Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-09-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS

THE HGsToRY OF OUR COUNTRY, from its
Discovery by Columbus to the Celebra-
ton of its Centennial Anniversary of its
Declaration of Independence. Embrace
ing An Account of its Discovery, Nara
lives of the Struggles of its Early Settlers,
Sketches OF its Heroes, the History OF the
War for Independence, aud the war for
Nationality, lis Industrial victories, and
a Record Of its whole Progress as Ma
ton. BY Abby Sage Richardson. Illus
trated by over two hundred and forty en-
cravings on wood of portraits of distin-
guished discOverers, statesmen, generals,
and heroes pictures of public buildings,
maps, and plans, and large engravings
from original designs by Granville Per-
kins, c. G. Bush, and L. o. c. barley.
There has been wanted a good, readable
history of the United States, long enough
TO contain all the interesting facts, short
enough 10 be read through without wearl-
ness and without leaving in the mind a
confused medley Of details. This book is
found in Mrs. Richardson's History, just
published. 1t is not book made to order
and merely made TO sell. The skillful
author has been TO work on it for years.
She has read it to her own family and to
others, has rausacked libraries, above all
out of her experience as writer and pub
lie reader, she has been enabled to write
bright, animated narrative which does not
flag from first to last.
The book is divided into two parts. Part
1. is 1.-THE Story of the Colonies from In
fancy 10 Independence" She begins at the
beginning with the Discovery Of America
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 success
sion, all the chief voyages of discovery and
the daring Adventures. She describe; the
alghting 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 moment to give some chapters to
the Indians, describes their manners and
customs, and shows just what sort of peo-
pie were living in America when it was
discovered by Europeans. She tells the
wars the Colonists mad with them, and so
brings the reader down by degrees to the
Revolutionary war.
But just before entering OH an account of
that war she imagnes herself and the
reader taking tour in America, and in a
striking chapter she lifts the curtain and
shows successfully Boston, New York,
Albany, Philadelphia, Virginia, how the
live, what they wear, and what they eat,
gives peep into their houses, in fact; and
this part is beautifully Illustrated by pic
lures of the John Hancock House in Bos-
ton, spinning wheel, such as our great
grandmothers used, large picture of a
Dutch Household, and other excellent en-
cravings.
Then comes the Revolutionary war. The
author tells the story of this war briefly
and eloquently, sets before us the charac-
ters and deeds of the generals and states
men, 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 por-
traits, celebrated buildings, like Faneuil
Hall and Independence Hall, plans of bat
fairgrounds, naval engagements. This
closes the first part.
Part H. is entitled "The Story of the Ma
ton its Birth, Conflicts, and Triumphs."
Mrs. Richardson remembers That history is
something else t1an record of battles and
political contests. She repeats the history
of the Constitution, then she tells US 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-foreotten horrors
of The Algerine pirates, and she gives the
defeats and the brilliant naval victories of
the war Of 1Sl2-lSl5. She continues the
peaceful record to the time of the war with
Mexico, but hints now and then at the con-
fict going on politically and morally over
slavery. She tells the brilliant story of
California that followed hard on the Next
can war.
Then she gives careful chapter on Slav
cry in the United States; we hear the rum
BILE of cannon in the distance she paints
the bitter conflict in Kansas, the John
Brown raid, and at length comes full upon
the great war through which we have just
passed. The story of this she tells in clear,
picturesque language, impartially, but with
strong feeling, and the pages are filled with
pictures representing prominent men and
scenes. \ final chapter gives an epitome
of the past ten years, and so the book
closes. In another column will be found
an advertisement of the book, and when
we say that it is printed, bound, and pub
lished at the Riverside Press, We have
given all necessary guarantees for its style
in Eook-making.