The Southern reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1876-1890, 1890-05-09

buOA hEf4EWs
A SHORT Hfsronr oY MExIco, by Arthur How
ard Noll Chicago, A. @. MeClurg & Com
pany. Price. sl00.
This neatly printed volume from
the pen Of our townsman, Rev. Mr..
| Noll, will make an acceptable adj
dition to the library of tho general
reader, exhibiting as it does within
the compass Of three hundred pages
a well written summary Of Mexican
history from the earliest authentic
period down to the present time.
Persons who, while desiring some
acquaintance with the annals ofthat
interesting country, have neither
time nor inclination TO attack pom
derous works like PrescOtts Con
quest, will find this book well suit
ed to their needs. 1t IL character
lied by orderly arrangement, sim
plicity Of style, and careful preser-
vation Of historical perspective.
The narrative is not burdenod with
multitude of trivial details, but
only events Of importance are
brought before the reader, and these
are presented clearly and naturally.
Rejecting in the main the Span
ish chroniclers' highly colored pic
lures OF Aztec civilization, our au-
thor disposes very briefly ofthe two
centuries between 1926, the dawn
Of authentic Mexican history and
the landing of Cortes in 1919. The
stirring tale of the conquest is rap
idly sketched, and then, at greater
length, the viceregal era (1535-
1921, the rise and fall Of Iturbide's
ephemeral empire, and finally in
1924 the establishment Of the re-
public. The latter event ushered
in very dramatic period embrac-
ing the revolt OF Texas, war with
the United States, Maximilian's
reign and overthrow, and the tri-
umphant restoration of the republic
in 1867. All this rich material has
been arranged by Mr.. Noll into a
clear and connected narrative which,
TO the average reader, will prove
more servlceable than the many
volumed histories that have hitherto
had exclusive possession ofthe field.
The REvEILLE concludes il brief
review with an extract that will give
an idea of the authors style. We
select for this purpose his account
Of the fall of the Texas stronghold,
the Alamo. In March, 1896, a
Mexican army laid siege to the
fortress, which was defended by $50
Texans under the command of
youthful hero, Col. w. b. Travis.
Mr.. Noll thus relates the sequel
an sending for reinforccments
(Which never camel Travis wrote: 4
shall never surrender or rctreatS and
upon the tenth day Of The siege, he
wrote that he was surrounded by
force variously estimated al from 1900
TO 5000 men. Cannon-balls were fall
ing among his men all the tho time,
yet be was prepared to hold the place
against the enemy until relief came,
OF perish IN the attempt. lie kept his
word. To those within the fortress
he announced the desperate position
they were in, but declared his inten-
ton to sell life as dearly as possible.
Almost TO a man they agreed 10 stand
BY him.
at was at four O'Clock In she morn
ing Of Sunday, March 6, that the final
assault was made, and tho Alamo fell
into the hands of Santa Anna. But
tho little baud fought 10 the last. Travis
fell early in the action, sabrcd by
Mexican, but not before he had plunged
his sword into the body Of his antago-
mist, both dying at the same time. II had
been agreed that when the whole case
seemed utterly hopeless to the garrison
a match was to be applied 10 the pow
der magazine. The Texan appointed
to perform this final act was killed
with the match in his hand. The
whole garrison was put to the sword.
Of the brave defenders Of the Alamo
not ono was spared. 'Thermopylae
had her messengers Of defeat, the Al
amo had none'"