The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-24

} story and is sure to please all those
I.who want an entertaining book within
their reach
The publication of Mr.. Streets latest
book, by the John Lane Company. calls
to mind an amusing incident that hap
pened recently. In these days of siren
uous competition in publishing circles
for young authors, another publisher
approached Mr.. Street with a PROPOSE
ton for a book, but was eleverly re-
buffed with the reply that he greatly
appreciated another's interest in his
stuff, but that he was sure the seeking
publisher would readily understand
| that there was natural affinity be-
tween the Streets and the Lanes"
SHORT STORY MASTERPIECES"
Volumes and II. French Done into
English and with an introduction by j.
Berg Esenwen, editor of Lippincott 8
magazine. The Home Correspondence
School, Springfield Mass.
''The French short-story is unsurpassed
in compressed vividness," declares DR.. j.
Berg Esenwein, editor of Lippincott's
magazine. 'Zest. movement and airy
charm, glittering style. precise character
izatlon. perfection of detail, beauty of
| finish TO cut an intaglio, to in
lay jewel-these make the Frenchmans
conception of the artistic in brief fiction
and in these he is unsurpassed" This Is
the utterance of one who is perhaps the
greatest of living authorities on the sub
ject, the lecturer, critic, editor and au-
Story has had a tremendous circula-
ton. Everyone who aspires TO accom-
plsh things in fiction should read DR.
Esenweins introduction TO the two
new volumes. devoted especially to French
originals in this class of fiction, and en-
titled. "Short Story Masterpieces" pub
lished by the Home Correspondence
School. Springfield. Mass.
DR.. Esenwein is the translator rs we'll
as the arranger of these charming and
very representative short lictons.
more entertaining variety of writings,
complete in themselves and accompanied
with brief, yet clear and comprehensive
essays upon each of the men whost work
is here given prominence, 1t would be inn
possible to imagine. The first volume ex-
plots Guy de Maupassant, Realistic
striking picture OF the gifted suicide ae,
companying the essay in this case; and
takes up the work also of Coppee, Dau-
Diet. Merimee and Lott. Volume n. 'front.'
piece to which Is an excellent portrait Of
the too-little known Anatole France,
gives also specimens of the writings Of
and critiques upon Halesy, Theuriet,
| Gautier and BaIzec. With much less
trouble than would be possible in any
other way can one be advised OF the
charm and power these ten writer's os-
1 sess. There Is peculiar satisfaction
wfilly unlike any other, in turning from
mans finished work In this form d.
rectly to the less-known particulars about
the authors. and rigid examination ~
their methods and achievements. These
popular" yet scholarly books are Of con-
venient size. and bound in the always-at-
tractive blue and gold dress of the aopu-
! lar classics. These two volumes are to
| be shortly followed by eight others. treat
| ing of the shortstory as one finds it IN
the Russian and American forms.
"RODDLES."
1 "A CONTRAST IN SUCCESS" By Paul
| Neuman George II. Doran Co.. New
| York.
RIDDLES belongs TO Dicl<nstown: he
must have been friend to siicawber and
/ David Copperfeld-a friend who has sur
| vived that jolly company of genial phil
| osophers and has lived over into our own
age.
| A smoudering revolutionary. a Journeys
| man tailor pennilcss humorist, Roddles
/ despite his brains. never had financial
| chance But he has two boys and is de-
/ te.mined By hook or by crook 10 urge
them out Of his social groove into wealth
| and rank.
| BY what seheming he does 1t. and how