The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-26


 The Age-Herald had a review some short time since on a very delightful book, "The Spanish Jade," written by MT. Hewlett. Halfway House. is the latest novel from MT. Hewlett, and while it is much longer and different from "The Spanish Jade," which was so pleasing, in 1t there Is that same elusive, fasclnat- ing, heroine with dreamy, deep-as-a-Neil eyes, under another name, of course, In the drawing of which MT. Hewlett does not excell MT. Hewlett's heroines are most fascinating creatures, and to some men readers at least they always prove satisfying to that extent that those read CTS wish it were possible to know more about where the readers could locate that species. The heroines aforesaid are all so of the woman-womanly; some men make believe that they do not care par particularly for the "clinging vine' type of women, but whenever man gives forth his opinions contrary to the Ivy clinger," it Is simply necessary to remem- Der that "all men are liars, some par ticularly so. The preference Is for the .tcling-stone peach by most men, the reasons for which are too obvious, ana then. too, most men are to such an ex- tent so tri1ing they care to be looked up to. as the IVY type Ol WOIuci hSSopshhAAJ is usually busy doing
 In the Halfway House the principal action of the story Is around MT John Germain, who was 50 years of age ana rich MT Germain, an Englishman or riches and position, deputy heutehaht' chairman of quarter sessions and so on, had had a very bad time of 1t with ms first wife, Lady Diana, who fed her nus band something of dance for nearly a quarter of a century. Death Kindly removed Lady Diana in time, and just when MT. Germain was recovering from his mis-spent years in looking out TOT and attempting to keep her within bounds, this old man, now 5O years or age at a garden party given at HIS brothers house, the Rev. James German, he meets lovely young governess. MISS Mary Middleham. Miss Mary Middleham was lovely; she is in this instance MT Hewlett's heroine, a dear, clinging vine to the Nth power; she Is tolerated that's all. in the little village where she labors to teach the young Englishman how to shoot. and is particularly noticed by MT Tristan Duplessis who fascinates Mary as does the snake the bird Mary real izes to an extent, not understanoaple by Americans, the difference Of class in England that she Is below the people in social station with whom she comes
  has been dreaming of ideals, now that his fact" in the shape of his torment, his late wife, has been removed by Prov idence some five years, pointedly notices Mary He allows himself to believe that in Mary he has found his ideal at least woman who would "cling,' as Lady Diana had never done-alas and aiack' So. with a quick courtship. If 1t could ne so designated, MT. Germain wins Mary's Id, ord his brother and the latter's wifes opinion does marry Mary and makes her great ladv. removing her from her family and former associations. Tristan Duplessls Is the villian-lover; he did not wish to marry Mary, he rather cared to have her look up to and love him, as from a1ar. and Mary 1t must be confessed, seemed most willing to oblige him. Mary hSd met John Senhouse, the son of rich man who had cast from him all conven- tions, painter, a poet who traVeleu around the. country in gypsy wagon, reading, painting and doing good things 1 by wordsof mouth and acts to every nv ing thing. Senhouse was philosopher; he had met Mary Middleham before her marriage to Germain and had rescued her from an accident; they became great friends, and in this book Senhouse ana Duplessis are the two men who figure 
 great success as a great lady Duples- sis. after Mary's marriage, persecuted her. she knew that she did not love him. but she was physically afraid Of Du- .plessis fascinating powers and attempted to keep away from him as much as pos sible. which was little. During her strug- gles to resist Duplessis and remain true to her old husband. who loved her de- yotedly, Mary would occasionally meet xrybn wall to which Mary could cling and gain strength to resist temptation.
 When Germain died Che had known all of the time of Mary's danger and had worried over it in secret the old nus band left In his will a large income to Mary if she did not marry again and 10 Duplessis $2500 year If he did not marry. Both renounced their legacies. Duplessis urges on his pursuit of poor Mary, who now loves Senhouse, and the crisis ar rives when Senhouse Duplessis and Mary all meet in the north of England, where the two men try out their powers of fas- cination upon and for the 'clngng Vlne' The question as to who won. whether the masterful, will-not-be-denied Duplessls or the gentle noble Senhouse was the vic- tor. that is for the reader of the book to discover. Halfway House. whereat Mary could gather new strength for her resistance to the world the flesh and the devil particularly the latter, was Sen houses gypsy cart
 Halfway House. like most that MT Hewlett writes. Is very delightful, hold- ing the interest throughout. and if th's author did nothing else but eXcell as he does with his charming heroines, 1t would be worth while to read his books. DO you remember the delightful picture Of Queen Mary of Scotland in ''The Queens Quair?"
 Of course. poor old John Germain got in marrying a woman 26 years his Junlor just what he deserved, although he di1 his best to make Mary happy. The book is very charming.
 "The True Way of Life" by Nanny Ram dolph Ball Baughman. (Published by the author at Burlington. Iowa)
 "Woman was sent to guide man away from the material side of life To lead him into the realm where spirit reigns su- preme. But woman's first conversation on earth was held with the devil. and her first act was disobedience to the higher command. His (Satans s) cunning, backed woman's influence, stormed mans fortress and it fell
 A woman wrote that-a pretty woman, too whose picture appears in the book
 eThe True Way of Life of which she is the author. One might not-necessar- ily would-understand such remarks upon the fall of Adam coming from mere man. but from a lovely woman-graclous! as MT. F. opper says continually in the New York American. Now wouldn't that jar you?
 Mrs. Baughman Is distressed beyond horca tbic hook over the fact