The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-09
THE MYSTERY AT THE BLUE
 

VILLA'
 By Melville Davisson Post D. Oppleton and Company. Publishers New York | City.
 When Uncle Abner" was published it | took the fiction-reading public by storm. 1 Critics were unanimous in it's praise; as a pure mystery, as a dramatic narrative 1 it has rarely been surpassed. Here is am other volume with the same unusual qual- ity by the man of whom the New York Sun has said, "A collection of short stories by Melville Davisson Post means
 a notable book "The Mystery at the Blue Villa" contains some of Mir. Posts best work. Each story has that powerful character drawing, that dramatic inten- sity of situation for which this author is notable, yet each story is as individual, as unique in plot as though it were the sole fruit of MT Posts genius. Some of these tales have an atmosphere of mys- ticiSm, others are a-sparllle with the spirit of romance, while still others are straight mystery stories. It is a far cry from the grim ideas back of such stories as ''The
 Stolen Iife,' "The Baron StarlSheim - "The Mystery at the Blue Villa" to the unexpectedly humorous twist found in Lord Wintons Adventure" and "The Witch of the Lecca" while in the pic-
 ture of legal, retributive justice shown m such a story as "The New Administra-
 tion,' the author proves himself head and shoulders above the many writers of mys- tery stories of today.
 THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE
 SIND DIVISION, AMERICAN EEK PEDITIONARY FORCES"
 Written by Divisional Officers Des-
 ignated by the Division Commander.
 1917-1919 The Bobls Merrill Com
 pary Publishers Indianapolis.
 Lieut-Col G. Edward Bixton Jr., of.
 the sand Division Qnfantry) says in a.
 Preface to "The Official History of
 the American Expedi,ionary Forces,",
 written by Division Officers of his
 choosing:
 "The history of the S2nd Division represents the collaboration of a large number of officers and men oE this Division. The undersigned was given the task of preparing in nar- rative form an account of the opera- tions in which the S2nd Division par ticipated on the western front. To this have added brief statement os the organization and early training of the Division. Every "All American', should be informed of the steps which rave been taken to make this record accurate in the smallest detail Im- mediatelv after the Armistice, General ouncan directed every Company, Bat talon and Regimental Commander to NHpNc o NiitttH ~tdtelnent or the, history of his unit. Following the. completion of this work. four large parties MeuseArgonne battlefields.'
 In 'Foreword" entitled "The Dig rity of Their Destiny' the following sentim ment is expressed
 The Sand Division has passed into history. It has been mustered into the army of tradition The crusaders of the Middle Ages died to gain posses sion of an empty tomb. Yesterdays crusade was fought to preserve a liv- ing fire-the spirit or liberty.
 The S2nd Division gave itself freely | Tor this purpose. It rlayed it's part in the forward line and knew the privi- | lege of deadly peril.
 The men who camn home are con l scious of very great bond of com | radeship. The ties between men who | lave endured hardship and battles to- | sether are not easily expressed in | words
 We are glad that the S2nd Division | contained men of every blood strain 1 in all the races that make un our nation. This Division has learned that an American is one who is will Ing to give his life for America"
 Most of all we share the memor,, 'f those who did net come home ! These fallen friends are scattered on