The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-10-21
LITERATURE.

LITERATURE.
THREE MONTHS THE SOUTHERN STATES. BY Lieut.
publisher, 10 Walker-street New York. gsi.t
The author, q British officer in Hor BIajesty's
service, visited this country during the late war;
whore, having made tour of three months through
the Southern States he was enabled to collect such
information in relation to the important events
then transpiring, as induced him to give to his
fellow countrymen succinct account thereof, i'll
the form of q diary, together with reflections on
men and manners engendered by oil intimate
personal acquaintance with the leading generals
and officers Of the late Confederate army as well
"a an extended tour through tho country, and
promscuous intercourse with persons of all classes
Tho reader is conducted through the wilds Of
Texas, into Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
thonce through Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina, and northward to Virginia and Maryland;
thence into Pennsylvania, where beautiful pen
picture of the battle of Gettysburg is unfoded to
his view. In the work are well drawn portraitures
of tho personnel of JEFFERSON DAVIS Generals LEE,
BEAuREaARD, and others. The chief merit of the
book consists in the entire truthfulness of its
statements, and freedom from preudces in all
comments in fact, it is characterized by strict inn
partiaity throughout. Tho diction, however, is
faulty, and in many respects is at least inelogant
was killed, which caused by the falling Of the
flagstaff" is highly incorrect captain mitchell,
son tho so-calcd Irish patriot is equally i'm
proper. The following sentence is exceedingly
| awkward i'll its expression: "DIrs. H asked me
to an evening party, but tho extreme badness OF
my clothes compelled ME to decline the invitation ="
Such passages show that pains have been
| taken with tho dcton; therefore, there is sadly
| wanting the smooth flowing language of Il ready
pen. Twenty-Five pages are devoted to Charles
ton and it's cnvirons, with accurate description
| of Fort Sumter, and account of the attack of
the ironclads resulting in the sinking of tho Kco-
kuk. The book is full Of interest and VIC venture
confidently to assure our readers that it will repay
q careful perusal
THE SeUlBon PAPERS. BY John Ph@nix Capt. Geo. H
Dcrby) author of "Phonixiana" =" Carleton publisher
| No. 413 broadway, New York.
| These Papers comprise about thirty humor.
ous sketches, on well-selccted Subjects written in
style literally overlooking with wit. The drollcs
situations, the most original 1udicrous IDEAS arc
presented in serio-comic vein, in language o
choicest diction, whilst ut times the language it.
self is 30 chosen as to enhance tho merit of the
humorous character Of the events ssnorrated"
AS it is impossible, in relating joke, to do JUS
tice by beginning in the middle "where tho laugh
comes in" it is equally so by few quotations
from this work to convey all adequate idea of its
combined eScenencies. Since, however, we have
already, almost inadvertently, quoted from one o
the Squibob Papers, it may not be in bad taste tt
edify our readers to the derivation Of the bor-
rowed word 'toration." sThe word Grafton, sig
nifying public address, has military origin II
originated in q custom once prevalent among
commanding officers and chaplains of making
long and verbose addresses to the troops, which
were stigmatized as 'an talk and no rations,
whonce the word noraton modernized into ora.
ton. = *'* From the word noratior
is derived tho common expression-common il
the sweet md classic wales Of Pike-sto norrate
Thus We hear on individual wishing to refer to an
anecdote related to him in early life by his grand
mother, say, Il h,rd her ,o,rate It,"
The Fourth OF July "Oration" is the first piece
in the book, and is among the best; but the palm
must be awarded to the Journey from Boston tc
New Orleans, which is perfect gem of humorous
writings and is calculated to elicit pleasant grin
even from the sternest anchorte. Nothing can BIZ
more amusing than the account Of the ''Boy with
the Accordeon," and Of what befell him by the JUS
decree Of ga retributive Providence" This piece
alone, to one who can half appreciate true humor
is certainly worth more than the sum for which thu
book be procured, whilst the other "Papers, OF
variety Of subjects, are almost equally amusing.
We heartily commend to our readers 'sThe squibol
Papers" which, we had almost omitted to mention
dedicated to the great military chieftain, Gen
GEO. B. MCCLELLAN.
| sHE@Enezz.Znrz,rzzz-c1
MIR. HENRY WARD BEEoHER seems to be in a,