The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-15


story, visualzing its persons. place the
story in its true setting OF colorful stir
ring ancient life, and give US something
of the feeling of high tranquility the
story should inspire. Joined to somewhat
of the fictional appeal OF the modern
short story-for the writer who can really
do this there is always an eager audi
ence waiting. as the notable success OF,
for example. Henry Van Dykes The
Other Wise Man" has shown. But, then,
the task such a writer sets himself Is a
difficult one; 1t is like the task of the
poet, although--and this is one of the
writer's most serious limita tions-the mar
rative must not appear TO be poetical. On
the contrary, 1t must appear To be the
simplest of prose. and it must wear the
humble guise of a plain. true story At
the same time 1t must suggest, without
aping, the sublimity of the original source
while 1t supplies the details which hui
man nature Graves to supplement the con-
else gospel account. A task for an artist
truly, or for one who writes In obedience
to rare and happy impulsel 1t is full
Allied by Henry Van Dyke in his story,
THE Lost Boy" recently published by
the Harpers, in manner that leaves
upon the readers mind that satisfying
impression of adequacy which Is the su-
preme test in matters OF this kind
"'rhe Lost Boy tells of the journey
at the time OF the Passover-and by the
boy with them. Very quietly and with
dignity II tells OF the little happenings
of the road and something OF how they
affected the Boys mind-of how He saw
the robbers, who drew nigh to the little
company but did not touch them, as men
with devouring flames In their hearts;
of how, when Mary reproved Him for
venturesome climbing, He replied that He
was In reality very careful, because He
always set His feet In the places sod
had made for them. Then the story tells
how the Boy came to be left behind; how
He talked with Enoch; of the fanatic sect
of Esssenes. how He strayed about the
city, footsore and weary: and how a
woman rescued Him and brought Him to
| her house, where His presence and His
words made her turn from evil ways
Then there Is the story of the Boys 60
| ing to the temple to hear the discourses
OF the wise, and how He listened to
| the great words OF the Rabbi Hillel; and
this eliminates in that memorable scene
wherein His lSinsfolS find Him In the tenn
| pie. The clearness of the mental pic
lures the narrative brings up. its artistic
| reserve, its power of suggestion, give II
an unusual appeal.
| Sizing UP UNCLE SAM
| BY George Fitch with humorous
map. Frederick A. stokes & Co. pub
fishers. New York.
! Do you know your United states
Not unless you have read this COM
| pendulum of amazing information by
George Fitch. With his characteristic
| dry humor he has summed up the char
| acteristics of our states. cities, leading
citizens dncluding George Washing
| toni political phenomena, fads, pas
j timeg bra n 1ro ha OH 4
| problems, etc.
Each little article Is full of side
| splitting shots2and for that matter oil
very keen observation. He has over.
looked very little and faithfully de
scribes what he saw as he sees it-bs
| 1t Niagara or the Ham Sandwich
Here Is book to pick UP repeatedly
/ AS a rest for tired brain or an ex.
hilarating draft of pure humor. it /.
| Just the thing. No one can be to,
| high brow" to appreciate 1t. nor viii
1t pail on the non bookish.
i NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH"
BY Frederic s. Isham. Illustrated
Jacket, by w. b. King. The Bobb.
Merrill company, publishers. Indfanap.
oils.
| II old Mr. Diogenes had CHANGED to
| stumble onto Mrs. willie Ralston's
house party at TonSton while on his
lantern-lighted quest for an absolutely
veracious mortal, his well known
| search for an honest man would have
been brought to a sudden elimination
| Not because any OF the members OF
| the party possessed any scruples
| against "fibbing." but because impe-
cunious Bob Bennett had wagered
| $4,000 which he did not own against
! $4,000 which the Imperial Diclie" had
in bank that he (the impecunious B. d.
could go three whole weeks withou,
even SO much as telling a little white
/ onev
The situations which developed at Mrs
| Ralston's party because of the wager, tn,
frightfully embarrassing complications
1 the ludicrous predicaments. are wover
into one of the lightest and most enter
| tanning bits of frivolous fiction that tn,
author of so many successful novels hal
produced.
| Nothing But the Truth is a striking
relief from the heavy problem novels
stirring dramas, and deep, purposeful pro
auctions of the day 1t is light, humor
! Gus. all the way through, the kind of Q