The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-28
New Books.

Theatrical Management for THIRTY fedrS,
apith Anecdotical Sketches. By Sol.
SMITH. Retired Actor. New York: HAIR
PER s BROTHERS. EXILE. ...
Sol. SMITH is one of the rarest charac-
tiers (of the theatrical profession) that have
been known in this country. His career
has been chiefly confined to the cities OF the
Mississippi Valley, where he was contempt
rary with the extravagant tragedian scoTT'
who varied his vehement performances on
the stage by occasionally bee oming "tee-
total" exhorter and pulpit declaimer. SOL,
we believe, only appeared as preacher once.
His life as an actor was long one, and ne
was great favorite of the Mississippi
towns. In that part Of the world things
have been always done with energy ana
vim. Tragedy had to be done with ferocity
and vigor; comedy had to burst his jaws,
cross his eyes, and sprain his joints with
distortion, to meet the applause of audiences
which could not put up with anything less
exaggerated. SCOTT and Sol. were the
stage deities of these separate walks OF the
profession upon the banks of that grand
river whose excuses seem to be Impressed
upon the spirit of the people dwelling in
the land it waters. 1t may be we'll sup
posed that the history of the stage IN that
part of the world is full of curious incl
dents natural to the character it there
assumes. ScOTT's life was unique, and
Sol. SMITHS is in its peculiarities not less
so. Having retired from the stage, ne has
gathered together the "reminiscences OF his
professional career, and presents them to
the public in the above work. They are
highly amusing.
A Practical Introduction to Latin Compo-
sition, for Schools and CoHeges. by AL
BERT HARNESS, Phi. D., Professor IN
Brown University. New York: HARPER
& BROTHERS.
This is one of series of very good text
books from an author well known. New
York: J. B. FORD s. Co..
The Trotting Horse of America o'o to
Train and Driue Hin,-ocith Renasn1-
SCIENCES of the Trotting Turf. By HIRAM
WooDRUFF. Edited by CHARLES J. Eos
TER. .-..
WooDRUFF was the greatest trainer OF
trotting horses of his day, and may De con-
sidered as a sort of inventor of fast trot-
ting-that sort of hard-going gait known 10
these times, to which the horse has oeen
educated until he performs what "ouio
have been deemed impossible fifteen years
since. The last achievement OF WOODRUFF
WAS the training of Dexter, his most
famous graduate, who has made his mile
in 2.l7L, WooDRUFF's book contains all
the particulars about training the trotter,
and many interesting and important facts
that are not to be found elsewhere.
Trotting-very fast trotting-is the order
of the day. 1t is sort Of going when put
to the strain that old fogies like us never
admire. 1t is o most unnatural and trying
motion to the horse-much worse than run
ming. 1t is little singular, too, that
sport so exhausting should have originated
in land which, in former days, heaped up
abuse SO lavishly upon our southern races
and race courses But trotting is the
| go,n and WOODRUFF is the man that tells
chow to CO." ....
Pereru of The Peak-of the cheap edition
of Waverley, issued by the APPLEToNs.
The above works are all for sale by A..
| II. CHRISTIAN & Co.