San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-05-29
BOOK NOTICES.

Mr.. Bgolow was for many years connected
with Mr.. Bryant IN tho management OF the
New York Evening Post, and honco wa'
well adapted to the work. 1t Is intended
for common readers who may not have &C.
cess to the elaborate biography OF Mr.
Goodwin.
Mr. Bryant was q native Of MaSsachu-
setts. His parents were among the pio-
neers Of that state, exonplers OF humble
worth in tho marrow rural vale" His
father was country physician. We copy
the following interesting passage concern
ing his mother:
Having been taken to n new settlement
when she was only six years old, Mrs
Bryant had enjoyed few OF the advantages
of school.taught education. She Ind
managed, nevertheless, 10 Mcguire credit
able mastery of the rudimentary branches
Of learning. As wife and mother she did
most of the household work. She spun
and woyo, cut and. made most OF the
clothing OF her large family, wove her own
carpets, made her own candles, taught her
children to read and write, and was ono OF
the first at tho bedside OF the sick and
afflicted of her neighborhood. She took
lively interest in public affairs, both state
and national, and exerted no inconsldera-
bic influence in promoting township and
neghborhood improvements. She was, In
fact, housewife fashioned Oh the Old
Hebrew model.
His literary precocity, considering the
quality of his work, is unparalleled. His
''Thanatopsis," n poem scarcely surpassed
in the whole range Of literature, was writ
ten ut the age of seventeen. 1t is question
able whether even he ever wrote anything
better, 1t is n most remarkable effort for
country boy.
He studied law, but the practice was so
Repayment to him that he abandoned it for
literature. As editor of the Evening Post,
however, for many years, he had much to
do with shaping American politics. He
also became considerable traveller, having
visited Europe several times. During his
last years ho also visited Mexico. Tue
book under notice gives graphic picture
of his career in all its various phases. The
following passage IS Of peculiar interest
His first excursion that deserved to be
dignifed with the title of journey was
made in 1882 to visit his brothers, who
upon the death of their father had with
their mother sought new homo in the
wost aud had become tho proprietors of a
large landed estate in Illinois. He con-
sumed two weeks in this journey, which is
now made in about as many days. While
crossing the prairies between the MisSis-
sippi river and his brothers. plantation, he
encountered company of Illinois yolun-
teers who were moving south to take Il
part in what is commonly known as the
''Bluck Hawk War" They were led by u
tall awkward, uncouth lad whose appear
anco particularly attracted Mr. Brynnts
attention, ana whose conversation delighted
him by Its breczness and originality. He
learned many years afterwards, from one
who had belonged to the troop, that this
captain of theirs was named Abraham LIN
coin. Mr.. Bryant little dreamed as he
scanned the ungainly STRIPPING and listened
tc his unweeded Jokes that, some thirty
years later, il would become his duty to
present him to New York audience and
his privilege to hear from those very lips
''the decisive word of the contest" which
was to result in making this captain of vol
unteers, for eight consecutive years, presi-
dent of the republic; the central figure of
one of the most momentous wars that has
ever yet been waged among men, and the
sgner of tho proclamation that delivered
over six millions of people from slavery.
His various engagements of course inter-
fered with his poetieal fertility. His poems
nre much less volrminous than those of his
two leading poetical contemporaries, Long
fellow and Whittier. As Mr.. Bigelow well
remarks: AS poet Bryant is to DO
judged by tho quality rather than tho
quantity of his work" But judged by
that standard whera is the American poet
who can justly be said to surpass him?
We heartily commend this handsome
and fascinating volume. A complete in
dex adds to It's value. The price is $l.25.
DRrrwoop, by Will w. Pfrimmer. Buff
falo: Charles Wells Moulton, 1890.
To tho publisher-who is doing so much
through his Magazine of Poetry" towards
bringing out and preserving the produc-
tons of tho latent poetic genius of the
country-we are indebted for n copy of the
above work, neat volume of eighty-seven
pages. The most Of the poems are in the
popular dialect style of which James Whit
comb Riley is well known representative,
Mr.. Pfrimmer. by the way, is also a
Hoosier, and Mr. Riley will have to look
well to his laurels. We quote the follow
ing from Take Yer Choice O. Seasons. 4"
After briefly disposing of summer, autumn
and winter, he descants rs follows on
spring Our extract will DO found very
timely:
Ye may sing yer song o'summer,
Err - winter, er O. fall,
But tho season / am btttin' on
Is the one that beats 'cm all.
It's the Jolly days o. spring timo
When ever'thin' is CROWN;
Medier larks a tunin' up
Al prairy rooStcrs CROWN,
Pluyers.skimmin' cross the pillow land
Kill-dears flickerin' round the sl'ugh.
These here little piper-snipes. they're
Sort q bobbin' round there, too;
An the cat-bird and the robin
Give a daily concert, free,
While the rcd-heai drums an encore
From the OLD dead apple-tree;
Pee wees calm from the gate post,
QuAils a-vhi,ilin' in the wheat,
Pant nigh eyer'thin' is singIn',
Er Is lAughin', that ye meet.
An them fuz. buds on the willers.
An the docwoCds. bloomin' white.
An tho rri-huis. an the haw bloom.
Make a mighty purity sight
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