The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-26
THE RIVET IN GRANDFATHER'S S
 NECTEt'

THE RIVET IN GRANDFATHER'S S
 NECK
 By James Branch Cabell Robert M.
 McBride & Co.,. publishers. 31 Union
 Square, N. Y.
 In every way original. unique in plot and undeniably clever in character painting, is James Branch CabelFs charming book entitled "The Rivet Tn Grandfather's Neck"
 Permeated with the atmosphere of the old south, redolent of the magnolia and the mimosa, surrounded with all the old time quaintness and beauty which characterizes all that pertains to south ern people and southern customs. MT. Cabell has drawn a most delightful ''pen picture of a half dozen people who make his book one of the most readable and likable that has appeared for many moons on the literary hori zon.
 The usual title of the book to begin with arouses the interest of the reader from the beginning, and this interest or curiosity-what you willis as- suaged almost at once, for in picking up the story one is confronted with the little fairy tale from Hans Anderson's S "The Shepherdess and the Sweep.
 It tells a pretty story of how we little China people have variety Of rivets to prevent us from holding and too oowardly compromise with baseness -rivets that Ire a part of us and force us into upright living. There is al- ways one thing that one cannot do be- cause one is constituted the way one IS, that is the real rivet in grandfathers neck.
 This is terrible" said the shep- herdess.
 He can be riveted," said the chim- ney sweep.
 "The family had the Chinaman's back mended and a strong rivet put through his neck; he looked as good as new, but he could no longer nod his head"
 The story which MT. Cabell has woven out of this bit of lore gives him an opportunity to paint real southern gentleman with all the courtliness and elegance maginable-Colonel Mus grave-whose designed obscurity from society and people naturally make him a rather interesting figure as all such people are.
 Looming bright upon the horizon IS a beautiful girl, Patricia, young, brim- ful of life, "engaged"-yet quite ready and willing to fall into an affair with the redoubtable colonel.
 He of course, resents the ldea or this little chit of a girl coming in ana with one fell swoop taking his heart by storm and nothing priettier or more bewitching has ever been written than than the little love scene between the Patrica and the colonel-and the quaint manner in which he tells her of his devotion.
 She discards the man to whom she is engaged and of course marries the colonel-and thereby hangs tale-for almost instantly there appears on the scene the village wonder, Charteris, the 'flutterer of Lichfield dovecotes."
 Many interesting situations arise and with a splendid individuality which the author possesses he pictures scenes about which the perfume of lavender and old lace hang the ele- gance and the urbanity of the truly southern gentleman, being depicted with rare style and charm.
 Deftly ironical, whimsical to a de- gree this romance of old Virginia brings us in contact with certain phases of national life that are pass ing and should have an enduring rec ord
 "The Rivet in Grandfathers Neck" is well worth reading. not once, but twice and with it's graceful charm will unquestionably leave a pleasing inn pression/ upon all those who take ad- vantage of the opportunity of perus- ing its pages.
 TWILIGHT" By Frank Danby Dodd, Mead x Co.,,
 publishers, New York
 There are only 26 different plots in fiction, say experts, and all the thou