The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-26

amazingly akin to real lie that we cannot doubt the many episodes that are pictured in the book. There Is a note of nationality so to speak in the delineation of the character of Frank Cowperwood, because he is so strictly American. so ideally The F'fnan- cler. of modernity.
 MT. Dreiser in previous novels. Sister Carrie and Jennie Gerhardt,' has done some powerful work, but the two volumes now published in his "Trilogy of Desire" make one think that perhaps he has reached the heights in these and the reading public awaits impatiently the third and last of this series
 THE FORTUNATE YOUTH"
 By William J. Locke The John Lane
 Co.,. Publishers New York
 If ever more charming writer lived than William J. Locke it is difficult to name him.
 His critics have called him "whimsical,'' "fairy-like'' and "idealistic." and good ness knows what else, but If he doesn't combine the most exquisite poetical na- ture with the keenest sense of humor that a man ever had, then nobody does.
 MT. Locke has made the world love him for his many charming stories, The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne," Stella Maris," and a dozen others. but he will never have to his credit anything more Gellc1OuSiy 1ONely than ne x f0f1unaf6 Youth"-both as subject and in the man. her in which he has treated it.
 "The Fortunate Youth is the chronicle of Paul Kegworthy, who Is a "slum'' child of England, but who believes in himself and his ambition, and from the moment he is given a chance. fights for the ambition of his life as he does for the very air he breathes.
 There's a touch of The Beloved Vaga- bond" in the youngsters being carried off by the wan peddler' and wandering through old England all summer long, un- til at last he lands, when one of the dreams of his heart is accomplished for he begins to meet people of the upper class and that is what he has always longed to do.
 Of course he becomes favorite every where and with everybody-for who with such nature as Paufs would not?
 At last he meets his Princess-and a veritable Princess she is in word and in deed, though that is of far less impor- tance than the fact that she is lovely and lovable The joy of youth and happi- ness incarnate is hers. as she and Paul drifts in a gondola under the gold walls of Venice When their friendship has ripened into the sweet of passion. Yes-it's fairy tale, perhaps-is 'The Fortunate Youth,' but II ras it's big hu- man moments as we'll and that MT. Locke has infested the dream of youth with thinking modern mans ideas may be gleaned from the following quota ton:
 'lie had developed aN half sense of humor. A whole sense. however is not corgruous with the fervid beliefs and soaring ambitions of IS. Your sense of humor, that delicate precept Of propor- ton, that checks on impulse, that touch of the divine fellow ship with hu- man fralltX. Is a tliDU of mi growth. It is a solvent and not an ex- citant. It does not stimulate to sublime effort, but it can cool raging passion It can take the salt from tears, the bit terness from judgment, the keenness from despair; but in it's universal manifesto ton it would effectually stop a naval en- gagement''
 feS-"The Fortunate Youth'' is inst golden, dancing. happy days when all the world Is young. and life ha snt gotten the best of us and everybody and every thing reads like a fairy tale.
 ION THE PLAINS WITH. CUSTER" By Edwin L. Sabin. With Illustrations.
 By Charles H. Stephens Portraits. J.
 E. lippincott Co.,, Publishers, Phia- delphia.
 Indian stories always make an appeal to the reader-that Is, if they are told we'll and interestingly
 This can certainly be said of Edwin l.. Sabin's story. entitled "On the Plains With Custer" for no better Indian story has ever been penned than this.
 It is constructed along well defined lines. and brings into action many notable events of poetry, which make it even more interesting than 1t would be otherwise
 The story is supposed to be a true one. renee 1t is sad one, for nothing is sad der than just life itself and told graph ically as it Is here it's meaning. is en- hanced and made more thrilling in it's purport
 "On the Plains with Custer" can be recommended heartily as a delight fully clever and entertaining book.
 SOCIAL FORCES IN ENGLAND AND AMERICAN
 By H. O. Wells Harper Brothers. Pub fishers, New York
 MT H. c. Wells is a force to be reck- oned with at all times in the literary world
 When he has something to say he says 1t in a distinctly clever manner and his books are always sought by those who like good diction. clean pur- pose and interesting facts. either in his works of fiction or essays. In his Social Forces in England and America" MT. Wells presents a book which deals with conditions that ev- cry American and Englishman Is con- cerned with and will enjoy his views about.
 As MT. Wells says himself of the book:
 Tt is fairly complete view of all my opinions. It is practically all my miscellaneous writings for the last four or five years, edited and drawn togeth- CT into an effective whole" l The matters on which he writes are | aS wa iad oo n fv 6a cv,1,n 70 t~k- ests The labor unrest of the present day Is a subject near his heart; but he scores numerous ''social panaceas He discusses divorce. motherhood, schoolmasters and doctors; diagnoses the political disease of our times spec ulates upon the future of the Ameri- can people: considers a possible setback l to our civilization which he finds men, aced by panics and war. But neither