Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-09-28
THE LIFE OF BEN HARRISON.

1t is seldom that the biography of a
political candidate has been expected
with as much interest as the life of
General HARRISON" by the author of ben
Hur." Lives of candidates are usually
machine-made; but the anticipations that
the warm friendship which Gen. Wallace
bears to his subject and his own literary
qualities would produce a capital and
unconventional work, have been justified
by the newly published life. Although
the modesty of the narrative and the
whole manner of the work are unlike the
customary campaign document it is
admirably adapted to its purpose of Civ
ing readers valuable information about
the candidate whom a large mass of peo-
pie wish to elevate to the highest position
in the country. The author respectfully
recognizes the popular demand to know
all there is "knowable' of the candidate
and he writes with a frankness and
straightforwardness that prove there is
nothing in that life to conceal. One feels
that the narrative is truthful, because the
truth itself gives the best possible i'm
preston of the subject. There is no need
of brilliant evasion in the pure, clean
career of Benjamin Harrison.
The biographer, who has shown that
he can Make most picturesque portraits,
seems to prefer that the ''facts shall
speak for themselves :" he has made an
effort, apparently, not to be too eulogis-
tic. In his narrative of Gen. Harrison's
military services, the writer acknowl-
edges that he has ''purposely refrained
from expressions of opinion respecting
them; it was greatly preferable, he
thought, to present the circumstances and
leave the reader to draw his own conclu-
sions from them" The effect of this re-
serve is that of greater interest to the
reader.
The account of 80 years of a busy,
honest life does not make "A bulky vol
ume. Its 34S pages, printed in a large
clear type, are divided into the chapters
of Ancestry" "Child, Boy and Stu
dent lawyer" "Soldier" and ''Poli-
~tician," and into the narrative many adj
dresses and views upon public questions
expressed by the candidate are incorpor-
ated. There might have been a tempta-
ton to enlarge upon the particularly in
teresting ancestry of General Harrison,
but the author uses only sufficient for his
purpose. The man himself is not an ar
istocrat, in the inviduous sense in which
the term is generally used. Eight hun
dred dollars constituted his entire for
tune when with his wife he settled down
in indianapolis to begin life as a lawyer.
"a more unaristocratic beginning of life
could hardly be imagined" Particular
emphasis is laid upon the legal quality of
Gen. Harrison's mind. Although he has
power and clearness as a public speaker,
he is not so much a politician as a law
yer, and through all his varied civil and
military experiences has maintained a
close hold upon the law, so that he might
be prepared at any time to resume his
practice. His knowledge of character
has always given him popularity among
men, and from his maiden effort at the
bar to the present day, ''what a swinge-
cat he is :" has been the verdict of the
Western people of Gen. Harrison. Many
vivid descriptions of battles and court
scenes give a literary value to the work
and good taste and honesty make it trust
worthy and interesting. Published with
illustrations by Hubbard Bros Boston
Journal.