The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-01
THE LAMP IN THE DESERT,


 By Edith NJ. Dell. G. P. Putnams Sons,
 publishers, New York City.
 In her new book The Lamp in the Desert Ethel M Dell gets back to India and to a story which in manner, though not in matter. will remind many of her readers of The Way of An Eagle" There are no Enilish scenes in this romance. Everything happens in the great empire of the British East.
 Capt. Everard Monck is the leading masculine figure in "The Lamp in the Desert Grave. rather grim to the ordinary, parsonage of striking dig. nity. he shuns the frivolities of the station and courts no popularity in the mess. When he falls in love with Stella Denvers. the most beautiful member of the regiments feminine contingent, Monck sIyes no outward sign of the state of his heart. He ac- cepts with apparent salm the success as wooer of Capt. Arthur Dacre. He even attends the wedding in the ca : pacity of best man. When however before the honeymoon is over he dis covers the duplicitv of Dacre-the fel- low having another wife in far-away Britain-he braves every chance of per sonsl loss. of misunderstanding and of dishonor. in his rush to save Stella from calamity.
 It appears later that StelIa's mar riage has been an affair of pride not of love The girl has been snubbed by the regimental ladies under the lead of the colonePs wife. She has been kept on the outside of an invisible fence. To prove herself and put out of countenance the members of the freezing galaxy, she has accepted Da- ere. social favorite. and paid thus a high fee for entrance to the official circle.
 It is story of great love, with India as background. that India which Miss Dell knows so well. the land of mystery. intrigue and deep passion. She shows us a man, strong man. who is ready to sacrifice fame and ambition. and even life it. self. to shield from sorrow the woman he loves. In that darkest hour when the young mother realizes that she is wife in name only. even then the memory of his strength upholds her, and across the desert-her bitter des- ert of ashes-the lamp still shines throughout the darkness of pain and sorrow until the dawning of their new day of love and perfect recompense
 Miss Dell has written vividly of course. and with persistent inclina- ton to melodrama. as usual. She has, her wicked raiah on hand with in- trigues both of passion and of politics. She gives us mutterings of Indian re- volt and tales of Indian subt1ety Tom my Denvers. brother of Stella, supplies youthful impulse and comedy to her pages. Miss Dell has proved again that she knows India. But. so know ing. must she always make her col oners wife a cat? That does not seem to accord with the eternal likelihoods ''TTE TRUTH ABOUT OUR DEADs CTo1d by those who know) By Lida A Churchill. Bound in cloth, $1 Send bill or money order. Checks not desired). The New Tide Publishing House, Pub fishers. No. 52S West 122d street, New York City.
 A small volumego of less than 100 pages bears the title of "The Truth About Our Dead" dold by, those who know). By Lida A. Churchill and is most vital and interesting volume.
 The contents of the little book are. as followssnsssssss=ss.s -=s.sss s--..asss Who Can Speak Truly of the Dead?
 What Form Have They?
 Where Are They?
 What Are Their Occupations and Recre- ations? Do They Influence Us or We Them?
 Where Live the Ungodiy?
 What Are the Lives of Children?
 What Does It All Mean?
 These titles give a definite idea of the subject dealt with and no less a scholar and student than Judge Henry H. Ben son, the well-known California jurst, says:
 ~After $ years investigation of after death conditions, I pronounce the state ments in The Truth About Our Dead scientific, sensible, true.''
 The great teacher, lecturer and psychic investigator, l.. c. Abbott, says:
 .The Truth About Our Dead is the