The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-30
THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERAID SUNDAY JANUARY 3o 1916

sentation of the character of Borgia. The author has put most engaging dressing upon a delciously decocted little plot. And it is so with the others-the sec ond in which Madonna F>ulvia, with the trick of a smallpox infected paper and a coffin full of stones, twists the crafty Borgia about her little finger, and makes him for once experience mortal terror It was indeed only this once, as in the third and last story, he defies a great conspiracy of Venetians, asks the ring leader Prince Sinibaldi, to join him in a public procession through the streets of Rinini, first having found out that there is a plot against him, and then having persuaded the prince to borrow his conspicuous ermine stole. the prince is shot and killed by his own ambuscad- CTS, and for a moment the crowd cries, The duke is dead" The duke was not dead, but chuckling with delight at the success of his pleasant strategem.
 One cannot do justice to the authors triumph in these stories, the language and storytelling ability of Sabatini must be discovered in the book itself. Each yarn is a gem of historical romance.
 THE SERPENT OF OLD NILE" GA DRAMA IN THREE ACTS). By
 John Armstrong Chaloner. The Pal
 metto Press, publishers, Roanoke
 1dD1uS, IN. C.
 In a preface" to "The Serpent of Old Nile" the author, John Armstrong Chaloner. whose writings are read with great interest by the literary world, says:
 This p1ay-which was written last summer-is bound with "The Hazard of the Die" for the reason that they both treat of the same epoch, and the same man-Ju1ius Caesar. In "The r1 of 10 Dief' ha e a a young man scheming for power. In "The Serpent of Old Nile" he is shown as a man of maturer years who has achieved power"
 This assures the reader of "The Serpent of Old Nile" of an unusual play on very popular subject
 Following will be found the
 DRAMATIS PERSONAL
 Hephaestion, the Athenian-Comman- der-in-chief of Cleopatra's forces in the Civil war with Ptolemy, her brother. In love with Cleopatra.
 Caius Julius Caesar-Dictator of the Roman world. In love with Cleopatra.
 Pothinus-Cleopatra's former minister of state, now with Ptolomy-the stirrer- up of civil strife betwixt brother and sister.
 Holofernes-Captain of Cieopatra's body guard.
 A Runner-Attached to Cleopatra's forces.
 Araxid-Chief of Cleopatra's eunochs.
 A Hera1d-Attached to Caesars army.
 Cleopatra-Queen of Egypt
 Sappho-An Athenian, Cleopatra's lady in waiting.
 Roman soldiers, Greek mercenaries, Egyptian soldiers, Bedouin Arabs and citizens.
 Time-48 B. c.
 Place-Egypt
 OTHER BOOKS RECEIVED (RE-
 VIEWS LATER).
 MILITARY OPERATIONS OF BEL GIJTM." Reported compiled by the con- mander-n- chief of the Belgian army. In- ternational News company New York.
 TEEN GREAT ADVENTURES" By Kate Dickinson Sweetser. Illustrated by George Alfred Williams. Harper Bros, publishers, New York
 HANS ANDERSON'S FAIRY TALES AND WONDE RSTORIES." With 100 illustrations and decorations by Louis Rhead, and an introduction" by Will liam D. Howells. Harper Bros. publish CTS, New York.
 LAST OF THE MARSHES" By Donald Hamilton Haines. Illustrated. Harper Bros, publishers. New York