The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05

go to speak. MT. Hichens has since be- come so we'll known by his "The Call of the Blood" "The Garden of Allah, "Barbary Sheep" that he needs no intro- duction to readers of books.
 Of course, as every one knows, the story of "The Green CarnationP deals with the Oscar Wilde cult in London, which Mr IIichens satirized so delight fully in his book. represented therein by Lord Reginald Hastings. After IA years the book is fresh, bright and even new. Jack Spurlock, Prodgal." by George
 Horace Lorlmer. Doubleday Page &
 lCo.)
 Mr. Lorimer, the editor of the Saturday Evening Post ran part of Jack Spur lock, Prodigal," in his journal, but he left such gaps between the times of publica- tion that In order to get any kind of appreciation or pleasure out of this ridic- ulous story, one will have now to take 1t up In book form, recently sent forth by Doubleday, Page & Co.,
 Jack Spurloc5 was the son of old "Con" Spurlock, a multi-millonaire. Jack, like many sons of rich-but-honest parents, did not succeed very well at college, nor in business after his father gave him po- sitions in some of his numerous enter prises. Jack was cut aloose, but not be- fore he loved Anita Gray and she loved him, notwithstanding everything, which was a great deal. Jack wandered around from pillar to post, trying to make a living, but succeeding miserably. He tried an advertising campaign against his rich father; then he met the old Major" who afterward figured in most of Jacks va ried experiences of putting on the mar ket a Teddy Bear and patent medi- cines. Of course, no such character ever lived as the old Major, but that does not make any difference, and then, too, he seems the only real alive person in the book.
 The book is like the others by MT. Lori mer, namely, "Old Gorgon Graham and Letters From a Self-Made Merchant to His Son. filled with bright, slangy, up- to-date "bonmots of the street" The book is very amusing; 1t will kill a great deal of time and some worry at outside disturbing things of everyday life, and is well worth the time and money spent in its perusal and purchase.
 The Girl and the Gabe, by Jesse Lynch
 Williams. Charles Scribners Sons.)
 This ls a collection of short stories by Mir Jesse Lynch Williams-all of which are very good. In addition to the eight stories that makes up the collection there is a chapter devoted to and called Talks With a Kid Brother" on the first day at college, hazing, trying for the team, con corning horse play, concerning the 'nicest fellows" work and other dissipations, the best thing in the world, and an unofficial haccalaureate. The book takes its name from the first story in the collection. The scenes of most of the stories are laid around Princeton. The book is quite d good one of its kind.
 The Profiigate, by Arthur Hornblow. co.
 w. Dillingham; company)
 MT. Hornblow made success out of his novelization of Charles Klein's play, .The Lion and the Mouse," also out of his novel published last year, called "Fhe End of the Game" in which he took up for his hero certain very rich man in this coun- try who wanted and got a new wife.
 In "The Profligate' there was charming Victoria Norman, a very pleasing young person. She had heard so very much about a certain young man, who was out Iageous in his treatment of his adopted father, of his utter disregard for social duties claims, etc, he was one Robert Forester, a social blackguard-that there really was nothing else that Victoria could conscientiously do, but become inter ested in him and In the end fall In love with and attempt to reform him. That in a nutshell is the scheme of .'The Profi- gate" You see that Robert Forester started life with every advantage, social and otherwise. He embraced the company of crooks as an adventure and was gradu- ally assimilated to the company by natural processes. He sank lower and lower. Finally Robert was tired for mur- der under circumstances little In his favor and though he escapes conviction by jury of his peers, public opinion counts him guilty. He was summed by his society friends and driven from home. Then under an assumed name and In q different country he meets lady and be- comes acquainted with real sure enough love. Thereby hangs the tale of Torres ter's regeneration, though the lady Vic toria Norman, upon the first declaration of his passion, Is mortified and fees from the supposed murderer. But the mystery cleared up brings the two lovers together as it should and always Is done in books with that ever with us happy ending seemingly so necessary, these days. The book is handsomely produced by Dilling ham, with good illustrations. The book is thrilling at times.
 Ashes by GraZia Deledda, (The John