The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

land or the grass WluoW, stopped la9
proceedings in court. On the other hand
the reader also sees and knows" in
the personality of Helen Bellew" the
grass widow" an irresponsible woman
who was not immortal but simply I'M
moral The whole book excels in char
acter drawing. One feels as If he knew
the people discussed simply by reading
CT what they said and did. "The Country
House" is really one of the" books OF
the year. 1t is clear cut, it is clean and
strong and full of solid matter for the
discriminating. "The Country House IS
~ Fluffy Ruffle" novel for which let
all who care for the good In literature
give due thanks.
Life Shop Window, by Victoria Cross.
mitchell Kennerley.)
Victoria Cross has written number of
novels which have been read and dis
eussed a great deal First, because she
mas always written strong, candid stories
and then because a great many people
insist that she is a student along with
Eleanor Glyn at the "Fleshy School OF
Fiction" The latter statement of her
laanings is bound to bring Victoria Cross
great many readers. She simply has
them for her books go up into editions of
tie thousands. "Life's Shop Window 10
the latest story sent forth by this writ
er, based on the theory expressed by hes
that from any viewpoint a purchase"
made by us from the window of life's
shop, in the natural order of things, We
are likely to be cheated or think we are,
which amounts to the same thing.
Victoria Cross takes as a basis for he-
novel man or woman who at Christmas
tine say, views from the sidewalk a
beautiful window of Christmas cards.
The cards arranged prettily in the win
dow, look lovely-together. We pick out
one, go in and buy it. When we take
it away from the others to cling only to
US until death us do part" 1t does not
look so lovely That is the story of this
book now discussed, only 1t is applied 70
a woman who, standing on the threshold
OF life, makes her purchase" and then
she is sorry. Victoria Cross says we
are always sorry that we didn't buy tina
other card" which question is open to
discussion. In her book the author does
rot hesitate to call a spade an agricult-
mal implement. On the contrary she
seems to delight in giving the spade its
right name. The fact of the matter is
that in this book, as in that filthy, dis
gusting twenty-one days book written
by another Englishwoman Qt is left to
women these days to write dirty book5)
the author discusses subjects which all
of US know have a basis of fact in real
life, but the reader will wonder and ask
hlmself-why was the book written.
There are certain phases of life of which
all men and some women know about,
but We do not discuss. Now, If we agres
that If certain things do happen in lifs
an author has perfect right to picture
them for our pleasure and discussion
that is a different thing. If an author
has a right to take his pen in hand and
obey the injunction said to have been
made to write what you see," Victoria
Cross has done a good piece Of work and
there is no question that the book is inter-
esting. 1t will hold the interest straight
through, from beginning to the end. So
will the "Dectheron," but one would not
place that book In the hands or under the
eyes of the young person" without ex
Iecting and usually getting a deserved
good thrashing. 1t is simply the view
point. If such subjects should be dis .
oussed Victoria Cross Is a master of her
subject and no mistake.
The book. "Life's Shop Window deals
With an English girl who bought her
card" from the window. She came with
her husband Cher "purchase'D to Ari-
iona and lived out there very happily
Tor a number of years. Then the serpent
frrived on the scene, and the beautiful
wife runs away from her husband and
child to travel around the country with
Ger lover. Then she finds out of course,
that she had again made bad purchas
from life; the argument of Victoria Cross
being that whatever you buy you wish
you had bought something else. Which "a
vulgar terms Is all ''tommy-rot." Ali we
have to do is to look around and see many
happy marriages to upset any of Victoria
Cross arguments. OF course some peo-
pie marry the wrong opposities in sex,
just as there are hundreds or thousands
of nin-compoops in the word.
The plot is good and numerous things
han f1npa IN, iaI,
customed to seeing printed in book
sent through Uncle Sans mails.
AS some writer who sent out a satire
called Another Three Weeks,'' Notify
El-n-r-Gl--n, says in his Introduction pu.
ia the mouth of the supposed author,
that that author was sure that the con-
dition of mind or rather the acceptance
OF certain things by the men and women
Of America was best explained by one
world, spelt "Gurez," which translated.
means of course "Gee--you are easy"
The fascination that certain books have
for American people is best explained by
what happened in Atlanta the other
day. Three or four women were up town
in certain book store. certain book.
"Three- w eeks-T oo-Long," was discussed.
Two of the women stated that they would
like indeed to read the book, but neither
had the nerve to ask for it at the book
dealers. One of the women said, why,
have two copies at home-if you haven't
the nerve to call for it, then will compel
you to pay for your weakness m that
direction. / will rent my two books ofit
to you BOTH" This was agreed to. The
books were rented and netted the owner
nearly Sc, which money she promptly sent
to the charity headquarters.
Vayenne, by Percy Brebner. CThe John
Mcbride Coz
Not great while ago, certainly not
long enough to have forgotten the crimi-
nal offense or intent, Mr. Percy Brebnec
wrote and worse than that he published
a story called "The Knight of the Silver
Star" for which book there was no ex-
Cuse upon all this earth. The picture.
were pretty In that book, but even pretty
illustrations could not save such an in
excusable production of tommy-rot. Now,
Mr.. Brebner has taken another run AMI
start or possibly his conscience having
hurt him, he has sent forth ..Vayenne.
which is SO different so much better than
his other story mentioned that they are
not in the same class. For 'Vayenne"
is really frst-class Zenda story, If one
likes that kind of a story. and a great
many people do. The story deals with
town called ''Vayenne'' which is not
on any map. Roger Herrlck, a rowing
young Englishman (they all ro7e) decided
to visit Vayenne and being a young fell
low who acts while other people ponder.
he no sooner thought of Vayenne than
he HE'D himself there. When Roger came
10 town, just as he arrived in the city
the old Duke of Montevilliers ded-no.
that Rogers arrival had anything to