The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-25

itan Boston,; The Vanishing Race" tan episode in the Dutch settlement of
 New York); 'srhe Passing of Hia-
 watha;" Dame Greel O Portland
 Town" The chapters which the author
 has written upon costumes and the
 production of outdoor plays will prove invaluable to amateurs, for they con-
 tain suggestions that make the plays
 suitable to almost every condition or
 scale of expenditure. There Is also sp- pended list of books in which pros-
 pecttve producers may find pictures
 and needed historic information. Even
 more to be commended Is the guidance
 which the author gives the amateur in
 the selection of music which shall be
 appropriate, not too difficult, easily ob-
 tainable, and really good. As whole the volume shows the excellent results
 that may be achieved when enthusiasm and artistic skill are put into the de-
 velopment of form of entertainment
 that Is really vital and popular.
 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD" GA BIOGRAPHY.) By William H. Dall. A M. D. S. With 1s illustrations. J.B. Lippincott com- | pany publishers. Philadelphia. Natural history in America is most of all indebted to two remarkable men, Prof Louis Agassis and Prof. Spencer 1 F. Baird
 l Their activities In a public sense in this country began about the same
 time. Agassis, the enthusiastic inspir- l ing teacher and Baird, the efficient
 hard working and lovable organizer, complemented each other
 | The one awakened the American spirit to the delights of the study of nature; the other made 1t possible for
 anyone with the sacred fire to obtain the necessary guides and opportunities l for research.
 l Professor Baird was a born natur- alist and organizer of methods and l men. His biography carries us through the phases of the boyish yet indefat- igable student; the young professor at Dickinson college, Carlisle: the eager naturalist, corresponding with all the American students of nature then liv- ing, such as Audubon, Agassiz, Dana, Haldeman, Kirtland, Brewer, Cassin and Bryant; the appointment to the care of the natural history activities of the Smithsonian institution, then in 1 It's early development; the utilization of the numerous opportunities offered by the early government surveys to in- vestigate the animal life of the then hardly known region west of the Mis- rissippi; the encouraging mentor and friend of a whole generation of nat uralists; the organizer of the fish commission with its vast contributions
 
 United States; of the international ex- change of scientific books and papers between the new and old world an incalculable boon to men of science; the promoter of the bureau of ethnology and the United States geological sur vey; the tireless worker and beloved leader of great company of students. Apart from the scientific side of the activities, 1t endeavors to make the read CT acquainted with the characteristics of pure and lovable leader of men to whose modesty and self-sacrifce the country owes a debt which is still ap- preciated only by select few TIN DEFENSE OF PARIS" By Captain Allen Grant. Illustrated by Bayard Jones. George H. Doran Co., Publishers, New York.
 An accurate story of the great war with an American boy hero who will thrill thousands of other American boys is .sIn Defense of Paris" by Capt. Allan Grant It is the second volume in this series, of which "A Cadet In Belgium" is the first. Here fighting in the trenches with the Infantry of the allies, actually meeting Gen. John French, arrested as spies, struggling with a spy in a moldy old church tower going through the terrific battle Of the Marne. an American boy and his French chum have such adven- lures as can be told only by writer who is soldier and war correspondent. like Captain Grant.
 HUMAN NATURE AND RAILROADS" By Ivy l.. Lee. (Formerly executive as-
 sistant of the Pennsylvania railroad.
 and now member of the staff of John
 D. Rockefeller). E. S. Nash & Co.,, Pub.
 fishers, Philadelphia
 In Human Nature and Railroads, Iyv L. Lee, the author, gives the keynote oi his discourse in the preface" which says:
 "The railroad problem is a very human problem; 1t is problem that concerns us above all else as human beings. What is railroad for? It is toAtake people or things from one place to another Whyf Simply to advance the material interests of human beings. Railroads are built by human beings; they are run by human beings; they are regulated by beings who are very human; and they serve human beings Make a mistake in your treat ment of the railroad question and you ln1ure human beings. Handle it properly and you help human beings.
 'The great problem is to establish the point of contact, to make the railroad manager, the employe. and the public in their mutual relations understand one another's point of view"
 THE KISS OF APOLLO"
 By Martha c. D. Bianchi Duffield &
 Co, publishers, No. 21 West Thirty
 third street, New York
 "The Kiss of Apollo" the fifth novel from the pen of the clever poet and romancer, Martha G. D. Bianchi, who has steadily grown in power and force since her first publication entitled, "A Modern Prometheus," marks an inter- esting epoch in literary circles.
 Written in a clear, cean-cut man. ner. the delineation of types being dominant, the plat interesting and the story one which never flags, the read CT has a genuine treat in store in 'Tho Kiss of Apollo'
 The scenes of the authors last book are characteristically of New York, but the brilliant and unconventional Ju- dith. the heroine. assures It's being far more than mere society novel Ju- dith's marriage, which Is not a mar iiage with Drake Hemingway, the rich club member; her work in philan thropy and her ultimate choice of her childhood's friend, Julian, as the com