The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-12


 manian of Petre Ispirescu, by Juliet Collier Harris and Req Ipcar. Tough ton. MiffIin company, publishers, Bos- ] ton
 A beautifully bound volume, bearing I the title of The Founding Prince and Other Tales" translated from the Ru- | nlanian of Petre 1spirescu, by Mile. Rea Ipcar into French, and from the French
 into English by Juliet Collier Harris, comes to the reading public original unusual and altogether charming. i So few stories from the Rumanian It. er.ture are translated into English that this collection is something of a novelty, and Mrs. Harris has done most credl- table and scholarly bit of work in the ! translation.
 1 It was during the time that Mrs. Har- rs husband, Julian LaRose Harris, was | in charge of the European edition or the 1 New York Herald Q9lQ in Paris that l Mrs. Harris devoted herself largely to 1 the Students Hostel, which is doing a l splendid work for young women Tn the | Partisan capital. There she met a hu- ! manian girl Mile. Req lpcar Ill whom 1 she became greatly interested. lhelt ! friendship brought to Mrs. Harrls no 1 tice the unique and very delightful laify tales of Ispirescu, Fsumanian writer ol l notes The result of the combined Worh l of Mrs Harris and Mile. lpcar IS tne 1 volume entitled, Tine Founding Prince l and Other Tales,'' which is well worth | reading. l When the publishers of the book haa l finished reading "The Founddlins Prince l and Other Stories they were so much l impressed with it's merits and it's liter | ary atmosphere that they commissioned | Mrs Harris to write the biography ol l the beloved Joel Chandler Harris, when l she is now working on.
 l The stories in The Founding Prince and Other Tales" have charm ana | flavor that are rarely found nowadays,
 and nothing more delightful has ever
 been written than "The Enchanted Pig, l The Queen of the Fairies" "The Peas l ants Clever Daughter, Ihe Emperor Aleodor,9 and The 'Seven-Headed | Hydra.
 In an "Introduction" which tells of the 1 life and career of Petre Ispirescu, the writers call attention to the fact that certain characteristics of the stories stand out eminently, such, for instance as that the sovereigns are always am- perors, sometimes specifically designated as 'The Green Emperer,' Ine feo Emperor" "The Emperor Mazarel, anu always the imperial children are referred to as "the daughter of the Emperor,
 'the son of the Emperor" rather than as 'princesses'' or princes. The two principal figures throughout the stories in .The Founding Prince and Other Tales are "Fet-Frumos" and "Iliane;" one, "The Prince Charming ! of the stories, and the other the fairy
 heroine who is the ideal of feminine
 beauty and grace-"a daughter of the la1 1zli ic 10
 s.the flower in whose hair sings, and
 nine emperors listen to it's song.
 Rumanian mythology is employed IT
 the ingenious weave of the stores, ans
 there is a chivairesque sentiment per
 vadng them which is romantic and ex-
 quiste, while the native wit or lspirescue
 is seductive and the pungent homeliness
 of the fairy folk tales gives one vivic
 picture of the Rumanian peasant and his | surroundings.
 Mrs. Harris has made a charming con
 tribution to literature and "The Found ling Prince and Other Tales Will un {. doubtedly be enjoyed by many discrimi'
 hating readers. s4
 1.-THE DWELLING HOUSES OF CHARLESTON, s. C."
 By Alice R. Huger Smith and D. F,
 Huger Smith. Photographs and draw ings by Albert Simon. J. B. Lippin
 colt Co.,. publishers. Philadelphia
 Charleston is fortunate in having such interpreters as the authors
 and illustrators of this volume On'
 feels when going over it that it IS ;
 permanent addition to the local liter
 ature and a volume worthy to be il the libraries of all Americans inter , ested in the life and art of the past
 There is a distinct feeling that Charles ton is the aristocrat of American citie and this feeling is deepened in examin } ing the illustrations of the fine olt houses, the stately interiors as pre-
 scented by the camera and pencil. It i
 a substantial book of almost 400 pages } and though the illustrations are nu l emorus and large, there has been plent. l of space for text written in an engag
 ing manner describing the buildings
 the people and the life of today an, l yesterday. There is material for tn
 genealogist, the artist and for the his
 torian.
 The authors tell a story of the olde dwelling houses and families inhabitin, them. It has not been their object t
 describe these dwelling houses afte , show how the fashions of it's architec ! i. ture, though imported and constantl modified by new ideas brought chefl from England, have yet maintaine S local characteristics, resulting in quit |. a distinguished style, which has stead ]. fly persisted and been developed. : To say that the book is beautiful i !, but a mild expression This compan has produced several of these handsom Limited editions of local places, partic
 ularly of Virginia and Philadelphia, an lit has been the custom of these book to sell at premium among bookseller !, and collectors, bur few months afte publication date. It is not to be won !, dered at. as one who examines 9Th , Dwelling Houses of Charleston, $. C., , will note that it is not only a boo ! upon subject of historic and artisti ! interest, but it is in itself, in bindins , illustrative work and printing a prod ! uct of the best book making in Amer < ica.
 Many southern family will find if
 self mentioned in this volue and man
 a South Carolinian who has left hi homestead these many years will fin
 his ancestral house pictured, but it \ not Tor the purpose of stimulating in
 terest among those who are mentione | there in person or through the mediur of their homestead that the book wi
 make its particular appeal. The dernan
 Tor it will be made by all beautifl book loving Americans.
 THE RACCOON LAKE MYSTERY. | By Nevil Monroe Hopkins. Illustration py Gayle Hoskins. J. B. Lippinco company. Publishers. Philadelphia. DICK stockton is a university professc
 and novelist. worshipped by the ladie
 but indifferent to them, luxurious in hi
 habits of living and pampered by adula ton and fame His friend Dan Da,