Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-09-08

THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY,
from its Discovery by Columbus to the
Celebration of its Centennial Anniversary
of its Declaration of Independence. En-
bracing An Account of its Discovery,
Narratives of the Struggles Of its Early
Settlers, Sketches of its Heroes, the His
tory Of the War for Independence, and
the War for Nationality, its Industrial
Victories, and Record of its whole Pro-
gress as a Nation. BY ABBY SAGE Rich
ARDsoN. Illustrated by over two humid
red and forty engravings On wood Of
portraits of distinguished discoveries,
statesmen, generals, and heroes pictures
ofpublic buildings maps, and plans, and
large engravings from original designs by
Granville Perkins, c. G. Bush. and F. o.
c. barley.
There has been wanted a good, readable
history of the United States, long enough to
contain all the interesting faces, short
enough to be read through without weari-
ness and without leaving in the mind q con-
fused medley of details. This book is found
in Mrs. Richardson's History, just published.
It is not book made to order and merely
to SELL The skillful author has been at
work on it for years. She has readi to her
own family and to others, has Mnsackcd
libraries. and above all, out of her own eX-
perience as writer and public reader, she
has been enabled to write a 6rjg1t, animated
narrative which does not flag from first to
last.
The book is divided into two parts Part
|, is the "The Story Of the Colonies from
Infancy to Independence" She begins at
the beginning with the Discovery of Ameri-
ca tells how the Mortimer came and went,
leaving no trace behind the wonderful
story, ever fresh, ever new, Of Christopher
Columbus and then in quick, clear sue
cession, all the chief voyages OF discovery
and the daring adventures. She describes
the aighting on our shore of those birds of
passage, the early colOnists, and little by
little we see the dotted line of plantations
all along the coast. All this is illustrated
by quaint maps, portraits of DISCOVERIES,
costumes, buildings, and ships. Then she
stops a moment to give some chapters to
Indians, describes their manners and Gus
toms, and shows just what sort of people
were living in America when it was dis
covered by Europeans She tells the wars
that the ColOnists had with them, and so
brings the reader down by degrees to the
Revolutionary War
But just before entering on an account of
that war she imagines herself and the reader
taking tour in America. and in a striking
chapter she lifts the curtain and shows sue
cessively Boston, New York, Albany, Phila-
delphia, Virginia, how the people live, what
they wear, and what they eat, gives peep
into their houses, in fact and this part is
beautifully illustrated by pictures OF the
John Hancock House in Boston, a spinning
wheel, such as our great grandmothers used,
Il large picture of Dutch Household, and
other excellent engravings.
Then comes the Revolutionary War. The
author tells the story of this war briefly and
sets before us the characters and
deeds of the generals and statesmen, follows
the varying course of the country's struggle,
and lets us know what it cost our fathers to
give us nation. This portion is profusely
illustrated with portraits, celebrated build
ings, like Faneuil Hall and Independence
Hall, plans of battle-ground, naval engage
ments This closes the first part.
Part II. is entitled "Thc Story of the Ma
ton its Birth, Conflicts, and Triumphs.
Mrs. Richardson remembers that history is
something else than record of battles and
political contests. She repeats the history
of the Constitution, then she tells us of the
wonderful discoveries and inventions which