The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-29

Tn in private, but of which we were ashamed before each other.''
 "In recalling st. Elmo,'" said my friend. "Of course, it comes to me that 1t was one of the best sellers as they say now of the '66. Everybody was read ing 1.-the popularity of no book of today named for it. hotels, steamboats, country seats and everything imaginable. I said to my girls the other day, when they were raving about some new book that they had finished:
 why. you children don't know what romance is until you have read 'St Elmo. Not single one of your up-to-date flaw orite authors with their dazzling heroines and athletic heroes can portray a situa- tion like Mrs. Wilson has done in St. Elmo And really when the discussion was ended I found that my girls hearti- ly agreed with me, for they dearly love Mrs. Wilson's books
 And look at my book cases" continued my friend, as she pointed to rows and rows of them, 'and let me tell you a little romance of my own life. There, you see the rollcall of old-fashioned books Time-worn bindings of green and black, contrasted oddly with the limp leather of Herrick and Lamb, with the red and gold of Dickens and Thackeray, and the practical little blue and white Camelot and Cantebury editions of various au- thors. There you will see Iothair.' which first introduced me to the Right Honor able Benjamin Disrael. Then side by side you will see Alone and 'Nemesis,' by Marion Hariand, afterwards identified with cook book fame, to which every good housewife swore allegiance. And then there Is 'Ishmael, or in the Depths of Mrs Southworths. in an old-fashioned bottled green dress, and farther on Jane Eyre Thaddeus of Warsaw and Scot tish Chiefs hobnobbing peacefully with Anthony Trollope's Can You Forgive Herr while little later you'll see The Arundel Motto,' and Griffith Gaunt' alongside of Miss Muhlbach's Louise of Prussia'-al in old-fashioned bindings, for you must know I am very old-fash- toned about my library. as I am about everything else And then you'll come upon Mrs Wilson's works--all answer ing to the rollcall. Did I say all? No there's one missing, and you will sec that it is st. Elmo"
 I noticed there was a tear in her eye as she spoke. and little catch In her voice. and I merely murmured:
 May I ask why?'
 "Thats the little romance" said she. gathering herself together and bracing herself as 1t were as she continued the story.
 q had a sweetheart in those days-one that loved very dearly. gave him that book-my beloved copy of St. Elmo all fingered and marked. I gave it to him when he was going away on a long Journey It was a first edition of the y>orvr uN Yova v,.v yv,ofharsa maiden na ma and what happened7 I never saw him again. He was killed and I never got the book back And I never would allow it to be replaced. couldn't bear the idea of any other copy taking its place, and so the shelf is vacant for want of that copy"
 T don't kxnow anybody in the wide world loved books that way but me-" said, as studied this sentimental, love ly woman-now the mother of many great. big, handsome boys-but with. all the TO- nance of a girls heart left to her yet.
 'How frightfully out of place a new copy would look along side of those old. worn ones," said she regretfully. And to think, that this beloved favorite of all Mrs. wilson's books Is now on the boards in gay New York-why I'd almost make a trip there just to see 1t. The book has lent itself delightfully."- to dramatiza- ton. have read, and the scenic effect rivals Ben Hur'-that wonderful mas terpiece of General Wallace's. In fact, 1t is a life-sized illustrated edition of the story-an edition dc luxe, one might say of an old favorite."
 'Indeed 1t would be genuine treat to see St. Elmo in stage attire,' I said. "For there is all the material that Mrs. wilson knew so well how to handle to play upon the emotions of men and wom- en- Through countless trials and tribula- tions she leads her heroes and heroines always transferring one or the other from some obscure mountain hut to some spot of Oriental lovelness like the Tai Mahal-where Misunderstanding are in- duIged in, only to find in the denouement the complete communion and love which banishes grief and sorrow from each heart. Woman. ever the guardian angel of man, leading him through doubt and dissipation sorrow and fear to the dawn of her clear faith and trust"
 Tt is delightful" said my friend, books and plays of today. and my idea is, that anything so sweet and human must appeal to all high-minded people rather than the modern. vulgar problem play which is not uplifting or sdtfying in any way. There will be nons-no. not [ lady in an Sir Harry Bumpers poet ioal eataloD-<hA chaFmor with the dimples or wfkhcuf, the gir with the blus eyes, or the nymph with but one the wife with faoe of woo, oe the damsel that's msrry-who win not respond to the swest emoticns Of, 'at Elmo.' as Mrs. Wilson has % ably exploited them. vAsn she sees it on tho stage"