The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-16

"Ihe Golden Ladder, Dy Margaret Eoe-
 ter (Iarper & Brothers.)
 The author of the Golden Ladder tells us that her book was written to DOT tray phase of modern life in the United States, the influence which extenos through every grade of society and to ev- cry class and type of citizen. The Dook Is dedicated to that company of native Americans who have suffered most ac- cutely through the prevailing spirit or oommercialism per se." The author or '"The Golden Ladder" rises to enquire, how stand we Americans to the republic which 130 years ago through the heroic and unselfsh devotion of a little body Of men and women it was conceived in nopil- ity and established? What are we adding to that splendid record of manhood ana selfless citizenship? In what way are we striving to lift our nation higher into a fourth generation of brave integrity An. Says the author before she gives us an opportunity to answer her question: the answer dies upon her lips That Is talk ing an unfair advantage of the reader that putting death of replies upon his lips"
 Mrs. Potter wishes also to know if we have not said to the world (don't all speak at once)i that the American of today Is the slave of his lust for gold? That lnere is nothing he will not do to obtain some thing which once gained he neither KNOWS how or cares to use? That the average American has flung to the winds all that humanity holds most dear, home, Wlie, children, health, honesty, integrity, cui- tivation may, one might say intelligence itself (so warped has his vision becomeD in his desire for gold.' 'The Golden Lau- der'' is specifically dedicated to Wives or American Business Men'-those pusiness men who in the heart of their race up the at and devotion, only money for their wlves. Those men who seem to think that they may neglect their wives and children II they will only pay out enough money ior that kind of life.
 Mrs. Potter has written quite an inter esting novel. She has, to an extent ooi,e a wee bit of preaching, has pointed morals to adorn her tale, which struggles always detracts from a novel. It Is always question whether an author has the right to send forth a political or economic tract under the guse of novel, for IL IS tah. ing a certain kind of unfair advantage or his readers. The truth of the matter is that there should be some law that Wouio require publisher to label his prooucuons just as timed meats now are, unoer lno regulations of the Department of Agrl- culture
 The very people whom Mrs. Potter wishes to reach and reform, will not De influenced by her story; they may reao IL and in doing so, will gain pleasure ana certain amount of profit too' put no hoV- els or romances have yet reformed any thing since MT Dickens and MT aeaoe handled the private schools ana prisohs' also insane asylum, in England So years ago, with the possible exception oi op ton Sinclairs "The Jungle" -,
 The plot of ..The Golden Ladder VIII hold the interest throughout, for It oeais with certain things that we are unaccus toned to reading about between covers or a high-grade production. The facts are' however, no matter how much we all ois cuss and openly scorn the .'heshy scnooi of fiction'' those books dealing with sex are the most popular DOCKS soio 'ouay, oss. Everybody reads or wishes to read those hooks dealing with the questionable. Those are facts-ask any book seller or any friend.
 John Kildare was a green young youth who lived in Wisconsin until ne reached his majority. When Kildare father died, John had to leave nome o make his living, so he went 10 Chieaso .John boarded around in all sorts or places in Chicago until he finally landed at the boarding house of Mrs. Clephane, who had most winsome, attractive H-year old daughter Kitty Clephane' Who worried innocent John a great deal. when one reads of the mental disturbances tnat Iobn had over and about Kitty, one VIII wonder where on earth Mrs. Potter iounu A model in real life for poor Jonn.
 Now. John was a wonderfully prhiian. |. chan who only needed an opportunity, which he did not get for some years in Chicago. During his struggles and wnile living at Kitty's mothers boarding house, this attractive girl decided to fasclnate Iobn and she did so-with the result that John "fell"-it was case Of the woman tempted me and I did eat. Alter 1oiin "fell' he had awful nights ana some days when he almost wanted to XII nin- self for his treatment to Kitty; but Kit tv was not worried one little plt' sne wans't that worrying kind. ,.
 ..The Golden Ladder deals With Jonn Kildare and Kitty Clephane who on oii- ferent lines of endeavor move from Chi cago to New York City John becomes Napoleon of Finance, simply WonoeI, and all in six years. Isn't II really stait ling how in books unkno"n yos wa1, lows go to New York and conquer wan street in six years? Kitty conquered faw things herself, but on dlnerent ethical and moral or immoral line.
 If ia Mrs. Potter's idea no doubt, 10 reach those people who are living the loV mile a minute life and try to convert .ieii from their fast ways She has Jop on her hands But there lS oho eiAi4.o
 her iob. and that Is that in her attempt to ,aa oh the rich cold-blooded New YorK peo- nle she has written for those who neitner helong to that class or want 10, very readable book.
 "The Golden Ladder in degree taxes m the same subjects as those most aDiy handled by MT. Robert HerricK m HIS very interesting book "Togetner' ro viewed in The Age-Herald July ls. The descriptions, (they are very caneio) thae Hsrs Potter gives of KItty's life and se- srot;va nowers are startling, but no douot tr,,a of some women. All together the tool. ia ouite interesting and if the reader ,,,shea to skip the ''preaching" he coulo ao so and not detract from the pleasure he would undoubtedly get from Ine Golden Ladder
 ..rbe Lady and the Trolley Car. by w.
 Iamnton. Richard G. Badger-Ine
 German Press.)
 This little book is a paper bound vol ,ne dealing with trolley car trip or n,rs,,it from New York to Portiano' Me. one can now ride from New forK 10 Maine on electric cars, by changing cars of course. Just why anybody who hveo sr ar visited New York would ever wlsn to % to Maine, has nothing whatever 10 so v,th the case-like the flowers that bloom in the spring.
 Mr Iampton, the able contributor to tne New York World, has maoe a lunny little book out of trip on the eiectr'c car lines which one can use III sucn trin mentioned above, describing the ex- %fAffH a