Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1884-01-11
That History.


Counties, Missouri. st. Louis Ma
tional Historical Company; 1858, "
is the title and imprint of a new ten
dollar book sold by subscription
only, which has been delivered.
The book, doubtless, merits a more
extended notice than the present
| writer has leisure to bestow. In the
essentials of type and binding it
stands above dispute. 1t is only
with reference to such minor matters
as the historical and literary i'm
portance of the work that there
seems to be any difference Of opin-
ion. A difference, it may be OBJ
served, in which the papers are alone
on one side against everybody else
on the other. In fact, one honest
gentleman of the press, whose edi-
torial commentator of the book was
such as not less than two copies
gratis could inspire. as private citi-
zen, does not hesitate to damn the
whole busines with italic fervor.
Under such circumstances, if it were
the intention Of the reviewer to voice
the popular opinion of Judge Berry.
and his history, the undertaking
would be abandoned as unnecessary
and unkind. Such is not the case.
For while the scope Of this article
will be limited perforce to but one
section Of the work under considers
ton, its object will only be attained
when it has afforded ten dollars
worth Of consolation per capita to a
gullible but otherwise discerning
public. That division Of the history
of Charlton county which has been
irreverantly styled a cyclopedia OF
jackasses, being the part most uni
versally execrated, has been selected,
to borrow q phrase from Judge Ber-
ry, as the subject of the present
sketch. We mean the biographical
Now, it must be conceded that the
real value Of these personal sketches
is not at once apparent to the naked
eye. Especially as it is urged with
a show of reason, that a large num-
Der OF the persons therein celebrated
would otherwise remain unknown to
fame and that the author, by thus
filing his book, has ignored the lives
and exploits of others more worthy
Of remembrance.
But, viewed through an intellect
ual field glass, with which all works
intended for posterity should be ex-
amined, such considerations as these
appear insignificant and baseless,
and the real beauties and excellences
Of this department Of county history,
rs treated by Mr.. Berry, can not fail |
to impress themselves on every |
candid mind.
Thus viewed, the very features |
which by the hasty and illiterate are
cited as bIemishes, are to the critical |
and intelligent the chief recommen-
dation of the work. Thus viewed,
the very obscurity Of, perhaps, the
Of those whose lives are
thus "sketched" was wisely planned
BY the author to qualify tie other
wise dazzling lustre of the the re-
few. Such plan was, in
Iced, indispensable for the good Of
posterity. Do we know. we who are
contemporaries Of one or two Of the
statesmen and heroes whose achieve
nents are ehronicled in thia volume
10 we not know with what difficulty
We have survived the contemplation
IF their greatness? What folly,
hen. what reckless folly, whould it
be to leave to succeeding genera
ions gslaxy Of brilliants like these,
anmixed with baser matter. As It
r, although the race Of giants will |
have long since been extinct, our
descendants, even in the fourth gem
sration, may peruse these sketches,
gaze upon these splendors with COM
little danger to their fac
llties, and with great profit. I
la L.