The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-07

been a constant demand for stories of the
same sort--a demand which was not
hlled. For this reason then, The Broken
Bell should be given an unusually cor
dial reception. for Mise Van Worst seems
to have taken up Mr. Crawford's pen from
where he dropped 1t. and her latest book
contains many of the touches and asug
gestions which made Crawford's Italian
studies so universally liked.
Interest is added to the story through
the fact that the heroine is an expatri-
sted American, who, by reason of being
transplanted in early childhood. by train
ing, education and marriage. has become
an Italian of Italians. The contrast and
struggle between the t9o nationalities the
instinct of blood on the ole hand and en-
vifonment on the Other, gives a dramatic
element to the character which makes it
stand out like a has-relief. one which is
chiseled with all the fneneH and delicacy
of Italian workmanship.
So exquisitely woven is this story that
to take 1t apart or to scperate any of it's
elements from the whole. seems almost
as cruel as 10 mutilate violet in the at
tempt to find the source of its perfume.
Suffice 1t then to say that it is the story
of woman, who, married to a faithless
husband, forgives and attempts TO for
get until her entire nature undergoes n
violent revolt, and finally she finds her.
and her affections which for years have
cried out for sympathetic appreciation.
are fixed upon another man. The incl
dents which lead up to this are tensely
emotional, and there Is big moral and
ethical problem to be faced and solved.
It Is in the handling of this problem
that Miss Van Worst displays the full
power of her artistry. She shows what
ia wonderful grasp she mas upon human
nature, and her actors. although they are
people of real flesh and blood. solve the
problem In way which must he accepted
by all readers who rant their fiction
clean, pure and free from sordid touches
GENIUS AND OTHER ESSAYS"
BY Edmund Clarence Stedman. Edited
by Laura Stedman ard George NJ. Gould
NJ D. Moffst. Yard & Company. New
York
A collection of distinguished essays
taken from the great body of material,
the work of his maturity. left by Mr..
Stedman AT his death. Is Genius and
Other Essays" edited by Laura Sted-
man and George NJ Gould. NJ. d.
The volume begins with the celebrated
essay on Genius. which was published in
the Princeton Review in 1886, and oc-
casioned so much discussion. Other es-
says are on Keats. Lander Blake, Stod-
dard, Whittier. Austin Dobson, Edwin
Booth etc. II is an invaluable and a
highly interesting volume from every
point of view, one made up of the highest
product of Stedmans critical skill, and
hitherto unpublished in book form only
because of the lamentabie accident of his
death.
THE LAST OF THE PURITANs"
THE sorry OF BENJAMIN GILBERT
AND HIS FRIENDS" BY Frederick
Y. Ladd Ten illustrations by NJ. S. Null
ford. +. NJ. Lupton, publisher, New
York
Frederick p. Ladds story. "The Last of
the Puritans," is an unusual novel in
many respects.
It Is THE Story of Benjamin Gilbert
and His Friends" and involves in Gilbert
himself one of the most unique and orig
inal characters that he's been presented
in novel in many days.
The love story is chsrminRly told, and
the love of money and what it brings
people is brought out plainly in the affairs
of the heroine. who suffers greatly by it.
Benjamin Gibert's sayings are the chief
point of interest I'm the book, and IL you
can't find something in his philosophy to
make you look upon life more pleasantly,
then you are hopeless.
Among other things he says:
"I've got tn sunshine an I've got
I've got some philosophy that don't ever
go back on me. an won't go back on
any man. TIL philosophy is this: there
amt day of our life that don't bring
something good, an there amt any hard
day nor any big trouble that couldn't
a ben harder an bigger"
Then again:
Sometimes fghtn' is necessary an
beautiful"
9TH way t handle sorrow is t set tn
clock ahead"
Put not your trust in trouble. 1t amt
any kind of a crop"
"Th' whole of married life Is just waitin'
an hopin' an expectn' an takin' dis
appointments. an risin' up in tn mornin'
with a good bright look as though there
wasn't a thing tn matter, an Twin tn
days fair an sweet"
Any man that amt had any grief, an
borne II, amt man-he's just a child"
Don't worry until tomorrow
THE TOUCHSTONE OF FORTUNE"
BY Charles Major Illustrated. The Mac
milan Company, New York.
Mr.. Majors versatility Is again shown
in this delightful story. "The Touchstone
of Fortune" which more nearly resem-
bles when knighthood Was in Flower,
which won him such unprecedented fame
as a novelist, than anything he has since
done. The story deals with the court of
King Charles IL. The interest i'm the tale
is centered In a witty sprightly and de-
termfned young girl who holds her own
against the evil influences about her and
succeeds finally in outwitting the king in
love and statecraft She is one of those
dear lovable persons who never fail to
make hit whether In fiction or real life
The book Is not all sunshine, however
There is much of the more serious side of
life In 1t. The author Yields a facile pen
in dealing with the Joys, fluctuations and
intrigues of royalty. The story is full of
interesting incidents handled with scrupu-
lous care to avoid overdrawn pictures.
Although the tale is dramatic and vivid
1t corresponds so exactly to what Is
known of the period that one is led TO
wonder whether the plot Is not based on
historical fact. IT Is quite conceivable
that George Hamilton, the romantic hero.
was an actual parsonage and that the ep-
isodes in which he is pictured as play
ing a leading part really took place.
The book has charm of style. spirit and
atmosphere and gives new insight into
the life of the period The reader will
enjoy this stirring account of exciting and
picturesque days long vanished
OTHER BOOKS RECEIVED. GRE
VIEWS LATER)
BLINDS DOWN" BY Horace Annes-
ley Vachell George II. Doran e. Com
pany, New York.