The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-12
Literary Lights and Shadohs
BY s. MAYS BALL

 sets that life forth with an accumulation of actual detail, an unerring veracity that will awaken and very much interest the reader
 There are 25 handsome illustrations in this book by the author, which in itself would be well worth the price of the book. "Colonial Recipes from Old Virginia and Maryland Manors," by Maude A. Bonn berger. (Neale Publishing Co.)
 It Is a vertiable snare of delights Miss Bomberger has woven for us-or any of us who care to be woven for-at once fascination and an aggravation. In this book are pen pictures of famous mat rons, glimpses of stately manor houses bits of piquant verseh legends, wise and otherwise-gallant toasts, with detailed instructions how to make all sorts of delicious things-cakes, hot breads, pud- dings and pastries, sauces, tulips and Jellies-a banquet spread before ones longing eyes. only to vanish, as one reaches to possess 1t:
 And over these dream banquets spread in the old manors-Arllngton, Belmont, Castle Howe, Harewood. Westover, Way erly-preside gracious 1adies-Martha Washington, Nellie Curtis, Mrs. John Marshall, Mary Lee. Betty Martin, Priscll- la Ridley-those rare housewives who made in their own spacious kitchens the cakes and pastries and sauces they served to their distinguished guests, great gen erals, lawmakers. turists and famous men from over the sea- What days they were when manners were kingly and hospitality boundless; when domestic cooking was an accomplishment coveted by elegant ladies and dining was a serious function.
 The social life of the aristocratic manor houses of Virginia and Maryland Is un- consciously mirrowed here in these recipes eulled from 100 spicy corner cupboards. from a 100 yellowed manuscript cook books, books written by the same delicate hands that played the virginal and worked the sampler "A lettuce Dressing from Belmont, "A Black Fruit Cake" from Winston the old English plum pud- ding the Randolphs ate, generation after seneration; the Tilsy pudding and the Sally Lun they cared for at Weldon and Martha Washington's "Rich Black Cake" are told about in this book.
 For instance, think of Martha Washing toms Rich Black Cake" the verA first item of which Is 20 eggs and the last 3h pint of wine and some French brandy"-the recipe was, of course, writ ten before the days of prohibition. Twenty eggs and five hours and one-quarter will bake it, the rich black cake-Mrs. Washington assures us That was yester- day when folk had time-and plenty of the best French brandy in tal slender decanters.
 This is today and we are in more or less hurry-and the tall slender decanter Is not
 But if one can forget today and relive that yesterday. take up this book of old joys, old toasts, old richness and leisure and revel in 1t again--if you care to and the Fuller bill will permit you.
 
 Poets of Virginia by + V. N Painter,
 A. M, D. D. (B. F. Johnson Publishing
 Co)
 This book is comprehensive study of the poets of Virginia. By that phrase the author means to designate such writers as have published one or more volumes of verse. Only in two or three cases-such as John Esten Cook and John R. Thompson-has this rule been disre- garded. No author of a volume of verse we are told, has been Intentionally omit ted.
 The facts presented by pr. Painter will be revelation to most persons, even to those who are well informed in literary ma alters.
 There are few who knew or would have supposed that more than 100 men and women of the Old Dominion had published volumes of opetry. This surprise will be in- creased, undoubtedly, when the variety
 
 understood.
 As a whole 1t is notable for it's elevation of thought and purity of sentiment and from beginning to end there is scarcely a line that would bring a blush to the cheek of modesty itself.
 In his study of the various volumes that came under review, Dr. Painter has had to assume the role of critic.
 In his treatment the author has fol- lowed a chronological order which has been fixed by the date of publication of the successive volumes of verse; In the appendix there are the full titles of the various works that have formed the basis of this study-"Poets of Virginia"
 The stream of poetry, since the days of the redoubtable Capt. John Smith, has never run entirely dry in Virginia but there is lots of talk of prohibition" in Virginia at the present moment, as the English say. Really, the poetic impulse has steadily followed the development of Virginia and reflected It's physical fea- lures, its growing intelligence and it's po- litical history.
 This fact gives special importance to the present volume. for 1t is not only simply a record of individual verse; writers, but, in part at least, culture history of the state of Virginia.
 Poets of Virginia" Is well worth while '.Every Man His Chance" by Matilda
 Woods Stone. (Richard G. Badger.)
 This is a very good story-if you like that kinda distinctly western story, writ ten by western woman who knows the country about which she writes.
 The story depicts the rapid rise and fall of a new western town aspiring to be a large city.
 The principal characters enter the book at the same moment and in the end, after the fatal Doom times," they are left in their just positions.
 Every Man His Chance is not bad at all.
 "Richard Hickman Menefee," by John
 Wilson Townsend. "Neale Publishing
 Co.)
 They tell the story that some seven years ago in little country school house, a boy read for the first time about Rich ard Hickman Menefee. The history the