The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-06
THE CRITICS COLUMN.
DEVOTED TO COMMENT UPON RE.
CENT PUBLICATIONS.
Love Songs Of Childhood-The Bird CAL
endar-Conmon Sense Applied to
Woinan suffrage.

LOVE SONGS OF CHILDHOOD. BY
Eugene Field. 81. Charles scribner )
Sons. New York. For sale by West,
Johnston a. Co.
MIR. Fields poetry IS familiar to the
world of newspaper readers. for, as in the
case of Mr. Frank l.. Stanton, their edi-
tors have been swift TO perceive that
they possessed precisely the qualities sure
10 attract the general reader.
The present volume, as its title indicates,
COMPRISES those Of his poems which have
TO do with child life. They are distin-
guished by a nalvely true reflection OF Ju-
yenile thought, life and feeling, although
in one or two cases the thought, life and
feeling are rather those of the Sanlin or
underlined type, tnan Of other and more
loyable, if less amusing, ones. Those or
them which deal with baby life and the
sweet coquetries of the tiny dependents.
are characterized by a delightful tender
ness.
1t Is his poems Of child life which OF
all Mr.. Fields worl. seems 10 please the
popular taste most and II Is these poems
which the general press seems to especially
commend, If constant appearance IN thelr
columns indicates commentator. OF
them. as of Mr.. Stantons poetry, 1t Is
true that they lack finish, but IT is also
1
ter gentleman that they possess quail
ties more appreciated by the uncritical
masses than finish.
A quotation of Mr.. Fields letter 10 his
aunt, which appears upon the fly-leat. may
suggest the origin of these qualities OF
tenderness, purity and fidelity:
Dearest Aunt: Many years ago you
used to rock me % sleep, grading me III
your arms and singing me pretty songs.
Surely you have not forgotten that time,
and / remember it with tenderness. aou
were very beautiful then. But you are
more beautiful now, for in the years that
have come and gone since then the joys
and the sorrows of maternity nave I'M
dressed their sanity grace upon the dear
face | used TO kiss, and have mace your
gentle heart gentler Sill.
Beloved lady, in memory OF years 10 De
recalled only ia thought, and In token Oh
my gratitude and affection, / bring you
these little !ove-songs and reverently L
lay them at your feet.
EUGENE FIELD"
THE PATRIOT SCHOOLMASTER. by
Hezekiah Butterworth. ID. Appleton
4 Co.. New York. For sale by West.
Johnston q co.
III this finely bound and illustrated ana
cxcelently printed book, Mr.. Butterworth
erature a. story with an historic basis. tie
has succeeded admirably, as might have
been confidently expected by all 10 whom
his preceding stories Tor youth are Ia
miliar.
This volume" says The writer in MS
preface. relates to sam. Adams. the lead
er of the Boston town meeting, who was
called in his day the Father or Amerl-
ca one of the most lovable men III our
history. The story follows the events
associated with the two guns, the ADAMS
and Hancock, or the Hancock and Adams
which were hidden from the British forces
by a patriot schoolmaster and his equally
patriotic schoolboys in several mysteri-
ous WAYS until they could be taken into
the American lines. These small cannon,
which were once the pride of the Ancient
and Honorable Artillery, may now be seen
in the chamber at the top of Bunker Hill
Monument, where the reader may visit
them"
The writer has lived among the his
tOrc associations of many of the events
and traditions herein described for some
twenty years and has loved 10 visit the
places which he here attempts to pic
ture."
The story is an historical fiction, and he
has taken the liberties allowed to this
class OF writing, but nearly all OF the
incidents. except such as are essential 10
The movement OF d story, have a basis
of truth, or well-ordered tradition, and
IN this manner he has sought 10 give
picture OF old Boston in her heroic days.
The reader will not find 1t hard 20 trace
in the monuments and historical places of
Boston the principal scenes OF the story,
if he be interested to do so. The two
cannon. FaneuiI Hall. the Old South
bs.
where Adams, Hancock, Crispus Attacks.
and 50 many of the patriots sleep, the
statue of Adams, the portraits of Ham
cock, and :he many pictures of the Han
cock house; the Common, Dorchester
Heights. the grounds and monument at
Bunker Hill. all pass before the eye of the
lover OF history. who looks to see the sen-
blance OF old associations amid new
scenes.
Suffice il TO say that Mr.. Butterworth's
book is a most valuable contribution TO
iuvenile literature. fun of stirring move-
ment. Of fine moral tone, and with much
TO commend il TO the adult reader. 1t
will educate and benefit the young, while
also delighting them.
COMMON SENSE APPLIED TO NO-
MAN SUFFRAGE. BY NJ. Putnam
jacob. 6. =. Putnams Sons, New
York London. For sale by west,
Johnston d Co.
If any woman in the country be quail
fed to make the application indicated on
the cover of this book, Mary Putnam-Ja-
cobb is that woman. To be sure there are
many quarters in which it would be most
denied that the demand 10
extend the suffrage TO women could be- by
any possibility, supported by common
sense These are quarters wherein
whatever has been should be- Is an
nounce that native lack OF argument 10
support il, to all to whom whatever ~
weak or narrow IN social, political or
moral life is TO be reVerenced
and sustained simply because weak
ness and narrowness in those mat
ters has always obtained. They look
askance at any light which reveals the |
moth holes in their philosophy. They are
the persons who, having ears to hear, de-
cline to hear, and, having eyes, see not.
Then, too, there are anti-suffragists
whose views are soundly based on excel |
lent logic, and for them all who claim a
right 10 Independent opinion and its eX-
preston on certain questions must enter |
tain a profound respect.
Again. there are many whose objection |
TO the suffrage is temperamenta, and who |
will tell YOU frankly that, While unable 10 |