Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-08-31
THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.

/ a.
of its Declaration Of Independence. En-
bracing An Account Of its Discovery,
/ Narratives OF the Struggles Of its Early
Settlers, Sketches Of liz 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 Il Nation, BY ABBY SAGE RIcn-
ARnsoN. Illustrated by over two humid
red and forty cngr0vngs on wood of
portraits Of distinguished discoveries,
statesmen, generals, and heroes pictures
ofpubic buildings, maps, and plans, and
large engrayings from original designs by
Granville Perkins. C. G. Bush, and f. o.
G. barley.
There has been wanted good, readable
history of the United States, long enough to
contain all the interesting faces, short
enough to be read through without wcari-
ness and without leaving in the mind a con-
fused medley of details This book is found
in Mrs Richardson's History, just published.
1t is not Il book made to order and merely
to sell. The skillful author has been at
work on it for years. She has read it to her
own family and to others, has Unsncllcd
libraries, and above all, out OF her own ex-
pcricnce as n writer and public reader, she
has been enabled to write q IyJgAt. animated
narrative which does not ilag from first to
last
The book is divided into two parts. Part
|, is the ''Thc Story of the Colonies from
Infancy to Independence" She begins at
the beginning with the Discovery of Amcri-
ca f; tells how the Northmcn 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 4, scrihCs
the alighting on our shore Of those birds Of
passage, The early coonists and liltlc by
little we see the dotted line Of plantations
all along the coast. All this is illustrated
by quaint maps, portraits Of discOycrerg,
costumes, buildings, and ships Then she
stops 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 50
brings the reader down by degrees to the
Revolutionary War.
But just before entering on an account OF
that war she imagincs herself and the reader
taking tour in America and in a striking
chapter she lifts the curtain and shows sue
ccssiyely Boston, New York, Albany, Phila-
dephia, 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-grandmothcrs used,
a large picture Of Dutch Household, and
other excellent engrayings.
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 profuscIy
Illustrated with portraits, celebrated build
ings, like Taneuil Hall and independence
Hall, plans of backgrounds, naval engage
ments. This closes the first part
Part II. is entitled "The Story of the Ma
ton its Birth, Conflicts, and 1'riumphs.'
Mrs. Richardson remembers that history is
else than a record Of battles and
political contests, She repeats the history
Of the Constitution, then she tells lis Of the
wonderful discoveries and inventions which
gave us the steamboat, the steam railway,
and the magnetic telegraph she reminds
US too, of the half-forgottcn horrors of the
Algerine pirates, and she gives the defeats
and the brilliant naval victories OF the war
of 1925. She continues the peaceful
record to the time Of the war with Mexico. |
but hints now and then at the conflict going
on politically and morally over slavery
She tells the brilliant story Of California |
that followed hard on the Mexican war.
Ihcu she gives Il careful chapter on Siay-
cry in the United States; We hear the rumble |
Of cannon in the distance, she paints tue Bit |
ter conflict III Kansas, lhc john Brown raid, |
and ut length comes fall upon the great war !
through which we have just passed. The !
story of this she tells in clear picturesque |
language, impartially, bat with strong feeling |
and the pages are filled with pictures cpre.
Jenting prominent men and scenes, \ final |
chapter gives an cpitOLc Of the past ten years,
and the book closes. In another column |
will be found an adv ertScmenC Of the book, |
and when We say that It's printed, bound, |
and published ut the Riverside Press, we have |
given all necessary guarantees Tor it, style |
IN book-making.
Personal NOTICE..
Notice l., hereby given that all of