The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-16

VIII en- old "sultana" bust,
When sch men wuz needed wusst-
She had "consumpted" mother, an
aunt {" at had been struck with palsy"
"two twins " and a farm, beside
her own honest but susceptible heart, to
care for. She did ii nobly, but no better
than it is told of her in Riley's quaint but
beartsome and delightful style-not to be
described or indicated, even, except by
entire quotation. Indeed, this is the re-
viewers difficulty. The little book hasn't
asuperfiuous line; there's no chance to
select indicative verses or lines-every
word is needful. Still, there is no way TO
suggest flavor except by sampling the
package, and i cannot refrain from
quoting a few choice bits that will, hope
prompt readers TO seek the source from
which drew them, and imbibe the sun
shine it is full Of:
And ef we minded God, I guess
We'd ali love another
Jes like one fam'bly-ms and pap
And Msdaiine and mother.
Yes-the bee sngs-I confess it
Sweet a. honey-Heaven bless it,
Yit he'd be q sweeter singer
III he didn't have no stinger.
Up and down old 3 randy winel 60.
stripe me with pokeberry- -iuicei-
Flick me with pizenvine
And yell "Yiplr and lem me oosel
old now as then young,
n could sing as have sung
Song 'ud surely ring dee-vine
Up and down old Brandywinel
'Possum in de 'aier-p -patch
chicken-hawk a-hangin
stiddy 'bove de stabe-lot
An cyarpet-loom hanginv
Hil Mr. Hoppergrass. chawin' yo tefbacker.
lnck ye wild er buggy whirp yer spit er little
blsekerl
Rabbit in the cross-ties.-
Punch him out-Quick
CIT twister on him
With long prong stick.
Na,ch him on the tOuth side
Watch him on the-Hil--
There he gossi sic him, Tige!
VII Yill Ni 10
o what did the little boy do
AT nobody wanted him %?
Didn't do nothiR but romp an run
An whoop an boiler an bang his gun
An bust nre-orackers su' list have fun
An'ats all thsliitle boy donel
These samples, taken at random, do OF
show all the varied PAGES OF Riley's verse.
Some OF his verse flows with all the grace
OF Byron's best, as in ',rhe Old Trundle
Bed" and "Ths Muskingum Valley; and
fairly rivals Burns as in "My Mary"
There is more than once n suggestion OF
the weird perfection of meter aud
80 l. -
uncanny flavor. Pure nonsense in words,
reel funny fun, pathos chased away by
smile, sense made seductive by sentime mt,
affection for home and kin, the homely
virtues-all are here in this book along
with rare gift of language and versifica-
tion.
There is much that is OF consequence
and value, yet but little new, i'm Getty
Government in the United Statesn by AL
fred R. Conkling, which the Appletons
have just issued. II comes at a most op-
perfume time, when there seems to be a
general revolt against the sert OF city
government that has disgraced many
cities and impoverished more. It Is at
once text book OF existing methods and
plea for better ones, based, it is pleas
ing TO note, upon tho idea that "A muni-
functions are administrative rather
than political" The author calls the
book "a primer OF the science of city gov
ernment," and devotes Is of tho 10 chap
ters to more or less detailed description
of the workings of city governments. The
last chapter is devoted TO n terse summary
OF 1.-THE remedies" for evils the preceding
chapters reveal, which might profitably
be studied by citizens generally, but par
tcularly by those clubs that are now TO be
found in every city, for the promotion OF
better citizenship and better government
by citizens.
Rosa Nouchette Carey has written
novels enough to have established for her.
sell certain constituency. Her lstest
"The Old, Old Story" has q title that
lends additional assurance TO the imnlied
eupposition that all novels deal with IN.
grand passion, and the reader suffers no
snock when on arriving to the last page
he learns the she was hers, too. this
simple, kindly Reginald, with his biz.
honest heart, and his loyal chivalrous de-
votion," and his other more tangib,e
possessions as well, we may safely guarnn-
tee. IL Is a readable book, enough, N one
has no better employment; but such
books always lead me TO speculate N the
readers they get nave been through ALI the
great numbers OF books so much better.
even az novels merely. and p,erely for en-.
tertainment or rcstful frittoring away of
time. IL has AN artistic binding. but Il
printed upon paper OF poor quality and
uniorgivable tint.
Town aud Country Library" issue !. |
49,