The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-08


 garita's Soul" which has a subtitle, The Romantic Recolections of a Man of F1fty, are the authorities for the state ment that over 50O,OO0 people read this story as it appeared serally in the Amer ican Magazine. And, although the book has been published only two weeks. two editions have been exhausted already, the publishers are selling the third and have now gone to press with the fourth edition.
 Well, the novel deserves all that There has not been a more delightful charm ing, clean and at the same time inter esting and convincing American love story written in many long, ohi such a long day. The novel Is sent forth as by Ingraham Lowell, the pseudonym of some gifted writer who has produced a story that will stand with anything written this, last and no doubt next year.
 Strange as 1t may seem, it is the most interesting. charming book-and as in the case of ''Margaritas Soul'-which is the most difficult to review. For instance there is no way in the world of anyone being able to convey to you just the charm that is contained in "Margaritas Soul'-you will have to find 1t yourself through a reading of the book. The best that 8 reviewer can do as regards a gem of book like this is only to hint as to it's worth.
 
 of age. The story opens in New York city in just about as attractive manner as one could wish. Roger Bradley was walking up Broadway. This fact calls sharply for comment, for he had not done 1t in years; the thoroughfare was intol erable to him"
 In dramatic way, at a street crossing Roger Bradley Dumped heavily against the person behind him. A startled gasp, something soft against his shoulder. the sharp edge of a projecting hat, told him that this person was a woman, and step ping sdewise into the shelter of a neighboring news-stall, he raised his hat with courtesy alien to the place and hour." The person bumped against was Margarta. Roger Bradley, a successful lawyer of New York, was struck with the intense beauty of. the girl, and as Roger was gentleman, not a cad, he quickly noticed the fact that Margarita was alone in an unaccustomed place. He offers his services to guide her from the crush of the street; he offers lunch, and Margarita has. as she explains, found her first friend. At that time Margarita had no soul; there is no question of that you will only have to read of her esca- pades with Roger on that to him long afternoon when he was trying to ind her home, endeavoring to convince her that she had some name other than Mar garita, that she must live some place and to that place she must go at once, if Roger had to carry her there.
 We'll, the whole novel reyolves around the fact that during the civil war Mar garita's father under promise to fight against the union, was ostracised by ms southern relations to the extent that he left America to travel abroad where in Italy, getting a. glimpse of pair of love- ly eyes through the easements of an I, AxTaC and all that with them is, brings them back to this country and near New York, in hidden portion of the eastern coast, he builds home. Margarita's mother dies soon after her child's birth, leaving the desolate old man, old in spirit at least, who with his books, his broken heart, permits this lovely Margarita to grow up in absolute ignorance of the world, tee flesh and the devil. Just be- fore this story opens Margarita's father had died and this beautiful girl. slipping away from her desolate home on the coast, goes to New York, where the first person she meets is Roger Bradley.
 Now, the man who tells this story is winfred Jerrolds, Roger Bradley's best friend. When Roger succeeds in getting Margarita back to her home and finds her guardan-servant dead; having fallen in love with her anyway, he wishes to marry Margarita, and Winfred Jerrolds Is brought into the action of the story by being telegraphed for in New York with instructions to bring sensible parson." Then at sight poor old Jerry who laments all through the book that he had not seen Margarita first, falls in love with the beautiful woman, but all he receives from the love-game Is whole-book of suffering.
 Roger Bradley and Margarita were married and went to live abroad, that the latter might there be taught that she either had misplaced her soul. that she had never had one, or at any rate that it was convenient, certainly the proper thing, to have one. The story then tells of Margarita's awakening She develops a great musical talent, great voice, during which time she does the strangest kind of things.
 Really, the above is just about as much as a review can give you from which to secure an inkling of the wonderful superl- ority of this novel, in which a beautiful woman of say 20 years of age, through love and cultivation, secured and held firmly to her soul
 There is a charm about the book that is indescribable. You will In measure have to accept the advice of this scribe who read the book a few days ago and Is yet dazed with its beauty and delight.
 Eliza Calvert Hall, author of the AunS- Jane-stories, is also enthusiastic regarding '.Marsarita's Sorl.'' Said she: ''The greatest success since 'Trilby.' Du Mau- rier reincarnated."
 This is not a thriller '-thank good ness. It will take you two or three days to complete the book, even If you happen to be a rapid reader. But there is one thing pertain. "Margarita's Soul" is a winner, and no mistake
 Happy Hawkins, by Robert Alexander
 Wason. (Small, Maynard & Co)
 There must be at least 5000, 900. more or less, stories written with scenes in the cent of which there should be strict federal and state law.
 Every now and then we do get hold of a book that absolutely breathes forth the western air, in light. charming, exhil- arating way--just as that western air affects one personally
 ..Happy Hawkins Is one of the real western stories, and is as good as any, thing of its kind that has been published in the past few years
 The plot moves rapidly enough, there are sufficient pulling -of-guns to please anyone and the excitement at times is quite intense.
 Happy Hawkins was a cowboy, of course, who tells the story of his life on the ranch of an old western martinet, about whom and his beautiful daughter Happy first knew as a child there was a bit of mystery. Happy works first on this ranch referred to, then moves to an- other, and back again, all the while tell ing us of his experiences, funny and some quite exciting.
 In a word if you care for the western type of story, here Is one of the best