The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-13

piece of work. She has written story
worth while. She has struck that for
tunate middle ground all the way
through which makes it possible for
her to grasp and hold the interest or
both men and women.
THE HISTORY OF MEXICO."
BY Hubert Howe Bancroft. Maps and
illustrations. The Bancroft company,
publishers, 156 Fifth avenue. New York.
In view of the many ephemeral books
on Mexico lately issued from the press.
and the probability of protracted strug-
giles in that quarter, with ever recurring
fresh problems demanding for solution
better knowledge of the past, better
understanding of the people and how to
deal with them,s it seems opportune, the
publication of work such as Hubert
Howe Bancrofts THE History of Next
co., covering the entire ground from the
earliest records of primitive ages to the
present time, work in popular form, at
once attractive to the general reader and
yet so thoroughly done as to meet the
requirements of the man Of letters and
the scholar. &
Such a work must necessarily embody
all the many questions, solved or un-
solved, appertaining to the several peoples
who at various times have occupied this
favored and fascinating region region
embracing all the soils and climates any
where found, from the hot malarious bor-
der to the temperate and healthful table
land, and up the sides of Popocatepeti to
perpetual snow.
est RI apparonlisb the of this
work and present the subject In proper
form and logical sequence, Mr.. Bancroft
has made the following divisions
/ Aboriginal; involving the origin of the
Indians, the indigenous culture of the Toll
tees, the Chichimecs, and the Aztecs,
their manners and customs. their nligra-
lions and traditions, their laws, literc ;ure.,
and languages, their land tenure, govern
ment and Industries
III The Spanish conquest by Cortes and
his band; their remarkable adventures,
their treacherous dealings with Mcnte-
yuma and his chiefs, and the destruction
of the capital--seemingly thrilling romance
rather than plain history s
I III Vice regal rule; covering the CO.
lonial period of 300 years with further
conquests and cruelties. and the sack OF
Vera Cruz by the pirates
w The revolution; how Mexico declared
independence from Spain, and fought it
out to a successful issue.
V The United States of Mexico; their
cea Useless infelicities arising from revolu-
tons Imperialism, republicanism, and for
eign intervention.
VI The growth of the republic; the oeo-
pie and their condition, with progress or
the absence of 1t under the several Presi-
dents.
All this all that is known of the earlier
periods and all that is worth knowing
since European occupation is presented in
clear and interesting narrative form, as.
the result not only of lifetime of study
by the author, but of lifetime studies of
all the authors who have ever written a
history of any Importance of this country.
In graphic chapters the book brings up
the past. describes the present, and con-
templates the future.
but SHE MEANT WELL"
BY William Came The John Lane COM
pany, publishers, New York.
The story of few weeks in the life
OF meddlesome child of five, the age
when little knowledge of the art Of
how to be useful is dangerous thing,
is the theme of William Caine's book,
But He Meant Well" Hannah accom-
and the well intentioned escapades Of
the child soon plunge the household and
indeed the entire neighborhood into con-
fusion. There is sheer delight in the
description of these episodes, and Mr.
Game has never displayed his great gift
for drawing children to better effect than
in the passages which show a fresh plot
Matching in the mind of Hannah She
is indeed immensely alive, and her friends
and victims are also delightful company.
IS. PERSONS UNKNOWN"
BY Virginia Tracy. Illustrations by
Henry Raleigh. The Century company.
publishers, New York. :
First of all the love story of Bryce
Herricz, young novelist, and Chris
tiana Hope, young actress and a genius,
caprlcious. gallant. witty, spirited. beauti-
full is death with in Virginia Tracy's
story, Persons Unknown" But their
love is harassed from the beginning by
a mysterious murder and the untangling
of that mystery leads the reader through
chapter after chapter OF unexpected turns,
sensational thrills and puzzling cllmaxes.
The entire action takes place In the
atmosphere of New York city, in the
prescntest of present days, and pulses
with the vibration Of the New York
streets. But the settings give glimpses
of all sorts of places: bachelor suite
in one of the expensive new apartment
houses. lonely spot in Central park,
reception on Fifth avenue. cheap table
d'hote in the Italian quarter, the gar
dens and then the music room of a prince
~ country house UP the Hudson. great
first night at a Broadway theatre, the
loft of deserted garage on the lower
east side. Times square flashing its cleo
trio signs through night storm, a road
house where automobiles dance the
tango. the interior OF celebrated liter
AIRY and dramatic club and the darkness
Of moving picture show.
THE ENEMY OF WOMAN
BY Winifred Graham. Mitchell Kenner-
ley, publisher, New York.
Lionel Marsh is distinguished member
of Parliament Famous as an opponent
of the movement, he is about to deliver
a speech against woman suffrage But
to the astonishment of everyone he pleads
passIonately and eloquently for the cause.
How? Why? The explanation is simple
but startling: woman, disguised as
Marsh. made that speech. Who she was.
how she made her way into the house
that day and what happened as a result
of her feat Is told In 1.-THE Enemy Of
Woman" by Winifred Graham.
In England Winifred Graham has long
been an unusually successful and pop17lar