The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

out beyond the ropes in whirling spool
or thrilling adventure. The water is deep
and the bottom rocky and only by the
greatest effort do they reach the shore
minus their DISCUSSES, revealing them
selves as they really are--Algernon Van
Rensselaer, Todd and simple, everyday
Molly O'Toole
Every element of popularity that it is
possible for story of this type to pos
sess is found/in THE Upper Crust" 1t
Is fresh in plot. 1t is bewiderng to
the very end. 1t is delightfully."- told The
dialogue is bright and snappy, crammed
with keen and quotabe sayings that are
wholly new and original. The situations
are humorous and still serious. The
characters are vvidly delineated and do
not tax the ina gination of the reader
The story is not overdone nor yet un-
derdone in any particular. It's done to a
turn, THE Upper Crust; it's crisp and
spicey. with the fun oozing out all
around like sugar syrup
The author has achieved a fresh and
entertaining departure from the ia
miliar type of fiction that depends on
the adventures that arise from mis-
understandings resulting from some
ones pretense of being some one else.
The outdoor atmosphere of the tale
is invigorating and refreshing. 1t is
an ideal summer story staged out un-
der the open sky.
The situations are the kind Stockton
used to take such delight in handling
and the whole story reflects the same
kindly. humorous, sympathetic feeling
that characterized Stockton's work-a
joy in youth and love, a faith in hui
man nature. and a scorn without bit
terness of the mean and sordid.
one can not help liking Algernon
Van Rensselaer, Todd just as one could
not help liking Jerry the Watermelon
in Sherman's previous story He Comes
Up Smiling" The reader is at once in
sympathy with Molly, too. and hopes
against hope that she may complete
her escapade undetected.
With its wild automobile rides and
runaways; its morning plunges in a Sc
cluded little pool behind the rocks and
its rendezvous at dusk, THE Upper
Crust" is a breezy tale of summer love
that is uproariously funny. gloriously
exciting and dashingly rapid from start
to finish 1t is better than all your
spring tonics to put you in the happy
mood It's a tale Arthur Guiterman
of Life would say hobbs merrilly on
ward all the way"-a charming sum-
mer novel.
"FIGHTING BY SOUTHERN FED
ERALS"
BY Charles G. Anderson. The Neale
Publishing Co. New York.
Fighting BY Southern Federals," as
written by Charles G.. Anderson is a
volume of intense interest to the north
and south.
The author in his estimate places the
numerical strength of the armies that
fought for the Confederacy at approx
tmately 100000 men. and shows that
296,5I9 white soldiers living in the
south, and 1855 colored soldiers and
approximately 100000 men living in the
north that were 6orn in the south
making 63i,255 southern soldiers
fought for the preservation of the
union.
THE POISONED PEN"
BY Arthur B. Reeve; Dodd. Mead & Co..
New York.
Just how far detective stories infu-
question. Mr. Arthur z. Reeve, the
author of the tremendously popular
Craig Kennedy" stories, tells in re-
cent interview several interesting an
ecdotes in this connection. 1t seems that
the first magazine editor to whom the
Craig Kennedy" stories were sent re-
turned them with an apoogetic note that
he wouldn't dare publish them because
some darn fool would be doing them"
Considering the tremendous success of
these stories in the Cosmopolitan and
Hearsts. we feel sorry for this editor.
We might right here give our ideas on the
editor with sensitive conscience, but we
would rather return to young Mr.. Reeves.