The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-24

on his hands. as it we're for. of course,
papa, after being hidden for 10 years
suddenly appears Just when GeorSe
might be happy you know-all that
sort of thing. George cannot, even low
ing Lady Merton desperately. ask her to
marry him. What man in Georges
place would?-George wanted to know
constantly. OF course. thousands of
full blooded men would have asked
for her il they had wanted her in
real life, but this is novel We are
thinking of, you know, which is differ
ent from life.
OF course, the problem" in the story
is simply this: VIII Lady Merton, born
TO English culture. riches, things of
that sort, be willing TO give up all
those things to go to live in Canada
with the man she loves because he de-
clines to live anywhere else? He Is
coming man there, you know. Well,
she fights successfully against her love
and seems to have had a pretty good
outlook for a victory when the poor
sick brother, realizing that he is go
ing to die. wishing to see his sister
happy, his mother arranged for, in
sists that Lady Merton shall obey the
dictation from her heart. She does
that. goes to Canada to grow up with
the country We see her only for a
| little while in A farm house in the
Cana dian "wilds.' and Mrs. Ward cuts
off just at the very time when the
problem really begins. If we are to
Judge lifes problems fairly 1T does seem
as if we must admit that most of them
begin after, not befor1, marriage.
| What?
| Lady Merton, Conolist," is simply
an ordinary novel of the day: such a
one as you are likely to find on the
department or bookstore counters In
piles. illustrated usually in colors. But
as for It's being a worthy production
from the greatest living woman novel
ist," this reviewer cannot see it-that's
Eall. You will like the novel, no doubt
| II will not tire you; the descriptions
of the Canadian Pacific railway, hotels,
railway stations, bridges, lakes, trees.
etc. en- route will interest you pos
sibly.
But the facts would seem to be that
Mrs. Ward visited America some time
ago and on her return to England sh g
complimented or meant to compliment
the United States with marriage a la
mode" She now offers a few punches
| OF flowers to Canada in the shape of
Lady Morton. Colonist." Just how the
Canadians will thrill over " book which
speaks of Toronto as being quite loyal
to the British empire, and those Amer
| leans who cross the line to take up
|
Toronto. and quite as dull'--is a ques-
ton, Ell? Still, you never can tell about
Englishmen--or Canadians.
"A Search After Ultimate Truth" by
/ Aaron Martin Crane. (Lathrop, Lee 6
| Shepard Coz
In his new volume. which has a sub
title, "The Divine Perfection Inher-
ent in Man and in All Creation" Mr.
Crane begins by finding in God a sure
and enduring foundation for all real
| ity. Next, the author seeks for a clear
understanding or Gods indisputabIe
qualities. Following all TINT is a dis
cussion of propositions which Mr.. Crane
| designates as essentials. On these lat
ter is based a discussion OF the non
existence of materiality and error, fol-
flowed by a dissertation on creation
from the standpoint of the accounts in
Genesis and John-ouite an interesting
Interpretation
In the progress of the book are elab-
GRATED the essential characteristics OF
man and the mutual relations of men to
each other and to God. Then the au-
thor takes up a discussion Of the RICH
| of every man to freedom. the mutual
relation of oneness existing between
man and God. the whole concluding
with a chapter which, by independent
data, the author claims to prove in
contestably and triumph antly that man
is immortal.
The book has drawn from all sources
of authority, Is thoroughly reverential
| and is permeated throughout with
sound reasoning and much unfiinching
logic.
| 1t is offered as a "veritable guide
to the science of life and living"
| A great many readers are already
doubtless familiar with Mr.. Cranes pre-
vious and quite successful book, Right
and Wrong Thinking and Their Re-
suits"
Nathan Burke, by Mary s. Watts. (The
Macmillan Coz
Every now and then you are likely to
read that such and such a novel Is the
kind of literary production that the mas
| ter. Thackeray, might have written if
| he had lived in such and such a place.
Generally, of course, that means nothing
| at all; on the contrary, except what some
publishing house wishes you to believe
| to the extent of so. But the Macmillan
company in Nathan Burke" is offering
a novel OF the Thackeray type, saturated
with the very spirit of the middle west in
| the days before the civil war when Ohio
was changing from border territory to a
| great state. Of course, you know, and
this reviewer knows, that ths supposition
tHat lHacheidy might nave permitted
himself to live in Ohio then or now, is
ridiculous, but that has nothing to do
with the excellence, superiority of ma
| than Burke"
| This novel of 62S pages is one of the
| big books of this or any year. 1t is so
very superior that it is likely not to be a
success with the general public. 1t does
seem, anyhow, that the success or other
wise of a novel is strictly matter of
Luck or something or other
| Mrs. Watts wrote last year-or was IL
| 1908?-anyhow, a year or so ago, a beau
! tiful novel called "The Tenants" When