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

l ton IS the only thing that will ever do any good and if any one wishes to lnform himself on the current questions of the day, no one could do better than to read MT. Watson's Handbook, which while giving a pile of facts and figures to back up what the author says, the | DOCK really reads like a romance-ft l doesn't read like the usual Handbook" at all-and therein lies MT. Watson's l great charm. He puts his thoughts in such way that the average reader | grasps them, and better than that, l digests tn em.
 The book is published in paper back form and at the very reasonable figure of $1 per copy, and con be obtained | from the Hon. Thomas E. Watson, at l Ihomson, Ga. This department has a rule not to publish prices of books, or 1 do anything to Advertise" a book, but makes a fitting exception ip favor of MT. Watson's superior and helpful lit- l erary production.
 The Mystery of the Yellow Room" the Extraordinary Adventures of Joseph Rouletabille, Reporter. By Gaston Leroux. (Brentanos)
 When the ordinary detective story comes to a reviewer he feels as did Artemus Ward, that this is "tu mutch." For in the ordinary detective tale, the
 
 crime of straw and then unraVels it. and it is very plain in the beginning or the general run of detective effusions to the average reader certainly one accustomed to that obsession, just who committed the crime. In addition to the clearness of those stories, in so far as the guilty party is concerned we all Know too, that the author brings at first a preponderance of evidence ff1o make the book run a great number of pages and at the same time mystify us, In which latter attempt the author usually fails.
 This story, "The Mystery of the Yellow Room," is different-thank goodness. If this is the story that this department has In mind, and 1t Is pretty sure that it is, IL ran In Paris journal of note it met with such deserved success that as the installment of the story appeared crowds or people waited at the Journal office to secure copies of the current issue to see now matters In the mystery stood that week.
 This story is way above the ordinary IL stands out, and as for deciding before che finishes the book. who committed the crime 1t would seem well-nigh impossible The story Is told in the same way as the Sherlock Holmes' productions, for "Jo- seph Rouleta bille" has "Dr. Watson" who writes glowingly of him. Regarding the plot of this really unusual detective mystery story, plots given In reviews of such story do harm. Suffice it to say here that an attempted murder happened near Paris in a pavilion, wherein was the yellow Room" which was occupied by a lovely woman, engaged to marry a cer- tain man. The ''Yellow Room" had a barred window and one door which led out into an occupied laboratory at the time of the murder or attempt thereof The father hear cries from his daughter after she had retired about midnight and had locked the door; the door being locked and the outside window barred, there was no way to reach the victim or the assassin While listening to the strug- gle in the 'Yellow Room" the father broke in the door and found no one in the room, except the daughter-no signs of the assassin at all. This is the mys- tery which the young 1S-yearold Parisian newspaper reporter unraveled, and, taking it altogether, it is one of the best detect i've stories written in a long. quite long. time For this time of the year one oouon't find anything more exciting than 'The Mystery of the Yellow Room"
 
 The Wayfarers, by Mary Stewart Cut
 ting. CThe Mcclure Co.)
 Here is a charming booki You won't find many that will give you as much genuine pleasure as will "The Wayfarers'' and why? Simply because 1t is written genuinely, artistically treated, full of life. with it's incidental happiness and sorrow. It is really genuine treat to read "The Wayfarers." This is the serial that ran in McClure's Magazine, ending in the July number-the novel is now sent forth in book form
 Many readers are familiar with Mrs. Cuttings work, shown in her really de- lightfu short stories, such as Little Stories of Courtship'' and Little Stories of Married Life" to say nothing of "The Suburban Whirl." It isn't often, either. that a good short story writer will be able to produce successful novel-but Mrs. Cutting has.
 'The Wayfarers" tells the story of young married couple who furnish the background living in a small suburban town near New York, for the real heroine and hero, namely Theodosia Linden and Baily Girard Theodosia, or Dosia. was a southern girl, living in Georgia, who goes to New York with her cousins, Justin AL exander and his wife, Lois. On the way to New York, through railway accident, Dosia meets but does not know Baily Gi- rard, and these two, through their meet ings afterwards, off and on, become "The Wayfarers' in the book.
 The story is simply the picture of life in suburban town, showing all of the different people therein, and how Alex ander, struggling In his new business, seems to drift farther and farther away from his young wife, as she does from him. Dosia has very trying experiences with one love affair before she reaches her haven of love with Glrard. The AL exanders after many heart-breaking struggles, reach and hold each others hearts.
 Such a book would only be harmed by too much detail in review in regard to the plot. But the plot Is there, and a good one, too; but 1t is the charming way in which the incidental, outlying interests are brought in that will charm in the reading.
 "The Wayfarers" is a book one can heartily recommend; it is one that most of us would like to lend to friend and add, Be sure to read it. Mrs. Cutting is to be congratulated, as well as any prospective reader, for the charming-it written May we have more books like "The Wayfarers," for we surely need them.
 Captain Spink and Other Sea Comedies
 By Morley Roberts. q. B. Lippincott
 Co)
 MT. Horley Roberts is certainly a versa tile writer. Last year he sent forth q book called ''The Idlers," which, in it's Gelineation of character scenes and &C., tons in London far excelled Mrs. Edith Whartons picture of New York society in