The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-16

Study at Gads f1lll, Wltn the dummy books on the door and on part of the walls. bearing the quaint titles which Dickens invented for them:
 Rants Eminent Humbugs, 10 vols"
 The Gunpowder Magazine"
 "Drowsey's Recollection of Nothing"
 Lady Godiva on Her Horse"
 "Eyidences of Christianity. By King Henry the Eighth
 Hansard's Guide to Refreshing Sleep"
 Struts Walk"
 "Malthus' Nursery Songs"
 Cats Lives in Volumes"
 History of the Middle Ages
 Five Minutes in China"
 Swallows, on Emigration"
 History of a Short Chancery Suit, in 19 volumes"
 "A. Carpenters Bench of Bishops"
 Butchers Suetonius."
 "Cribbs Edition of Miller"
 Do the soldiers want books? It is said by the English who had the matter in hand that when the beds at Galliopoli were being rapidly filled with the sick ana WOuIQSU, d CdDl0 NOulo IS1CL Loii- don saying: Sending 25,O0o books at once, light and good print and the de- mands seemed to grow by leaps and bounds. They were book hungry.
 Now here is a funny thing to some, the boys want some books of poetry. We are told that the ancients reckoned Tyrtaeus a fine poet, not that he was particularly melodious or reflective, but that he gave men heart to fight for their country. There are greater poets than Scott, but his poems in the hand of SOL dier will put iron into his blood and strength into his arm. It has been said truly he gave to the world poems or which the music seemed to gallop, like laundering hoofs and ringing brides Of a rushing border troop.
 Fitzpatrick in his biography of Charles Lever, tells of widow, who obtained for her son an appointment at Wool wich, but as he was timid and nervous, she thought he would have to give up being a soldier But one day he chanced on Levers novels, and they put so much heart in him that his character quite altered and he became the bravest of the brave Now I do not believe that any of our American laddies need any such stimulant, but if they do, his sto- ries and songs. his duels and battles are enough to fire the hesitating heart of even a stacker.
 Here is a delightful story about Alex ander Dumas. M. Sarcey. the celebrated French author, says that he was in the same class in Paris with a little Span ish boy The child was homesick, he could not eat, he could not sleep, he was almost in a decline.
 'You want to see your mother?" said young Sarcey.
 NO; she is dead"
 "Your father, then?''
 "No; he used to beat me-"
 Your brothers and sisters?"
 T have none'
 "Then why are you so eager to be back in spain?"
 ITO finish book I began in the holi- days"
 And what was its name?"
 Los Tres Mosqueteros. :"
 He was homesick for ''The Three Mus keteers." and they cured him easily.
 Somewhere in France there Is not one but many lonesome boys who could find company in a good book. and this is why I ask you to send the best you have to the public library in the city hall, or any one of the branches in Ems ley, West End, Avondale Woodlawn and East Lake. Do it this week. Those who have several books and cannot take them to the library should notify the library, Main 65s3, to call for them. City automobiles and Boy Scouts will make the calls Friday and Saturday.
 Our young men are sacrificing their education, business, professional training and home life to serve their country.
 They need books and current maga- zines for study recreation and diversion in lonely moments. You can help them by donating books and magazines which Will pc loIWdiueu lo army cdinpS, tHe front and the hospitals.
 Books on the war, popular travel, his tory and biography, as we'll as short stories, detective stories. stories of the sea and adventure, are desired Any readable book of general interest will appeal to the soldiers, as there are men of varying tastes among them.
 DO your bit"