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

The Worlds Warrant a striking nov
ell, was published in April, 1907 by Miss
Norah Davis. Enquiry of the publishers
brought forth the fact that this author
was g. resident of Huntsville, labama.
This department thought that novel fine
and said so in reviewing 1t.
Tho next piece of literary work from
Miss Davis is the novel wallace Rhodes
which was published by the harpers in
April, 1909. The only reason that this cred
liable book has not heretofore been
viewed is that highwayman, or some
thing like that-made a successful geta-
way with the reviewers copy, while the
latter was on a recent railway journey.
/ Miss Davis is known to all Birmingham,
where she visited last winter. She al
most grew up, as she puts 1t, in the home
! of the mother of former State Senator
Hugh Morrow of Birmingham.
The frienos Cor worse, the enemies of
/ our YOUTH all very well; they watch
with different kinds of eyes, of course.
! what we may or may not do. -
In the publication of wallace Rhodes
Miss Davis gives many just causes to her
friends for delight in her success; to her
enemies If she has any (who hasn'to
there is compulsion to applaud, even If
unwillingly, the success of this southern
author
! For wallace Rhodes is first rate.
really, as was THE Worlds Warrant"
for that matter. But II it Is the wish of
women to be told when they write that
they do so like a man," and this review
er has been informed that sue. is the
caSe 1t may be pleasure to Miss Davis
to Know that a gentleman of most dis
eliminating tastes who has passed the
middle lie post. was enthusiastic on that
i very point In discussing the book with The
reviewer
Wallace Rhodes" rich planter In
the delta, same where in Mississippi desig-
mated, the little town is by the name of
Issaquena-the reviewer not being able to
place exactly the locality, unless it is
near Vicizsburg-had made early and
most unhappy marriage. Finding his wife
unfaithful, he divorced her, leaving with
him. the court did, his only child, a son.
John Quincy Rhodes''-the idol nat
urally Of his fathers heart.
The book opens when Quincy has
grown to manhood and has fallen in love
with an exquisite, alluring woman who
by the worlds test Is something worse
than coquette and as matter of fact
Is only a lovely and very feminine wo
man. But Wallace, still young, feared this
marriage of Ounce and Veronica Bow
dre," the fascinating woman aforesaid.
Wondering how, and distressed at his
inability to break up this engagement
which Ounce announces, 1t was suggest
ed to Wallace by an old friend Judge
Harper" that he adopt what the latter
to fascinate, on the 'mother-bird" policy,
That is, adopt the devices Of the part
ridge when accosted In the field with it's
brood. Namely, attract attention to
itself while the brood escapes.
That is the keynote of the story, for
Ounce Is sent away on presumable bust
ness while his father Wallace undertakes
to fascinate, on the motherhood" policy,
his sons fancee. Wallace does so and
| -
marries Veronica Cat the time, not low
ing herr, to protect her good name
we'll as save, he figured 1t, his son.
The son returns the night of the we'd
ding; an agreement Is made between
father and son that the latter is to take
long trip, not before the father swears
to give to Ounce the woman Veronica,
at the end Of IL months should she de-
sire it-all that sort Of thing
| OF course Ounce leaves, riding high
horses, or words to that effect. But
soon, or fairly soon, engages himself to
Miss Edith Quarles with whom he had
some boy and girl hirtations two years
before.
The strongest, the most dramatic por-
lions of the book are: The manner in
which Veronica wins the love of her
husband Wallace Rhodes and his recol-
lection of his oath to his son-somewhar
amended, it Is true, by the announced en-
gagement between Ounce and Edith.
And the undercurrent, malicious, spiteful
fight that is waged on Veronica by Edith
and her aunt, Mrs. Dempster, when the
two latter come to visit and If possible
get possession of the family home of the
Rhodes Montfort"-f Ounce and
Edith after their marriage. They succeed
in the later. No doubt the dramatic uni
ties demanded that they should, but this
reviewer is mighty sorry that they did.
ra-
viewer has known In his short, moro or
less, young life, just three Mrs. Demp
sters' in real life. And 1t Is due Miss Da-
Wis to say that the strength OF her new
book, outside of the artistic handling of
her material, the putting together of d.
verse and warning notes" In most
pleasing way, lies to great extent in
depicting real people, all of whom VIC
have met, or their counterparts. in real
life. That is test of novelist. when
you come to think of It, Take the sue
cessful Victorian novelists: those that
succeeded, and in hardly any Of their
books we read now, 80 years afterwards,
is there character we do not now meet,
or his or her imitation daily on the street.
wallace Rhodes and Ounce, togeth-
err with poor, dear, little misjudged Ver-
onica. the spiteful Edith with her Ma
donna face and hair, and that awful
(should have been incarceratedD Mrs.
DempSter, through Cnelr ActlOnB, SpeecN
and all that makes for good book Gas
this ono really is) will delight YOU
You may have read It, assuming that
this department was asleep at the switch
In not reviewing 1t heretofore. If you
haven't-read 1t, you should-for the book
Is not only very interesting, very dram
attic, but splendidly written.
wallace Rhodes" is as good book as
has gone out of the south in years. and
that is saying q great deal.
Kipling. Stories and Poems Every Child
Should Know. Doubleday. Page &
co..
This collection of Kipling's stories and
poems, supposedly suitable for every
child" is edited by Mary E. Burt and w.
T. Chaplin being illustrated by ]. M.
Glseson, Chas. Livingston Bull (some of
whose pictures, not particularly in this
book, but of animals generally-will cause
you to spend hours and hours figuring out
tho answer" that Is, what tits Is IT'D
and by the author.
Tho book IL dedicated ITO that person
small who asks What. what WHAT
where where, where?-when, when.
whsn?-how, how, how?-who, who, who?
why, why, why?-from the moment she
| opens her eyes,"
paddock, or paddle would, 1t occurs
| to this reviewer, be more suitable for
| that person small than a dedication.
| Still, you never can tell.
Mary E. Burt says this book has been
Is years on the way, but has arrived at
| last as this reviewer Ia telling YOU. That