Wichita eagle., 1888-05-27
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article appeared dealing with the great de
mand for biography, the opening lines OF
which are given below as they have some
what OF a bearing on the book in hand l. g.
"A Biography of Abraham Lincoln for
Young People" published by G.. p. Put
nam Sons:
THE craze of the reading public at this
moment Is biography and autobiography.
| Nothing but the lives of distinguished or
notorious people, if possible written by
| themselves, will now give satisfaction to
the general reader Indeed, 50 urgent has
been the demand, that TO meet il the sup
! ply for the next fifty years has been fore
! stalled. Time was when a mans life mad
| "reminiscences never appeared till he had
/ been. at the very least, ten or fifteen years
| Ill the grave. Now there are plenty of men
1 not much past middle life who have
! published their memoirs: while a
public man who has lived 10
| be eighty and not given his life 20 the
world Is becoming quite rarity. The
most reticent have their recollectious put
! mp IN type during their lifetime. and make
| death the signal to the printer TO begin his
work Carlyle was helping Mr.. Froude 10
| stitch his literary shroud all through his
last years, knowing full well that his
memoirs would be mentioned as forth
coming in the announcement of his
death. II seems as IL this desire for biog-
generally were beginning To realize that
the most delightful thing in the world l.
tie history Of a man told faithfully either
by himself or by some competent OBJ
server"
Biography is not limited to older readers
alone. As an incentive to youthful ambi-
tons. and again as preventative OF wild
dreams and impossible hopes, pure
biography stands without an equal. Civ
ing as II does the success Of a man and
usually great man, hut al the same time
pOrtraying the trials and misfortunss
through which be passes 20 reach that
success.
II Is difficult TO review the book In hand
without becoming eulogissie 70 its subject
Abraham Lincoln. His iowly birth, his
struggles, his success, deeds and untimsly
death all excite our admiration
for the man But let US not
forget the bIographsr. one whose former
works The Boy IMMIGRANT" The Fair
port Nine etc, VII readily command
Noah Brooks to young readers.
This volume is not wholly collection Of
euliings from other works In explanation
Of this selection from the preface will
not be amis=. lie says:
I'm the preparation OF this work I have
been greatly helped By many authors, and
! have been especially Indebted 10 the
writings Of Col. Ward Il I4aruon, the Hon.
Isaac y. Arnold, Dr.. J. @. Holland. J. G..
Sieolsy and Col. JOAN Hay 1t was mr.
good fortune 10 know L.ncoIn with sor1e
degree OF intimacy, cur scqusintauoe be
ginning with tbs Fremont campaign If
lsisi. wneu vas a resident O. Illinois. aud
continuing through the Lincoln Doc. gIss |
Canvass, two years later. That relation |
became more Intimate and confidential |
when in Iessz. met Lincoln Ia Washing
ton and saw him slnos. daily until o. |
tragicsl death. This preliminary ezo,isra |
NAV be pardoaed by way q expssra;to5 az
the fact that many things relating 10 M. l
early life herein - down, were derived |
fronI MS own lips. often during hJars Of /
secln1ed eonp2nioDship
Mr.. Brooks Is delightful writer.
his sentences are clear, terse ard /
and 20 the point The volume Is in ayo- /
FORM rleai, and fairly illustrated.
For sale by Hyde & Humble
1exsUoz; Ia Principles and Methods.
l.. a