The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-30
ABRAHAM L1NCoLN.9

The first in a series of volumes which will be called Heroes and Lead
 CTS in American History is Abraham
 L.ncoln.r from the pen of Wilbur Fisk ! Gordy, and 8 very interesting and in ! structive book it is.
 1 No figure towers more above others,
 none is more widely known. and none more popular than that of Abraham
 Lincoln, and MT. Gordy has written 1 interestingly and attractively of this l great American, whose memory is hon ored and revered throughout the entire l United States
 From the preface" by the author 1 the following is gleaned about the
 master character whom MT. Gordy has 1 chosen as the initial one to write I about in the "series,"
 1 Among other things we find the fol- l lowing:
 Perhaps to Abraham Lincoln, more i than to any other man ia the history I of our country, has been given the power of influence over the lives Of
 those unknown to him. To thousands | who never saw him, but who know him i through his letters and speeches, and | through the record of his private and I public life he is an inspiration. The l story of his overcoming the difficult ! ties of his early life has put courage l into many a young heart; his resolute stand by what he thought to be right has helped countless souls to be true ! to their duty; and the kindliness and goodwill which flowed from his great heart toward a1l-even his foes--made 1 the cherishing of malice and bitterness seem unworthy and shameful. ITO know such a man, as we may know him by the study or even the reading of his life, cannot fail to ir- srire us to nobler living and more pa triotic service in that little community we call our neighborhood and that lar ger community, our country "In writing this volume my aim has been to make real to my young read CTS Abraham Lincoln; first IS youth who worked and struggled in the backwoods to prepare himself for greater usefulness; then as man raised by his own merits to positions of responsibility; and finally, as leader of a great nation. who throush four of the most troubled years of thar nations history carried its bur dens amid peril and crisis; but always and under all circumstances as one who was simple, honest and friendly living true to high and unselfish mo- tives of service to his fellowmen.' THE WINDS OF THE WORLD" By Talbot Mundy. Illustrated by Jo- seph Cole. The Bobbs- Merrill com pany, publishers, Indianapolis.
 Ever the winds of the world fare forth
 (Oh, listen ye! An listen yeD
 East and west, and south and north,
 Shuttles weaving back and forth Amid the warp. (Oh, listen yeD Can sightless touch.-can vision keen
 Hunt where the winds of the world have been
 And searching, learn what rumors mean? (Nay, ye who are wisei Nay, listen yeD When tracks are crossed and scent is stale,
 'Tis fools who shout-the fast who fail. But wise men harken--Listen ye. Yasmini's Song. The English in India at the outbreak of the world war; loyal native prince; German spy, full of plots and contriv- ances; a woman behind closed doors, mysterious fascinating and all powerful, these are a few of the ingredients that Talbot Mundy has mixed into this thrill ing concoction which he calls The Winds of the world.' Full of dash and go and spirit, devised with ingenuity and told with great power, it will please all lovers of romantic plotting and dar- ing adventure.
 "THE MYSTERY OF THE DOWNS" By John R. Watson and Arthur J. Rees. The John Lane Co., publishers, New York
 As the title indicates this is another
 detective story by the two ex-detectiyes of Scotland Yard John R. Watson and Arthur T. Rees, who were so successful
 in their first adventure in novel writing
 -"The Hampstead Mystery" It is un- usually exciting even for detective story, for it contains mystery within
 mystery. There is first a murder by
 some person persons unknown on
 lonely sea coast at night. Then, as the
 reader begins to feel assured that he has
 rightly guessed the identity of the cri;ni-
 nal, suspicion turns about and points
 finger at the prosecutor himself, abou7
 whom are circulating dubious rumors as
 to his conduct as officer at the front.
 Everything works out, however, to the
 satisfaction of the reader, and love
 story, involving very beautiful girl
 whose part in the tragedy is one of the
 many mysteries of the tale, adds to the
 attraction of the book.
 "COMRADES." By Mary Dillon. Illustrated by R. Nj.
 Brinkershoff. The Century Company, publishers, New York.
 A love storys With the great war as
 background is Comrades" by Mary
 Dillon. The scenes are in Germany. France, Italy. England and the United States; and the characters are all sooner or later caught in the colossal conflict.
 The story begins in Germany. in Dres- den, where most of the principal charac-
 ters have gathered for the opera. This IS almost a year before the outbreak of hostilities but the reader is made to feel the storm gathering
 The scene shifts to the old student city
 of Leipzig, where the principal characters gather in pension preliminary to their attendance on lectures at the university. The most pouplar course. it happens, is one dealing especially with the inside diplomacy of the war of 1870. The students in Frau Bernhofs pension and their acquaintances outside are an alluringly varied group-a brilliant Pole, n handsome Rumanian, French spy, a German secret service agent. a German nobleman. a young Englishmn studying for the diplomatic serviSe and fasci- hating American girl and her chaperone, The war breaks. and the reader follows the thrilling narrative as it traces the
 scattered characters until finally they
 are gathered together once again. Of such is "Comrades.' It is a straight dialogue and rich in the element of TO- nance.
 THE WORLD PERIL" By members of the faculty of Prince ton university. From the Princeton University press. Princeton, N. ]. In an introduction to "The World
 Peril; Americas Interest in the War"
 written by members of the faculty Of