Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-11
LITERARY NOTES.

HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE United
b JoHS RscH MN .srEs, wharton scl,soi. Uni
n nefsi'f OF fennsS N anna. In Five volumes Vol
tngton. Robcrt BsalI -
distinctly this volume Is the most important
ano interesting contribution made to American
i'er"'ure "ithin the present year. IL IL marked
throughout by all the attractive characteristics
which made the first volume Of the narrasIxe
SO popular, and I'm not few respects Al IA the
superior of that Properly written. notlans can
be more entertaining nor indeed more if,Struct-
I've than the history OF a people and thair daily
lives, apart from the overshaaowing fransae-
lions Of those who. whether In the fleld or
forum, shape and control the destinies of the
country In which they live. The prime rroui-
sites for such work are honesty OF purpose.
intelligent industry, and pleasing literary
style. OF these qualities Mr. McMasfer has
shown himself TO be the possessor I'm ao ordi-
nary degree IL has been urged sgahst him
that he has relied too much ON the new Spat,ers
OF inc several periods under notice for his facts
anu I'M pfesslons but II l. not easy 60 sec where
oetter authority could toe found. The author
who would undertake In present n pen-pfrture of
lle present time would, IL lac aimed 10 give a.
proper form and color. consult the Journals az
the day, not the Congressional Geca,,S nor
inc dry documents of government offices.
Inc Inc latter would furnish all needed In
lorhatloh In regard to the official acts
of state and federal authorities and
snow the policies and relations existing be-
tween different nations: hut they would fall far
short of affording adequate or correct idea OF
the daily lives OF the people themsely.s snch
a. MI. Mcsiaster has sought To give. Tbose de-
string history OF battles, treaties and political
movements will find them elsewhere recorded:
those who seek Go understand the manners
hloiais ana social conditions of fonsefathers
Will lind them picturesquely and we doslbt not
accurately described here IL may Toe as has
oeen alleged, that some of the authors eonclu-
slons as TO persons and motives erroneous;
OUT men are bound Ia differ, according % their
productions or points OF view; and infa libility
is TOO much TO expect OF any one. Neither 10
a. frpfn teri
preJudices or mistakes OF Judgment, 40 DONG as
, ,he Iacts are fully aud correctly stated, With
.hese iairiy laid before IL, the world il iuteli.
gent enough now TO weigh them for what they
are worth. and 10 decide for itself I'm regard 20
undoubtedly writes with a strong bias Ia favor
OF FEDERALISM, but we do not see tina, his intes-
ny ths nas 1een impugned In any quarter. and on
patent and pains taking. His style Is easy
smooth and graphic, and his portraits OF people
ana sketches of life at the close the last aud
the beginning of the present century are won
derfully attractive. Many of them indeed
would DO no discredit 10 the pen of MacauIay
or Green. This extract will give the reader an
Idea OF his style OF personal portraiture:
oi ali the men who brought out colonisis and
was the most Interesting He was no ordInsfv t, n
ana ms name has come down 70 US associated with
somihon lersonagt.s and with no common eV11fts
MS youth he served under Marlborough IN the low
Italy. He gained under Eugene while tir.ins T,,rts
IN the old world, that military skill which h. dis
new; lie was the friend OF Atierbury and Jhr,ssn
Whitehead aud Wesley owed him much. Pop gave
him coupet Wslpole did him honor bi calling
him bully: He is described in the letters Of nnah
ali and Inv ay BSsT R IN the q
s seasp a all diar,es.a polished gentleman brave
Equally interesting and attractive picts,res ~
places and events abound, but for these ~. have
no space here. Suffice IL that those who faIi To
read read the volumes as they appear will miss a
1t may be added here. as OF local and current
interest IN That Mr. McMaster summarily-Sl soses
faH ffry ffa..xa
ceremony attending the Inauguration OF Presl.
Dent Jefferson. So far from Mr. JeffersoE going
10 te capitol unattended, as il commonly sup
posed, the historian assures us that ne was sur
rounded by "A crowd of citizens and a tToop OF
mn IA beating drums and bearing faes, and
.nat ne mounted the steps OF the capits with
the shouts of the multitude and the roar al cam
non ringing in his ears.
Annals OF A SPORTSMAN. By Twas rrRar-
NIEff. translated from the Authorized FRENCH
SHILOH BY ssnkiin Pierce Abbott Leisure Hour
Washington; Brentano Brothers.
The short stories and sketches comprising this
volume have double value-first "a vivid
scenic descriptions and delineations OF char
acter, and second excellent EXAMPLES Of
OF influencing public sentiment Each f. simple
ana unpretending i'm itself, but there H. preg-
nant reading between the lines, and, although
carrier efforts, they are marked by the viger and
dramatic force which won for the author his
subsequent popularity as a writer
We are requested to publish the following:
"The many friends Of the late Rev John TserIort
volume, containing biography of the disnr aishei
preacher and pslisnth1opist + now in prepsao
will materially add 10 the accuracy and early oIe
Chauncy street. Boston. Mass"
During Mr.. Pierpont's long residence I'm WASH
ington he made many and warm friends among
both temporary and permanent residents. and
some of these can hardly fail TO have material
which would be useful to his Geographic nv
the way, why do not Mr.. Pierponts literary
executors prepare and publish his complete
poetical works? He wrote some OF the sweetest
fugitive poetry 10 be found I'm American litera-
ture, some OF which has appeared I'm two vol
umes long since published. but SO far as we
know they are now out OF print, and attaInabio
only by accident or piece of good fortune.
Mr.. Glenn Brown, the well-known sanitary
architect of this city, has collected and pub
lished (through D. Van Nostrand, New York.,
the series of papers contributed by him from
time to time lately TO the Sanitary Engineer ON
Healthy Foundations for Houses" The pub
lication, which Is a most useful and timelF one,
contains upwards of fifty illustrations, which
serve to ex plain the authors meaning and EN-
phasize the points he makes SO that the dullest
intellect may be enlightened upon a subject %
which too little attention is given by property
owners, architects and builders.
From Mr.. V. @. Fischer we have received q
copy of Dumas' illustrated Catalogue OF the
French Salon for 1885 In addition 10 the list
of contributors of the 4,33S works OF AT ex-
hibited, with their titles, il contains fllustra-
tions. from sketches by the lists them Solves
OF over two hundred and fifty OF the principaf
paintings and sculptures i'm the exhibition
making IL invaluable TO those desiring 10 keep
advised in regard to cotemparary French ar1.
From Ign. Fischer, Toledo, Ohio, we have a
copy Of the Grand March OF the Grand Army of
the Republic, composed by John wiegand, and
dedicated to ex-Commander Kountx. IL ls ar
ranged tor piano or org an, and Is spirited and
melodious production.
7. b. Peterson & Brother have published n
new and cheap edition OF "Kathleen," one of
Mrs. Burnett's early STORIES which, though no4
one of her best, is still bright, healthy and In.
teresting.
Some Sad Symphonies.
IN MEMoRIAM, JULY 4TH.
Written for THE EVENING STAR.
Bright. beautiful, and healthy darling little
Nina;
She had the measles, or the mumps or soarla-
tina
But she Lit devil chaser while she held 1t In hsr fin
gers
And immersed In sweet oil on q bed Of psln she
fingers
John Allen. detdt seven years at early
ing.