The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-08-28
a Valuable Book.

lgs;rGtcG with Maps, Charts, Portraits aaI
DIogsalas. Sold VRly by sub, criptior.
Pie, So. Jones Brothers & Co., Ciuciu-
MAJ, Philadelphia md Chicago.
Tho circumstantial detail Of ISL
ycsrs--ths years that have opened Il
acw world and created q migL:y nation
was never given in better style than
in this work. When &c look through
the bulky .Olumes of Bancroft We Won .
der that Ons rlau saouI- attcmp. 10
write all tie history Of our country
~beu tho preliminary portion Ct il
takes up 50 much space. Bat We can :
not SEQ that Professor Ridpath has
omitted single material fact that is
contained in Bancroft, while 10 has
avoided that tedious detail which unfit
tho work Of tho latter for popular use.
The intrigues Of the English Court
and Cabinet, the petty squabbles Of the
House Of Commons, the rise and fall Of
parties in England. which are supposed
to have had an influence 90 Affairs,
these indeed arc omitted from Prof
Ridpath's work; but in their stead is
given brief aud mastery summary
Of tho causes which led to the Amarican
Revolution, which We venture 10 say,
Conveys better understanding Of the
matter to ninety.niuc out Of every hun
dred readers. Take fer instance tho
following extract:
"Another cause leading to tho Revolution
was found in the natural disposition and in.
htFiied character OF the coloniAls. They
were. for the most part, republicans in poll
ties aud disscnters 10 religion. The people
Of England were moaarchists and High
ChIrchmsn. The colonists had never seen
j king. The Atlantic lay between them aud
the British ministry. Their dealings with
the royal officers had been such as to engen-
dr q dislike for monqrchial ins.itutionsl
The people Of America had not forgotten
could not well forget-thc circumstances
under which their ancestors Ind come to the
New World. For six generations the Colo
nists had managed their own affairs; and
their methods OF government were neesSa-
rily republican. The experiences OF the
French and Indian bad shown that Ameri-
cans were fully able to defend themselves
and their county"
As one important cause. is not that
more satisfactory than volume ofcom.
mentary?
The book is repfetc wi b valuable sta.
tistical information. Tho following I'D
mirably written paragraph indicates
tue wonderful progress Of the country,
aud the immense recuperative power Of
the American people.
"Duriug the year 1871, therc werc laid
and put into operation in tue United States
moi lrss than seven thousand six hundred
and seventy miles of railroad There Il
perhaps no fact in the history Of the world
which exhibits so marvellous II Development
Of tile physical resources OF Il natl IN. Ere
the mu:tcringS oil the civil war, with its un-
told destruction or life md treasure, had
died away in the distance, the recuperative
power, enterprise, and genius Of tue Ameri-
can people WERE revealed. us never before, 10
establishing and extending the lines Of travel
and commerce. lu 1880 there WINS but 10
miles Of railway track in tho New World.
In 1870 the lines in the Uni:ed States had
heeu extended to two thousand eight hum
bred aud eighteen miles. Ten years later
there were nine thousand and twenty-one
mics Of track According 10 the reports
for 1860, the railroads had reached the
enormous extent Of thirty thousand six hun
drCd mud thirty.five miles aud in the next
ten years, embracing the period Of The civil
war, the amount was nearly doubled. Such
Is the triumphant power free Institutions
the victory Of free enterprise, free industry,
free thought. There stands tbe TACT Let
tic hdherentS Of the Old Worlds methods,
tile ellogists Of The past, take II and read it,.
lfherever the human race pants for larger
activity, II more glorious exercise OF Its en-.
ergies. let the story be told how tho United
States, Just emerged from the furnace Of war,
saarting with wounds, aud burdened with
an enormous debt, built in single year
more than twice rs many miles OF rnilroad
rs Spain, ridded with her pteCedents Of
kingcraft and pricstcratl, hus ever built 10
her whole cIierr.
The authors rare ability to condeuse
a vast amour! of Information into q
u single paragraph is shown in many Of
his numerous. graceful biographies.
Take the following on Benjamin
Franklin:
"Sow II WAS that the genius Of
DR.. FrHnkliu shOne wiIha peculiar lustre.
A tue gay court of Louis XVI he stood Rs
the representative Of his country. No ma
lion ever had an ambassador Of greater
wisdom and sngacity. Ills reputation for
learning had preceded Kim the dignity Of
bis deIneanUr and the simplicity Of his man
nrrs added 10 his fame. Whether as phil
05oplCr or diplomatist, no man In the great
city Of fashion was the equal Of the venerL-
able American Patriot Ills wit and ge-
niA hunor made him admired; bis talents
aud courtesy commanded respect; bis pa
Iiencc and perseverance, gave him final sue
cess.
"Deniatuin Franklin, the author of the
first treaty between the United States and 4
foreign nation, was born in Boston on the
l7Lh of january lI06. Ills father was a
manufacturer Of soap and candles. To this
humble vocation young Benjamin was drvo-
ted by his parents but the walls Of a eau.
dIe-shop were too narrow for bis aspiring
genius. At the age Of twelve he was ap-
prenlicel to bis brother TO learn the art Of
printing; but the brother beat him, and hu
fanI OF 10 New York. There he found no
employment. In liza he rcpaitcd 10 Plila-
delph;a, entered a printing office and rose
to. distinction. lie visited England; re-
turned founded the first circulating IL.
brary in America became man Of science !;
edited Poor Richards Almanac originated
the American Philosophical Society; dis.
covered tho identity Of electricity aud
lightning made himself known in beth
hemisphetes; espoused the cause If the pa
triots; and devoted the uaimpaired cner-
gies Of his old age to perfee,ing the Ameri-
can Union. The name Of Franklin Is one
Of Tho hrirhteSI In the histnrY If any ma.