The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-19

dalen by the world-"The true road is not open to those who lift the chin of pride, rejecting the least of those who are called common or unclean, it is Curious ly) you yourself that you reject In the sketch: "The Drunkard," MT.
 Grayson touches upon that strange dual personality or duel activity existing in most of us, until we seem to be indeed
 two personalities in one. In the drunk
 ards life there is distinct opposition be- tween these two natures which makes 1t extremely difficult for him to readjust his life: Fate driving him to think one way and to act another. Most of us, we read. "are in some respects. drunkafds, drunkenness is not mere matter of in toxicating liquors; it goes deeper far deeper. Drunkenness is the failure of man to control his thoughts"
 That "contept is our best having is the gospel preached in the life of An Old Maid.'' whom theNauthor terms "a sensi-
 tive social tentacle-reaching out to touch
 with sympathy the stranger In all the things told about this old maid, only the common place, the expectated is mar rated. but in a most delightful way. One sighs to be i'll that one might be visited by this honlely figure, bringing her basket, cut of which she takes the most delect- able food, "So that k~the patient will
 only eat he will immediately rise up and
 walk. Or if he dies it is a pleasant sort
 of death" After the fashion of Clarence,
 perhaps false, feeting, perjured Clar-
 ence," choosing to be drowned in hogs head of his beloved wine.
 The author portrays likewise wan- lpdering "Senhonse' who instead of plant ing beautiful flowers over tEe land, paints beautiful thoughts. When in doubt as to an appropriate sentiment for any locality he paints: God Is Love"
 The virtue of hospitality, entertaining the stranger unaware he puts forth by
 means of "A Day of Pleasant Bread"
 Following Emerson's advice. himself par
 aphasing the words of greater one, to the housewife, not to cumber ones self
 with much serving, but to give of the hearts treasure instead to the passing
 guest. | Altogether Adventures in Friendship" is very delightful book, and as Lowell
 says ITO be delightful is to be classc.'
 "The Root of Evil," by Thomas Dixon. Doubleday, Page Co.. New York.) MT. Dixon seems to be playing for his own amusement and the delectation of
 large audience-a sort of Fiorna
 Macleod and William Sharpe drama,
 all, however, over his own name. He plunges might and main into the exposition of southern questions and before he has been safely delegated l to a niche in literature as exponent of race problems he has left that field that he has so thoroughly and fu- riously unheaved with blow shares beat enr like unto swords and has written | One Woman" and Root of Evil" The Root of Evil" is a distinct ad- l vance upon the "One Woman" though melodrama still at times faunts un- affrighted it's flaming flag through the pages of this latest novel of the North Carolina New Yorker
 | Tie descriptions of the mountain lands of the south are the work of hand that loves to depict their
 beauty.
 i The money magnates of Manhattan
 are shadowed forth very recognizably
 in the chapter Inside Facts" the King | of Finance" the "Vandams' Major
 Vikings" and "Grantlys." but after all l the portraits are done only after the sketchy outlines that he who runs may read In the hearsay of everybody and