The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-07

belong to the class of novelsts whose
heroes marry and live happily ever
afterward," describes acutely the revul-
sion of Ladislaus' feeling when he
learns who Miss Anney is. Ladislaus
is very sensual. but he has learned
to love Miss Annoy very truly and
once that Hanka, Miss Anney Is con-
vnced of this she consents to the en-
gagement. Ladislaus' sexual passions
are not. however. sufficiently under
control to compel him to treat the now
discoveries she -is-lost Miss Anney with
the respect she doubtless could easily
have demanded and secured had 1t not
been for their former relations.
Miss Anney the Hanka that was, SIM
ply couldn't stand for Ladislaus, and
his lack Of control, and SO. after nu-
merous incidents which are described
with what to many readers will doubt
less be an unseemly frankness of de-
tai, she sends her lover packing, as he
deserved.
One point Is strongly brought out by
the author, namely, the treatment-Ladis-
laus, the difference in treatment rather,
he thinks 1s due a peasant girl and a
woman of his own rank. 1t is explained
fully, quite fully, by Sienkiewicz, that 1t
was an Unborn difference, recognized by
generations of Ladislaus' ancestors
Hanka, Miss Anney, Is very charming.
womanly, affectionate and loyal. The
book is first-class, of course. OF its kind
1t is Al. If taken as a whole, the
story is neither pretty nor pleasant. But
If one must be In the literary push,
whirlpools should not be skipped.
THE Soul of serf." BY j. Brecken-
ridge Ellis. U.aird & Lee)
This Is romance of love and yalor
among the Angles and Saxons, recounting
the yalorous deeds and imprisoned love
or Usfrey, stalwart young Saxon hero,
who though but a "ceorl," or serf. had
dreams of freedom, fame and fortune
awaiting him over the sea In the great
western land of Britain. The opening of
the novel presents Usfrey deeply In love
with Cuthberga, the beautiful ward of
the lordiy Lila, the "earldorman," or
chieftain of his tribe of Saxons Usfrey's
love-as 1t even In this day and generation
has been known to happen In the highest,
sassiety-for Cuthberga was without her
consent or even knowledge of his ex-
istence But did that phase Usfrey? No
indeed Usfrey believed that his fate des-
tined him for some great purpose in life
good old Usfreyl His immediate ambf-
ton was to win Cuthberga for his wife
and voyage with her to Britain, that to
him, western land of glory Fate seemed
to favor his purpose. A feast was to
be given by Lila In honor of the Anglican
SAHOA AHoAASA 6AAo AllS 1OuOWHS, at WHICH
arrangements were to be made for trans
porting all the freemen and their wives to
Britain. To this public feast, bold, love-
sick Usfrey determined to go and seek
the permission of Lila to accompany the
voyagers to the land of his Dreams
But hist! While the young Saxon serf
was on his way to the feast-hall, strange
doings were happening there. Revelry
had grown into riot and Eumer, the Ang-
liam chief, who was also deeply in love
with Cuthberga, proposes that Lillia, her
guardian, shall throw dice with him to
determine if he shall have her hand in
marriage. II stake myself" he cries out
to Lila, ito be yours forever to be treat
ed as your basest slave, II you throw the
highest dice. And you must stake Cuth-
berga."
Well, now, novel which starts off like
that and continues as 1t does all the way
through with thrills of that calibre should
please the lover of thrills. even the young
card players at Warm Springs Ga, for
instance. eh?
The manners and the customs of the
early Britains are presented with vivid
ness and the Characters of the story are
rather clearly drawn; sufficiently clear for
q frst-class thriller, which THE Soul
of the Serf' Is.