The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-10

most is pursuaded to take another hus- band when-the cat came back Hiram returns and the remainder of the novel tells the story of how Perkie had to re- habilitate himself in the heart of his wife and how Mary Jane helped.
 Mary Jane's Pa" is a simple little story, but quite full of human nature. It is all wholesome Gin fact, nutricious) as well as interesting. and as it is under stood to be MT. Ways first novel, 1t, de- serves and should receive great deal of praise.
 Over the Quicksands," by Anna Chapin Ray. Qittle, Brown & Co.)
 Anna Chapin Ray is one of the best of contemporary writers producing books. She wrote book a year or so ago called "Ackroyd of the F Faculty. which not only was the best of three college stories pro- duced in that year, but as the New York Times reviewer said, there was in that book, as in all Miss Rays productions "a good deal of that sort of thing for which one looks in vain in most Ameri- can novels-the revelation of tempera- ment and character by speech and action rather than by description"
 The scene of 'Over the Quicksands'' is laid in Quebec. A young New Yorker on private car party visits Quebec, falls in love with the city and It's people, and later returns to his home anxious to bring his adopted sister back with him to Can ada. Much against his fathers wishes the young New Yorker carries out his plans the result of which causes the plot of lover the Quicksands"
 The different situation in this novel handled as it is by Miss Ray in a mas terly manner would have been in less capable hands a very unpleasant tale, possibly In it there is a nun, retired from the world at Quebec, after leaving her two children provided for, but ignor- ant of their birth. Grown to manhood and womanhood, the two children become the pivots around which this excellent story revolves in quite two circles. It is difficult to give one an idea of the plot without a reading, other than to say that there is love and sorrow, happiness and gloom, joy and sadness, all so in termingled in the story, put there in delightful fashion by Miss Ray, one Of the best novel writers producing books in this day and generation.
 lover the Quicksands'' is more than worth while.
 'oThe Personal Conduct of Belinda by | Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd Doubleday, | Page & Co) | Margaret Barnes and Belinda Carewe
 
 years one of these Follow the Man From | Cook's' parties in Europe. Misses | Barnes and Carewe were teachers in Miss 1 Ryder's Select School for Young Ladies' | and Miss Carewe has a wonderful way with girs,' Miss Ryder was wont to re- mark with a smile of satisfaction With men, too, but that came later, as we shall see, as they tell us in books. | Margaret and Belinda were preparing | 1or+.r fn tolr4 fy Efrrn n jump during the coming vacation, when it was discovered that Maggie, who had been the real head of the shebang 1 couldn't go, and Belinda had to assume the whole responsibility. This personal conduct of Berlinda tells us all about that trip led by Belinda, endowed by nature with absurdly long eyelashes and smile spontaneous and dimple-haunted, , The interference of the little chap with the bow and arrow causes sad disar- rangement of the carefully laid plans of the itinerary. Baedeker becomes joke he always was-and to accept the invita- | ton of love-stricken English lord to motor through France, Belinda's party dodge 156 pages of sights, mostly starred and are shamelessly glad of It..
 Sentimental, pink-nosed Amelia takes comfort in the confession from the Yale 1904 man that he doesn't care whether | Durham Cdtneurdl IS Oniy EiShSh oi | Norman or Gothic or Brooklyn while frank, outspoken Mrs. Bagby prefers the wild ass in the Jardin des Plantes at Paris to the Venus de Milo. In Edinburg the party, especially the girls in it, re- ceive thrill by the sight of the kited Black Watch.
 The love tangles are finally straight ened out, an elopement is prevented, ev- erybody is delightfully."- happy and all in the party decline to accept as truth Be- llinda's confession: My personal con- ducting has been bad enough. but my per- sonal conduct certainly has been scan dal.'
 .sThe Personal Conduct of Belinda lis light, very light; one of those Ladies Home Journal characteristic stories DO you understand?
 "In After Days; Thoughts on the Future I Life" a symposium. (Harper x Broth- ers.)
 This is very unusual book on the sub feet of life after death, by group or representative men and women.
 Each has written his or her own per- sonaI private convictions, doubts, hopes, wonderings--about the life that may or may not follow this. With the exception of MT. Henry James. almost every writer in the group speaks with the reflection and Judgment of three score years and ten.
 The contents of "In After Days are: FssA Counsel of Consolation" by w. D. Howells. "The Future Life.' by Thomas Wentworth Higginson; "Is There Exist