New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-24
BOOKS ABOUT LINCOLN.
NEW WORKS; AND A NEW EDITION

NEW WORKS; AND NEW EDITION.
.Life on the Circuit with Lincoln by Henry
c. Whitney Estes & Lauriat. Is rather auto
biographical in its character than otherwise, az
far as the authors acquaintance with Lincoln eA-
tended In its portrayal of Lincons life as
lawyer it may he said TO supplement the we'll
known work OF Herndon. since Mr. Whitney saw
most of the future War President at those times
and under the conditions of which Herndon, his
Office companion, could speak only from hear
say. 1t is one of the necessities OF such a part
nership as that of the two men happily adapted
70 each other that the journeys OF one must
be taken without the cOmpanonship of the other.
But Mr. Whitney's study of Lincolns character
is necessarily fragmentary. II was the man who
had story or a humorous remark for every eNl-
gency of life whom he knows best. Lincoln.
SAYS the author, never allowed n draft from
Judge David Davis on his resources a wit 10
be dishonored. The aspect thus presented OF the
sad, uncommunicativc man Is that of one who
had never yet been really awakened by living
facts worthy of his attention He only play
ing with life. The deep honesty and earnestneSs
of his mind could only he stirred. even in his
law practice, by case in which morality was
an important element. He was the despair of
his fellow counsel in the defence OF a wrongdoer.
and the very impersonatiOn of conscience when
he was dealing with perjured witness. When
his convictions were aroused he was majestic,
even terrifying; at other times he was indlier-
ent, and. if jovial II was seemingly only by
the surface movement Of mind the depths Of
which were passive and silent Mr. Whitney's book
will also he found useful for the light II casts
now and then upon the. political history of Lin
coin down TO the day when he was nominated
for President For eNamrle, he corrects 1iern-
don as to the date of the meeting of Illinois Re-
in at Iyh be FIN of
the party was considered. in view Of the fact
that some National leaders favored giving up
the party organization and uniting with the
Douglas Democrats In support of the Little
Giant for the Presidency. 1t at this meet
ing that Jesse X. Dubois publicly urged the
nomination of Lincoln for place OF tho other
on the next Presidential ticket. This was
thing which many had talked Of in private. and.
according to Mr.. Whitney, Duboiss suggestion
mot with enthusiastic response. II was. in
fact, what all had been thinking. Perhaps the
only doubtcr Lincoln himself llerndon put
this meeting early in 1850. Mr. Whitney in
slsts that it was held on January 6, 1859
tho evening of the day after Douglas had been
elected to tho Senate. He refers to the meeting
twice, and the details which he givos-such AS
only one who participated could gvc-make clear
the importance of the date and of the meeting.
Abraham Lincoln The True Story of Great
Life" by William II. IIerndon and Jesse W. Weik.
has reached third edition ID Appleton & Coz
and now has an introduction hy Horace White
which. besides one or two of Lncolns early speech
cs is about the only piece of rhetoric in the two
volumes of the book. JIcrndNn had one trait in
common with Lincoln--he could not help being hon
est Supplemented as il must be ny other contcm-
porary writings, his biography OF Lincoln must
remain Of the highest importance as source for
tuI, bo in nd in
respects the greatest character in American hi.
tory. Comparing this with other works on the
subject one sees how completely the author has
efaced himself in his theme. The reader will
study il in vain if he wishes IL make an cStl-
mate of Linc1ln's partner aside from the simplest
facts in his character. Few other men could
have attained this negative cNcollcncc. HNrndon
doubtless reached il unconsciously. One might
say periodically that he was greater than Lin
coin in one respect, for his indifference 10 fame
was genuine while that of Lincoln was the cold
ness of man who was resolved not to be dlsap-
pointed whatever turn the world took with him.
II the one was born TO greatness, the other was
born 10 self-oJntrol.
To write novel with Lincoln as character
is like holding a rush light up TO the sun. Where
truth is so strange, fiction impcrtincnt
superfuitv Nevertheless IIezckiah Euttcrworths
in the Boyh)od of Lincoln" ID. appleton CO..
is by no means an unintcrcsting book. especially
for those who may make in II the beginning OF
their acquaintance with Lincolns character The
lesson of respect pr tho Indian is we'll presented
Abraham Lincoln" by Charles Carleton COT
fin Harper N Brothers, is pleasing collection OF
anecdotes which illustrate successive periods in
the life of it's subject The literary style has tic
charm so well known in Mr. Collins writing, but
IL is only indirectly biography. There is hardly
more than the pretence of connected narrative
One lively or humorous or pathetic story succecds |
another so rapidly however that the lack of a |
formal Geographic link is never thought Of 1t
in a series of vivid pictures in which Lincoln
the boy, the youth. the man, the lawyer, the !
Preslent-is presented in many aspects that one |
rises from the perusal OF the volume feeling al !
most as if he had known the man. Tic stories /
are all kindly too, as Lincoln himself was If .
there is any bitterness in Mr.. CaretoI's own |
Thought it i, generally such history has already |
Justified The book should delight many Il child !
and many a reader who is no longer child
Another book on the same theme, The Chill !
drens Life of Abraham Lincoln by VI. Louise !
Putnam "A. G.. McCluig a Cos is confcsscdly Il
work of instruction LincOns life is narrated, :
and the author seeks in his marvellous career the .
means of awakening in the child-rea lcrs 20 whom 4
she appeals AN Interest in the Government and the .
political history Of the Nation. With that aim
She has been Obliged 10 give up AT least in part,
the more entertaining possibilities OF her subject.
Certainly she could not have chosen a name which .
touches more nearly every phase Of American HE
than that of Lincoln, nor ono the magic OF which .
yrould so easily brighten the details Of history.