The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-27

covered through his lynx-eyed perform ances that there were three women named Edna who had used the same sta- 1tionery and written from this same house. Now, Amory was one of these chaps who in his own mind at least possessed all of inc virtues that no real man ever had or wanted or could use if he did possess. but he (Amory) was convinced that II Edna Thornhill had been compromised through these letters then he would pre- vent her marrying his cad-like friend lingo. the hypocrite That, then, is the nlot' Amory has time of 1t. getting all mixed LID as to who did write the letters; he breaks up the possible marriage, mas ont in the end that Edna Thornmn had written them 0he one who might nave married Hugo), but she had not been compromised at all. In the meantime, or course Amory had fallen in love witn Miss Thornhil and asks her to marry him, which, foolish girl. she agreed to do. carving out the old theory that many times the undeserved are rewarded in this life at least.
 The book will hold the interest through out Then, too, 1t will give basis Tor thought on the subject as to what the reader would do under the same circum- stances "Do ones duty that terrible taskmaster that has caused more sorrow in the world than all else In 1t, or act tle gentleman and scholar.
 There are great many characters in books that are not interesting to us per sonaHy as readers, but which may act. if we allow them, "bad examples. showing by indirection the proper way to do good things and justice to others. The book does not preach; on the contrary, thank goodness, it is an interesting story. "A Bundle of Myrrh, by John c. Nei-
 hardt The Outing Publishing Co.
 Only few years ago MT. Neihardt was writing in Nebraska a lot of short sto- res and very pleasing poetry, none or which, so the story goes, could he dispose of outside. of his home state. Some Vls- itor to Nebraska, noting his work in the state press. returning to New York spoke of it to a. New York publisher, with the result that the publisher took up by cor respondence the matter of exploiting MT. Neihardt's productions The publisher, as many think, being convinced that "poetry will not sell insisted that MT. Neihardt should introduce himself to the reading public through short stories. So that a poet at first was forced to write short stories to get bearing for his other work. Magazine readers are faml- liar with MT. Neihardtis stories. The Outing Publishing company has now con piled a lot of Mir. Neihardt's poetry and sent it forth in a very handsome dress, under the title of "A Bundle of Myrrh,' in which are poems all very pleasing. with the thought running through most of them up to the higher things beyond the flesh A selection here quoted offers a sample of MT. Neihardts work. being the first and third stanza from his poem or chant, called ''1'he Witless Musician, as follows:
 'She is my violin.
 As the violinist lays his ear to his in-
 strument
 That he may catch the low vibrations of
 the deeper strings.
 Thus lay my ear to her breast.
 I hear her blood singing and I am shaken
 with ecstasy;
 For am 1 not the musician?
 ''I am musician for the first time! have found an instrument to play upon. She Is my violin-she is my harp! A song slept in her blood.
 None had found it-and it slept
 To I-even I-who am poor in power Who was a pauper in conception of har-
 mony
 I have awakened by chance the slumber-
 ing songV
 A beautiful but small gift book is "A Bundle of Myrrh."