The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

 Never Can Happen Again" Whether you will agree with those who think that MT. De Morgan Is at his best in his latest book or not 80 good as in Joseph Vance" and Alice for Short" or even Somehow Good" it will not make any difference.
 If your mind runs above the price of peanuts, pig iron. coal or even coke. you cannot avoid getting much de- light from Tt Never Can Happen Again"-a literary production of the first magnitude.
 "The Roman Catholic Church and It's
 Relation To the Federal Government"
 by Francis T. Morton. member of the
 Massachusetts bar. (Richard G. Bad
 ger The Gorham Press)
 In the authors preface 1t is stated by MT. Morton that the object of his book is:
 ''. to give a brief history of the Roman Catholic church, its claims, ob- jects and purposes in the past. as ex- emplified in the older countries where sway for centuries, and also to show, far as space and time admit it's position in the United States Of America at the present time, where the opportunity for It's growth and expansion have never been eQualled, by reason of absolute free dom of action and speech allowed it's representatives, the ignorance of its votaries and the public as well, who know little of its methods practiced for centuries in foreign countries; and the enormous influx of ignorant foreigners corning to our shores. many of whom are Catholics
 The first portion of "The Roman Cath oiic Church and It's Relation To the Fed eral Government" is comprehensive compilation of works, entitled American Text Book of Popery," Mexico and the United States" Buffers Mexico in Transition" I'M. de Talleyrangs Famous Reply To Pope Plus VII" "Papal Aggres- sion and Attack on France" by Robert Dell; "vaticanism," by Hon. william E. Gladstone; "The Age of Reason by, Thomas Paine, and so on.
 MT. Morton further on in his book takes up "Misstatements and Unreiability of Writings Ascribed To the Apostles. Mat thew, Mark, Luke and John together with review of Age of Reason by Thomas Paine"
 There is a Reply to Cardinal Gibbons. The Church and the Republic,'" as well as discussion of Marriage and Divorce Practical Examples"
 MT. Morton says that the second portion of his book contains more of his own re- hections on the subjects discussed which he has endeavored to treat, he says, in a respectful manner and with kindly regard for the religious education and feelings of those who find spiritual consolation in the teachings of their respective denom- nations
 "Beasley's Christmas Party by Booth
 Tarkington. Harper & Brothers)
 Of course, Dave Beasley the successful. close-mouthed politician, did not give any Christmas party at all. But that made no matter, so long as the person for whom the party was to be given thought the party a great success
 Dave Beasey and Ann Apperthwaite had been in love with each other for long time. How long? "Oh, good while-fye or six years ago, I think maybe more: time skips along Ann Ap- perthwaite's no chicken. you know. They got engaged Just after she came home from college and of all the idiotically romantic girls"
 Did Ann treat Dave we'll when she came home "idiotically romantic from collegef Not at all Threw him over out of clear sky ono night, that's all. Just sent him home and broke his heart; that is, it would have been broken if he'd had any kind of disposition except the one the Lord blessed him with-just all optimism and cheerfuiness and make-the- best-of-it-ness. He's never cared for any body else and guess he never wili.''
 But why all this thusness. Why was Dave thrown down tho roller-coaster by Annr' "Beeause"-my cousins tone was shrili with her despair of expressing the satire she would have put in it-"because. she said, he was a man of no imagina- tion."
 Ann had confided to the "cousin" re- ferred tor couldn't bear 1t another day couldn't stand 1t! Tn all the time I've known him don't believe he's ever ask ed me . single question-except when he asked me to marry him. He never says anything-never speaks at all" You don't know a blessing when you see It." the cousin told Ann
 "Blessng!'' said Ann. There's nothing in the man! He has no depths! He hasn't any more imagination than the chair he sits and sits and sits ini'
 Before this. Dave Beasley had grown up as Q youngster with cousin of his named Hamilton Swift; they were boys together; went to the same school and then to college. Hamilton Swift went east to live after college days, yet Dave and Ham managed to get together once a year, generally about Christmas time. But finally Hamilton Swift's business took him over to the other side of the water to live. and he married an English Btrl, an Orpnau WltHOut any kiH Inat was about seven years before this story begins. The summer just before tho opening of this story Swift and his wife were taking trip down in Switzerland and they were both drowned and word came that Hamilton Swift's will appoint cd Dave Beasley guardian of the one child they had, little boy-Hamilton Swift, Jr. He was sent across the ocean in charge of doctor and Dave went on to New York to meet him and bring young Swift home to the middle west
 As this reviewer said ut frSt, "Beas- ley's Christmas Party" wasn't a party at all. as one understands such things. and yet a more interesting group of people were never invited anywhere be- fore. The story Is just as unusual as the party-the story of the politician, the lover with no imagination who would 'just sit and sit and sit," and say noth- ing to his 'idiotically romantic sweet heart but with the poor little crippled Hamilton Swift developed and used ma jestic flights of imaginative powers un- dreamed of in Ann Apperthwaite's phil osophy.
 This is a beautiful little Christmas story--one of Booth Tarkington's best and you know that is saying quite lot. .srheir Day in Court;' The Case of
 American Letters and It's Causes. by
 Percival Pollard. (Neale Publishing
 Col
 This unusual. valuable book Is divided into three parts: Women, womanists and manners; men and manners, and criti- cism.
 says Mir. Pollard: For to those who have eyes and minds to see, the pass ing hours present such stuff as makes ridiculous the poverty of invention in