The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-05-16
"rweniy Years oi Congress"

Before 4 elngle extract oil Mr.. Blaine'B
book had been given 10 the press-beloro
page ofthe manuscript had bcen sent TO
tho publishen-"Twen,y Years Of Con.
gress" wss an assured commercial success.
The book itself might have been disap.
pointing in matter and method, lacking
the accuracy and dignity OF history, gcner.
ally wanting in everything that gives value
to such WORK; III eager public took 1t all
on trust.
II was 10 bs B!aiues book, and the peo.
pic wanted It. They believed that he had
the skill and the judgment TO give endur.
ing value TO his pages, but more than that
they wanted 10 geo what he would have 10
Say about thoee twenty years in which tho
stamp Of nationality was irrevocably fixed
upon tho Union Of the States. This in.
tensely curous interest Is high tribute to
the 'ateamsa author; it is one moro indi.
cation Of the strong hold he has upon his
countrymen.
Tho first volume OF tho book Is just re-
ceived from the publishes, the Henry Bill
Publishing Company, OF Norwich, Con.
recticut. 1t IL a!.rac:ively and uubstan.
TALLY bound in seal Ruasis leather, plen,i.
fully illustrated with steel portraits Of the
men who wcro prominent actors in the
scenes which the text dencribes. The
fron.spiece presents the author in the NTH
tude Of IN Interested listener who let's moth
ing escape-in another moment he will be
on tho floor, chargngon bis opponent, deal
ing blows o! sledge hammer force. Another
full page engraving is splendid likeness
OF Abrahnm Lincoln. Tho remaining por.
traits arc in groups. Doubtless the second
volume will contain other full page ensrav.
ipgs. Tho type ID bold and clear.
II expectation has been high the result
vindicstes and Satisfies 1t. Approaching
his work with mature mind,with native tai
ent and largeexperience as writer, the po-
litical history Of the country a! his tongues
end, having access 10 every record, treat
ing Of acences ."all Of which hs cav and
part Of which he was" Mr.. Blaine has
produced book which will live and grow.
This etyle is plain, direct, and f6rceiul.
There is no waste OF space. 1t is all
"boiled down" Without preface or intro.
dnction the author plunges into his sub
ject, and for six hundred pages the charm
Of a pure and lucid style never fails.
In politics regarded by opponenta
chiefs as partisan, mir. Blaine has shown
a spirit 10 which even his hercest partisan
ship is sub9rdinate-his love OF his coun-
try and his countrymen-a whole.souled
Amerlcanism to which his own well.be-
loved kepublicanism is but ineans TO an
end. There is no faint OF psrtisanship or
ill will. Persons and sections are dealt
with as they helped to make his.ory-not
as Mr.. Blaine dealt with them in his
speeches when the war spirit was riie-and
as BY one who looks back on terrible con-
hict in which all who were engaged were
his countrymen. In short the book reads
like the Judgement OF court OF brains and
heart aud broades! patriotism.
MIR. Blaine has written book tia. will
add 10 his fame, TINT will increase the es.
TEEN in which lie is held, and that will ioa-
ter and promote the kindly relations which