The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-02
LITERATU U r e.

Dhancy. Whatever the New York editors say 1s
accepted as truth; whatever the New YORK
authors write ls read with avidity; whatever her
publishers issue is at once considered as stand
ard We have frequently controverted the idea
that the publications OF any houses are better
than those of our own. We have often contended
that, considering the inferior facilities OF the
Quaker City, she often receives news ahead OF
the metropolis. Let us now mention wnat the
writer's of Philadelphia have recently done or
purpose shortly to do.
William V. Mexican, ESQ.,, editor of the Ledger,
has nearly completed the third volume
of the annual Register" of which he has had
charge since the scheme was designed. 1t is
rumo1ed also that he has in course of prepara-
tion a work relative to some of the details OF
the late war There is no one better fitted to
perform the task of treating Of recent events
than Mr.. Mexican. For years he has made such
details a speciality, and is most thoroughly
posted IN all the statistics and minuti@ relative
to important battles, political or martial and the
influence they eXerted on the national history.
Thompson Westcott, Esq, editor of the Sun
dGV Dispatch, has recently laid before the public
a work, published by subscription, entitled the
'Test Oaths Of the Revolution" The history Of
the production is interesting few years since,
an old document was found among mass Of
waste paper, and which was ordered to be soll
by the Recorder of Deeds. 1t proved to be the
test oath which each Pennsylvania citizen of
doubtful loyalty was compelled to sign at the
conclusion of the war of l77G. To il was ap-
pended thousands of signatures. 1t were sold TO
publisher, who determined to issue it in book
form, and called on Mr.. Westcott for history OF
the oaths as an Introduction A better selection
could not have been made, as there is not gen.
tleman in our lcity who can surpass him in
familiarity with our municipal lore. The result
isia delightful and instructive work, singularly
appropriate to our own times. We will refer to
it on some future occasion.
The author has been for years directing his
time and talents to the preparation of a "History
of Philadelphia "He has already brought it down
to the opening year of the century. We earnestly
hope that he will conclude his labors and give
our citizens an opportunity of securing a copy
of an authentic and complete history of Phila
delphia. The annals Of Watson are interesting,
but are so disjonted as to lose half their value.
Mr.. Westcotts work will be full, extensive, and
interesting, and will fill void in our libraries
Speaking on the subject of works on muuici-
pal history, we may refer to an interesting little
pam 4hlet by Casper SOuder, Jr., of the Bulletin,
on Carpenters Hail." 1t is an extract from
his "Eistory of Chestnut Street." and has been
published in aid of the fair for the Soldiers and
Sailors Home" We have Just enough of the
extracts given to make us long for a popular edi-
ton of this valuable record of our leading
thoroughfare.
Among the members of the Press Club who
are about issuing works we may mention Emer-
son Bennett Esq, the popular novelist. He is
about to publish another ofahis thrilling Western
stories, in which daring adventure and muscular
activity are SO admirably displayed. We 90 not
know which to admire most, the originality of
sit uation or the easy huency of expression which
Characterizes all OF Mr.. Benefits works. 1t is
entitled "The Phantom Of the Forest" and will
appear as a serial in the Saturday Euening Post.
: ApT0poS of works forthcoming from members
of the Philadelphia press, we may mention two
promised volumes of poems one from A. E. Ian.
caster, Esq, and the other from Mr.. Kane 0'n,r.
,aelI, The ability OF the authors is pledge for
the attractive nature OF the productions.
DR.. r. Shelton Mackenzie, literary critic of
the Press, has in course of preparation volume
of personal "reminiscences" of the great men
he has met
In connection with "reminiscences, we may men,
ton appropriately that another series of recol.
lections, although different from those of DR..
Mackenzie, will shortly appear. We refer to the
adventures of Signor Blitz, the ventriloqEist.
Having travelled all over Europe and America,
and probably, Africa and the Sandwich Islands,
for The last thirty years, it is impossible that
the Signor should not have had many comcal ad-
ventures These he has con ,tantlV iof ted down
in diary, until at last he has volumes of the
most amusing anecdotes in his manuscript re.
cord. OF these he is selecting the best,
and will shortly lay them before our reading
community. He has read us number of these
recollections, and we can vouch for their being
both unique and racy. His style is piquant and
pleasant.
The work from the presses of j. B. Lippincott
& Co., entitled ''Poetical Tributes to the Memory
of Abraham Lincoln" which has had 80 exten.
sIve a sale, is a compilation of j. N Plotz, Esq.
of Philadelphia. 1t deserves all the patronage it
has received.
Henry B. Hirst, Esq, the author of "Endy-
mion," is preparing third edition of that work.
The reputation which it acquired as one of the
finest poetical efforts OF our native authors, has
completely exhausted the first two editions. III
the next, in addition to the revised work, will
be found the tributes of later date, including
those to President Lincoln, j. Barclay Harding,
Esq, General Blrney, and others. 1t will proba,
bly, be ready by February.
Mr.. c. D. Gardette has had his poeticel works
issued in book form, by Bunce Huntingdon, of
New York, under the title OF ''The Fire Fiend,
and other Poems." To deny to this author