The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-04

you could work some of the KIpling stories
into their heads, for some are suitable
for children; while many are not, sim
ply because the latter, like Alice In Won
derland," never has or never will reach;
conveying the fine points to the average
child, particularly every child under 10
years of age.
But, you, mama. papa land his cous-
ms and aunts." not to speak of Uncle,
will enjoy the book. really.
IN Re-, Shakespeare" Beeching VS..
Greenwood, Rejoinder on Behalf of the
Defendant. John Lane Coz
The Hon. G.. G. Greenwood, M. P, of
London, author of The Shakespeare
Problem Restated," in his new book
above stated has, as he puts 1t. been
Seeking the bubble reputation even in the
Canon's mouth" For the Canon in ques-
ton is Canon Beeching of London, who
read a lengthy paper before the Royal
Society of Literature by way of quick
reply to Mr.. Greenwood's book, The
Shakespeare Problem Restated' and to
make matters worse printed that reply
for general distribution. In the afore-
said reply Canon Bleaching undertook to
deal with Mr.. Greenwood without gloves.
1t seems that in Mr.. Greenwoods book
he undertook to show not that Shake
speare was not the author of the plays,
poems, ETC., accredited to him. but sim
ply asked the question, how could a man,
who was such an one as history (what
history we have about him-which Is
very limited)-write what he is given
credit for doing.
Mr.. Greenwood claims in his rejoinder
that he took no positive position; that
his book was simply an attempt to enlist
help, inquiry into the real facts of the
case. He took up the question Of hand
writing. In chapter 2 he shows that
Shakespeare. the man Of Avon Quoting
the noted authority, DIR. Ingleby), in the
five signatures preserved to us, "Unques-
tionably some, probably all, of the five
signatures of Shakespeare are 'Shak-
spere'; and certainly none of them has
the e. after the k. !"
"All this Is very interesting and it has
no doubt some bearing on the question
whether the Stratford player ever wrote
his name in other forms besides that of
SHAKESPEARE, but it has very little revelancy
to the simple proposition that l have adj
vanced, viz, that Shakespeare (or Shak-
speare) makes a very excellent non de
plume, while SHAKESPEARE does not"
All of which, too is very interesting,
particularly to students and those inter-
ested in the Shakespearean dispute which
bobs up every now and then.
But this reviewer recalls what some
noted authority told Helen Keller CDR.
Furniss. possibly In regard to the great
works that have come down 10 us. In
effect he said, Helen, do not let any one
mix you UP on this Shakespeare bust
ness. I can assure you'll who have stud
led the matter for years and years-that
all we absolutely know in regard to the
Shakespeare of Stratford Is, that he was
born, was married and that he died-We
don't know anything else
Withal that the "Rejonder on Behalf
of the Defendant" in the case of Beech
Ing vs. Greenwood, is more than worth
while reading.
The Romance of a Plain Man." by FL
len Glasgow macmillan Coz
This Is the first book written by Miss
Glasgow since the appearance of 1.-THE
Ancient Law"
This author has always something to
write about before she begins a book;
hence the success of her novels.
In the latest novel the story Is the his
tory of his life related by the son of a
man who belonged in Virginia to the
poor white trash
The childhood of that man had been
spent in poverty, neglect and hard work.
At one time in his boyhood a pretty
young girl of the upper circles had called
out to him, you common boy and this
remark had forced the boy to make a
move to get out of being common"
After struggles of years, persistence and
much labor he gradually gets out of the
poor white trash environment, at least.
Every now and then, during his struggles
he has glimpse of the pretty little girl
who had thrown the aforesaid bit of airy
persif1age at him. The pretty girl al
ways seems by looks, anyway, to take an
interest In him. 1.-The plain man. had
been most fortunate in making as his
friend the richest, the most successful
business man of his section and through
VI "a hal ND 1~xfo -.
he reaches 20 odd years of age he has
succeeded In acquiring not little edu-
cation and quite a lot of money
Then the pretty little girl who had
Haunted him. now grown into charming
young woman, decides to defy her family,
break through the barriers of Virginia's
standards Of caste and marry the "plain
man."
The story deals largely with the what
comes after this marriage. The man
realizing the sacrifice (as the world would
put iD made by his wife, makes up his
mind that she shall be repaid for her love
for him, which equals that he has for
her-by having poured at her feet all the
greater and more brilliant gifts than any
of her relatives, who still crticise her
for her marriage could procure. His
struggle, therefore. is always to make the
wife happy; make her forget that she
had under the social laws of Virginia
(Richmond) taken a downward step, so to
speak, but he misses one thing that his
wife Graves, towit:
IN his hard work to be the greatest
magnate Of Virginia, that he may make
the wife of magnate to look down on
the poorer. but better born, relatives, he
forgets, or at least neglects, to show his
love for her, which in reality ever burns
strong and bright in his innermost
heart The wife appreciated the gifts
laid at her feet, but she preferred love