The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-04

literary charm.
 Miss Meynerl excites our wonder ny the extraordinary intimacy she shows in her studies of character says the htbanaannn while the London Daily Mail speaks of ''her clean, terse, simple Eng fish. deft characterization, natural oia- loe1Ie and admirable restraint.
 FIVE VOLUMES OF VERSES "A Farm in Picardy." by Dora Nel- son. "Eagle Quills," by George Faunce whitcomb: Altar Fires" by Rutn Bassett Edy; "An Acreage of Lyric by Dorethea Lawrence Mann; olhslns Places" by Margaret Barber BoWeh. The Cornhill Company, publishers, Bos- ton. x A group of five volumes from five nonular poets comes from The Corn- hi1 Company, publihers, Boston, each daintily bound, attractively arranged and containing some charming poetic fancies.
 "A Farm in Picardy'' is a collection of verses from the pen of Dora Nelson and among the best poems is the one entitled
 A tall. slim strip of a fellow
 About twenty three, I guess, The ouiet kind but I liked him better Than any man in our mess. No different from hundreds of others, As far as can tell. Except that he had voice as clear And sweet as silver bell. We bucked the old Hindenburg line Every last one of us all-- Ran into a nest of machine guns. And Don was the first to fall.  We laid him on stretcher Made of blankets and rough -cut poles And carried him back two miles. Over ground full of ruts and holes. But never a moan he uttered, Never an impatient word, But he sang every step Of the way, And such singing I never heard Among the appealing poems in Eagle Quills," by George Faunce Whitcomb, is
 THE AVIATOR Strong youth he was still in his teens, When war clouds rumbled from on
 high, And pondering deeply what best means To serve his land-he chose to fly. Forthwith he gave his mind and
 strength
 To train acutely ear and eye That he might prove his worth at
 length
 And win distinction in the sky. Each day he strove with all his might; Each night, when tests were done,
 he'd lie Awake with planning every flight Which he on future days would try For those were times when each mans
 fight
 Must be swoop down low, then ply The foe with tools of death and night To win distinction in the sky. But ere his training was complete, A changing current rushing by An instant flare of scorching heat Engulfed his plane with whirrinG
 sigh
 Swift to the earth. in pain he fell, But he uttered neither pain or cry The stars mayhap have heard his knell-- Who won distinction in the sky. Altar Fires" by Ruth Bassett Eddy, contains among the readable poema one which Is particularly appealing, en- titled
 coMPANIoNsHIP If thou wouldst leave the world that
 men call fair,
 And delve into it's sadder mystery, Go not alone-uncertainty Is there.
 But take thou me. If thou forget myself and long to go Away from Fortunes smile. which
 shines on thee Thro' every grief that 'tis thy fate to
 know,
 Oh. take thou mel k, . .Lo ao-te,a. ;< .h., .A..,s. A deeper Knowledge of the things
 to be, The saddest lesson in the keenest pain.
 Oh, teach to me. And if thy mission blessings for thee
 reap.
 ask no share of gifts held dear by
 thee, If. through the years, e'er sacred thou
 Thy love for me.
 Dorothea Lawrence Mann in her col. lection of poems bearing the title of An Acreage of Lyric" makes a de- iightful appeal in her
 sPRING-soNG. Spring and all the passion of the spring iAhc tfic sung Ol wine aiOng the DlOOd, All the ache of beauty trembling at flood. Tip-toe while the first birds sing. Spring. and we who watched thousand
 springs Dawn and die upon some distant star Know the old thrill straining at bar, Taste the mad joy every springtime
 brings. Spring, and we who loved those other
 springs. Feel sasth sss 'hr'0'i"s of f1s ''0ss0mins Wake the world and us to radiant rebirth. Touch our dreams to wild white vision
 ings.
 Singing Places" by Margaret Barber Bowen, contains some attractive verses among the most reada 5ie being
 MY PILGRIMAGE Whereso'er my journeyings Over earth's uncharted beauties There is something clear that sings Down my path of daily duties.