Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-08-30
A Valuable Book.

History Of the United States from the Aborigi
nal Times TO the Present Day BY John CIarl
hldpath, A. M, Professor of History and Bellies
iSettres, Indiana Asbury University go m
ROYAL Octave. Illustrated with Mans Charts
Protralts and Diagrams. Sold only by sulscrir,
tlon' frice, $500. Jones Brothers & Co., Cincin,
natl, Philadelphia and Chicago.
Author and publishers have done the country d
great service m presenting such a work TO It's riti
zens-one that will give all our people proper
ideas of the growth and character of our nation
and its free institutions.
From the first voyage Of the Mortimer 20 ia,
costs Of Labrador and Massachusetts TO the omen.
ing OF the Centennial Exposition at PHILADELPHIA
from the birth of Columbus TO the admission OF
Colorado as the Centennial State, the stream O,
narration flows ON in a smooth current with fit
ting comments and sufficient explanation, every
page enlivened by genius and glowing with an
ardent patriotism.
Perhaps our readers will get better idea % tho
rare ability displayed in the work, by pesuslnr a
few extracts, than from any comments of ours
As n specimen of the zeal with which the author
has sought to clear up disputed points, and do
justice TO even the minor characters of our history
take the following upon Bacon, who led the pntri-
otto rebellion against Berkeley, the tyranncai roy
al governor of Virginia:
"Bcrkeley's yindictive passions were now Iof
loose upon The defeated insurgents. Fines aud
conhscntiors became the order OF the day Tbc
governor seemed determined todrown the f,onorv
OF his own wrongs in the woes of his ubiao,s
lWshty-tWo OF the leading patriots were seized
una hanged with scarcely time TO bid their friends
farewell. Thus died Thomas Handsf1rd. Inc
nrst American who gave his life for freedom
Thus persisted Edmund Chccsmun, Thomas VIII
ford, and the noble William Drurnrnond. martyrs
IL All Ktlf
rant would have stayed his hand, had not the as
sembly met and passed edc. that no more
blood should be split for past otfenses.
The history of this instruction was for "A lorcy
time recited by Bacon's enemies. Until the pr,.s-
ent century no one appeared 90 rescue the Leaders
name IRON obloguy. In the light of after times
ne character VIII shine with peculiar lustre-
His motives were rs exalted ~ his If. was nUrc
and his virtues noted as his abilities were great
His ambition was for the public welfare, and hi.
passions We're only excited against the enemies of
his country"
The above is a fine tribute 10 man long mis-
understood, and an excellent character analyses.
Here Is the whole history and character of one
OF our most noted Pioneers, gathered from his
autobiography and half dozen other works, but
condensed TO one bret pithy paragraph
"The new President, though not yet thirty years
OF age, was n veteran IN every kind of valuable
human experience. Bonn an Englshman trtun-
ed us a soldier in the wars of Holland A trpyoIrr
IN IN Franco, Italy and Egypt: again soldier in
Hungary; captured by the Turks and sold rs p
slave sent from Constnntinoplc 10 u prison in
the Crmea; killing tasknastcr who beat him
ana then escaping through the woods of Russia 10
Western Europe going with an army of advpn-
turers against Morocco; finally returning 10 Eng
land aud joining the London COmpany-hc was
now called upon by the very enemies who had
perseeutod aud lil-trcaied, 10 rescue them and
their colony from destruction. strange and
career, John Smith was altogether tLn
most wanted man in the early history of Amer
ica."
Where all is good we hesitate 10 make compari.
sons Nevertheless We venture 10 point out wba,
we consider certain special excellcncics of this
work. Among them are:
LIST. The able presentation o: the growth of
union sentiments among our iorefathers, and the
slow but steady progress from isolated Colonies to
l United Nation.
end. The analysis of character and motives.
'rief and simple but exceedingly able, which &C.
ompanies the history of men and parties.
Srd. Tho liberal aud catholic spirit which per-
aides the entire work
While the great ability displayed IN the text
alls for our chief admirrtion, il is by no means
he only merit of the book. There is also an OBJ
,ctive presentation of the subject by a series Of
olorcd Chronological charts-nftCr the plan of
'rof. Lyman's popular work on Universal History
which show at glance what men and events
ERE contemporary. Upwards of fifty Topographic
Al diagrams show the vicinity OF every battle and
nportant event; and series of excellent drawn
nd colored maps show the political divisions Of
ie country from time 20 time. These maps are
OF only geographical but civil and historical. The
nbshers have, in the makeup of the book, illus
ated the perfection TO which the art of book I
aking has attained. It is an exceedingly able
nd valuable work, and should be read and studied
every citizsn who would be informed of the
story and greatness of his country and his du-
es towards It.