber manufac- ture some 30 years ago, and the men so employed. MT. White writes as one of authority, and his new book Is one that will be enjoyed by practically every read CT who takes 1t up.
 The plot is good in the story, as they all are in practically everything that MT White produces, but the plot cut a very small figure when compared with the in- teresting phases of life portrayed by this gifted writer of the west and it's people.
 The appearance of new book by Mir. White is very properly something of an event in present-day literature. and no reader will be disappointed in 'rhe River man." It is very good Indeed.
 "The Half-Smart Set." Published Anony-
 mously. Cred A. Stokes Co.)
 This novel Is the work, the publishers advise, that has been sent out anonyTn- ously of a well known author "whose books have sold many large editions" All right. If this reviewer could produce so good and really high-class story as ''The Half-Smart Set' he would put his name in as many places all over 1t as tho publishers would permit.
 ''Christopher Thorne'' was the son of a hard -hearted old Englishman, who brow beat his wife, Chris mother, as well as the two daughters in the family. He had plans for Chris Thorne, Jr., and did not intend that they should mscarry. But Christopher. Jr.. upset all of his fathers plans by going of and getting married to a very charming young person, by name "Patricia Goldsmith" whose family was a leading one in the "half-smart set." The "half-smart set," as we are told, Is not in the recognized smart set," but live