New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-09

CHICAGO. DIE GEsC1IICHTT Elmer wUNDER-
STADr ny Eugen seeser. Largo e'o' pp' 100
Published by the author.
Tho primary purpose Of this book Is TO acqnaint Ger
man readers with the marvellous history OF the me
tropolis of the Northwest sccondsriy, ~ aims Aso
IN mt on record the part which American cuzons Oh
German birth have played In the buudihg up % 'nc
CITY performance that the author, in his utlc' sets
down as q miracle Mr.. Seeger is journalist. and
writes from the Journalists point Of view. Evidently
nc is strongly convinced that the visitors 10 the "o
Columbian Exposition will find no greater curiosity III
Chicago than the city itself The historical ana oe
scriptve sketches which he has grouped together III
his exceedingly readable volume will carry the same
conviction to his readers At the outset no oirro'e
attention to the fact that scarcely two decades nao
cIspsed after the city had been devastated by the
great fire before Congress chose II as the site Oh inc
Columbian Fair The latter Institution ne Is 'hereo'e
inclined TO look upon vast resurrection FESTIVAL
No one can wonder at his enthusiasm, Tor II Tue s"ry
Of the first generation in the cys life seemed mrac-
ulous that Of decades last past is almost IN
conccivably marvellous. To the catastrophe wmch
might be said to have defeated rs ends Mr. seegcr
consequently dcvotes separate chapter, the longest
and vivid in the book and follows IL up VIII"
description Of Chicago and the buildings In course
OF erection for the Fur.
A large portion Of The book has been written IN a
charming STYLE the dry facts of history being envehed
nv an occasional touch Of hunor. In all the pages
moreover there is an exhibition OF fankpess which NJ
particularly engaging In view OF the avowed Pur-
pose Of the writer TO give the German ctizehs Vi
Chicago the credit which has been generally over
looked In the published accounts Of the citys CROWN
There is no attempt 10 screen the cha'acterisue
tdosyncrases OF the German ponecrs or to claim I'M
due Importance for them. With the foundation OF He
city they had nothing to DO fact winch no. pay
fully demon strates by Of the methods OF anthV
biologists. The site Of primitive" Chicago ives 10"
and marshy and tho first settlers built their hoinH on
ples like the prehistoric Lakedweers Of SwNzerlacid
An examination Of the kitchen ofa Of the citys
abergnes Mr. Seeger says failed TO discover either
corks oorlscrews or skat cards Hence. he con-
cludes there were no Germans among the original
settlers. Tho intellectual and other differences be-
tween TIE earliest German citizens and the political
refugees Of 1s49, and the Influence exerted by the
latter are most cntertonngly sketohed and a valu-
able contribution to lie political history OF
the country is msde in the account Of the
love Of freedom which the fortyniners and their
copfreres carried with them into the political life Of
the nation with which. naturally, they soon identified
Themselves. The services which of the leading
spirits among these performed In behalf OF the
abolition Of slavery, the creation Of the Republican
party and the suppression Of the rebellion will be
remembered with gratitude.