The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-08

We have Oh our table copy Of work
with the above title. 1t Is large and
BEAUTIFULLY bound volume, having over q
thousand octave pages, printed with new
type on heavy paper, and is abundantly
illustrated with really finely executed en-
cravings. These facts about the get up"
OF the book are revealed by CursoIy ex.
animation, while hasty peruSal oil the
index, and portions OF the one hundred
chapters in the book, show that II Is writ
ten in q graphic and readable style, well
worthy oil the pen Of its distinguished
author, R. N, Devens, Of Massachusetts,
brother Of ex.Attornsy General DsvenB,
and the author OF q number Of popular
narrative histories, The prsssn. vol
ums Is not, as its name, unSC.
companied by any explanation, might
seem to indicate, o consecutive history Of
the nations first century. It Ia made up
OF one hundred separate narratives Of
momentous political occurrences OF ab.
rorbing public interest; impoHantmilitary
events-bAttles, sieges, insurreClions, etc. !;
brilliant naval engagements and heroic
exploits; superb achievements Of Ameri'
can oTatory on national oCGaslonsi Cele.
bFated criminal cases, trials, tragedies,
mutinies, duels, ETC. wonderful phenom'
ena OF earth, ocean and heavens; extraor.
binary discoveries and inventions, and
the splendid triHmphs Of mechanical!
genius; remarkable reforms, delusions
and exCitRmentA In the moral and Ielig-
ious world appalling public Calsmities,
disasters, paniCs, etc.; joyous and happy
events, pleasant and sparkling scenes,
sensations and national jubllees,
As the prospectuses say, 1t 10 much
more readable than the ordinary histories
OF the country. II stands In much the
same relation 10 such works as aneCdote
biographies do 10 formal biographies, It
relates about oil the momentoua events In
all the walks oil life without deadenlng the
work with unintereSting details Of interest
only to students. The point We make will
be better understood by some reference to
the index. Thus we have q striking dra'
matte narrative OF the birth Of the Repub
lie; the story Of the first American naval
victory, that OF John Paul Jones, Of thrill.
Ing memory, and his "Bop Homme
Richard" over KIEg Georges great
warship "serapls;" the wonderful
"Dark Day" In New England in
1880; Arnold's treason and shsy's
rebellion formation Of the first Oonatitu.
ton; first Presidential election and inagu.
ration various Indian wars; the Pennsyl.
Vania instruction the death Of Washiog-
ton; founding OF the National Capital;
whipping OF the Barbary States by our
navy; the Burr and Hamilton Duel, and
the Clay Randolph encounter; numerous
great inventions, such Gs oil the cotton
gin, steam navigation, the Morse tele.
graph, telephone, and the electric light,
10 La Fayette's visit To America, and 80
on 10 the Centennial Exposition at Phila.
delphia In 1870. Each Of these Is treated
in much the same style as II would be by
modern journal within whose SCOPE It
had occurred. The result 10 o really
unique book, which marks new era In
the preparation OF histories for popular
reading. While the book under
consideration cannot be called
O complete history Of the country, II 10 q
full topical history Of the first century. II
Is Rs interesting as fiction and at the same
time more valuable than history, since the
graphic manner Of the recital serves 10 fix
the facts more firmly in ones mind. An
agent is now 10 the city selling the work,
and its good points, reviewed above, with
others which II seems To possess, combined
with the very moderate price OF which 1t
Is sold, ought 10 secure for the book an
extensive sale among our citizens.