The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-20

''THE WONDERFUL ROMANCE" Prom the French of Pierre De Coule-
 vain. (Mademofselle F'abre). By Alys
 Haliard. Dodd. Mead & Co, publish
 CTS, New York.
 A new novel that has aroused a tre- mendous amount of comment is The Wonderful Romance" by Pierre de Couievain. It Is the authors last mes sage to the world. completed Just before her death, and, as though realizing the fnminencs of, her end, she has put into her book all the accumulated observa- uons, philosophy, love of humanity and abounding faith of her life. In the fore word to her book. Mile. Fabre CPierre de Coulevain was her pen name) plainly states this: Up to the present l have only hovered round the great questions of h3e. This time l intend to attack them frankly And this she has done, m expression of her life and personality than any of her former books, even in el,1ding ''On the Branch"
 Perhaps no author has of recent years made such an instant success and infu- enced 50 many people through one book as has Mlle Fabre through "On the Branch" She expressed the thought of tho more cultured world on the problems of life in an attractive. inspiring man. ner.s and her complete faith In the per fectness of Providence and the ultimate destiny of humanity has brought it's mes sage of comfort and inspiration to thou sands of earnest readers. A fatalist. as her work reveals, she yet never feels tho oppression of destiny characteristic of oriental determinism. but rather does she feel an exaltation in realizing her necessity in the development of the hu- man story.
 Mile Fabre herself has consistently, during her lifetime, avoided publicity of any kind. In reply to all requests for Information regarding herself for publi- cation she has always replied that her work must stand by itself unaided by any interest in her personality-that in her books there Is all the material for public speculation and criticism that she cares to give She lived alone, unobtru- sively, simply, much in the manner de- scribed in "On the Branch" travelling about in France or living quietly in a Paris hotel. as 1t pleased her. And alone she died at an obscure country inn, and few there who saw the brief notices in the press of the death of one Mile. F'a- bre, the Pierre de Coulevain'' who has taken such a. hold on the hearts of multitudes all over the world Of her life little can be said save what we learn from her books. and that is largely con- lecture That tragedy early embittered her, that for years she drifted aimiessly. is probably true. And that toward the close Of her life. with her sorrow in the dim past and with forgetfulness of self and spersonal affairs ,and at last with her fundersta nding of the cosmic pur- pose she has devoted her wonderful mind to the entertainment and inspira- ton and comfort of such of the public as would appreciate her, we can know with certainty.
 Thousands have followed her works in this country, more thousands in her na- tive France. Before the opening of the war sher last book, ''The Wonderful Ro- mance,s had gone through 47 French edi- tions--an enyiable record In this coun- try it has met with widespread popularity from the layman as well as the critics. In it the author has definitely devoted chapters to her thoughts on religion the Catholic church. miracles, love, marriage. 1t is her last word on these subjects and contains the complete philosophy ot her life. It is the conclusion of her life work, and she consciously wrote 1t as such.
 "BETTY'S VIRGINIA CHRISTMAS,'' \ By Molly Elliott Seawell. with 1lustra-
 tions in Color by Henry J. Soulen and
 Decorations by Edward Stratton Hoilo-
 way J. B. I4ipipncott company, pup-
 fishers, Philadelphia.
 Miss Seawel has written in Betty Virginia Christmas story that carries the true spirit of Christmas to the hearts of young and old. The courtly atmos- phere of ante-bellum days lives on in the household of the old colonel, the aged veteran of the war. Betty his grand daughter mischevious and charming, is the radiant light of the family. Aunt Tulip and Uncle Caesar, the gray haired colored servants, are the remainders or the old regime befo' the war. At the neigbboring country estates, to the tune of Dixie fiddles there is rout of fes- tive dances. early morning fox hunts, and spirited feasts of turkey, eggnog and the other delicious dishes for which Virginia cooks and Virginia farms are rightly famous Surely a delightful atmosphere for a sparkling love story.
 phflip Furtescue is young northern officer in the United States army. His father has purchased the estate Of Bet tvs grandfather. Colonel Beverley. Ine war had played havoc with the hausnty colonel's finances and it had been neces- sary for him to sell the large mansion house and remove with Betty and the old negro servants to a small house on one corner of the plantation. At Christ mas ball Philip falls, as only soldier can. head over heels in love with the be- witching Miss Betty. The stingng frost Of Christmas morning fox hunt makes their very blood sing with the joy Of living and it looks very much as if the course of true love was to run smoothly There however. comes disturb oins hitch Betty is unable to adapt herself to the idea of deserting gran dad. We rightly feel that this is only pass ing phase. possible but a part of Betty S eoutilern coquetry, and before long the wedding bells ring and Miss Betty Bev- erley becomes Mrs Philip Fortescue
 The willy granddaughter persuades, the old colonel to come and live with her at the old Beverley mansion, which Philip s ftaier had presented to his son ass a wedding gift. Gran dad' is eiyen his own room, arranged to the smallest de- tail as he had always remembered 1t.