The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-10-19
The Best Centennial DeOk Out.


THE FIRST CENTURY OF THE REPUBLIC.
series Of Papers showing The advance OF the
Nation in Science, Art Literature, &C., during
the last 100 years. Illustrated. SG0. Cloth
$500. New York: Harper & Bros Chicago:
Jansen, McClurg Co.
Not the least prominent thing of this
great Centennial Year is the large num-
Der OF books which have been written
bearing upon the history and progress OF
our country for the last century. We
presume there is hardly publishing
house in the United States which has not
issued something in the line of Centcn-
tial reading matter. AS natural conse-
quence Of such large number OF books
bearing upon the same subject there is a
great difference in their ability and worth,
and many of them are Of an ephemeral
character, and will soon be forgotten--
We think without the least exaggeration
that this volume is decidedly the best,
most valuable, and substantial centribu-
ton to the literature Of our country which
has appeared this year. The volume is di.
vided into seventeen chapters ordivisions,
and each one is written by a man who
has made that particular subject his
study, and knenrs how to write upon it in
a manner to interest and instruct the pub
lie. The first division is entitled Colo
NAL Progress" and is written by Eugene
Lawrence. In this chapter which Occu-
pies twenty.one pages we are given a
bird's-eyc-view, as it were. of the condi-
ton of the colonists, at the time of and
previous to the signing of the Declara-
ton of Independence. We are shown
what was undertaken by those glorious
patriots of '76 when they threw aside
the artificial distinction forever, and de-
clared all men equal" The wealth and
population, social and political charac-
teristics, agriculture, manufactures and
commerce, education and religion, OF
The colonies hundred years ago, 10
brought before our eyes so we can
more fully understand and sympathize
with them and rejoice in the success
which attended their efforts to better
their condition. The second division re-
lates to the Mechanical Progress of our
country, and is written by Edward L.
Knight, author of knights Mechanical
Dictionary" This division takes up over
one hundred pages of the volume, and is
profusely illustrated. Hon. David A.
Wells then follows in an article entitled
Progress in Manufacture, in which he
traces the progress made from 1907 to
1776, and then during the time which has
since elapsed, Agricultural Progress, by
Prof. VIM. Fl. Brewer, gives number of
interesting facts in regard to the early in
PRODUCTION Of Foreign plants, relation of
mechanical progress and scientific discov.
cry to architecture. changes in the use OF
agricultural machinery, application OF
chemistry to agriculture, &c. The De.
velepment of our Mineral Resources is
told by Prof. T Sterry Hunt, while Ed
ward Atkinson gives an interesting his
tory of our Commercial Development
The Growth and Distribution of Popula
ton by Francis A. Walker, is illustrated
with maps, and is an interesting paper OF
the science of population. One of the
most valuable articles in the volume a
the present time, is that on Monetary De
velopment by Prof. VIM. G. Sumner. HI
commences with the barter currency o.
the colonies, and traces our monetary o.
financial development or progress dow
to the present time, giving much usefu
information. The other articles are"Th.
Experiment of the Union, with its Prepa
rations," by 7. D. Woolsey, D. D., LII. D.
Educational Progress" by Eugene Law
renee; Scientific Progress" by F. A. P
Barnard and Prof. Gill; "a Century o
American Literature, by Edwin P. Whip
pie; Progress of the Fine Arts" by S
S. Conant; Medical and Sanitary Pro
gress," by Austin Flint, NJ. D.; "Ameri
can Jurisprudence, by Benjamin Waugh
an Abbott; Humanitarian Progress" b.
Charles Loring Brace; and Religion
Development" by Rev. John F. Hurst
D. D. We would like to make extracts
from the work did our space permit, ant
may at some future time. These article.
are all we'll written as the writer's name:
would indicate, and the book is an ex
ceptionally valuable one to all who have
any desire to know anything of this
country and its condition at the present
time as compared with its condition and
prospects when our government was first
founded. 1t will be sent to any address
postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt
of the price.