The Washington times., 1895-06-24
JOYCE'S JEWELS OF MEMORY
Another Volume Launched by the
Genial Soldier-I'Oet.
II Contains Personal "reminiscences of
Menand Events .orations Delivered
by Himself. and Poems.

Col. John h Joyce, soldier, orator, and
poet, has published another book, fact
which will be OF great interest to those who
are familiar with his former work S
"Checkered Life" Peculiar Poems," aud
"Zig-Zag." The author has chosen for his
present literary venture, which will un-
doub1edIy b. successful, the attractive title
of Jewels of Memory"
AS the title indicates, the book contains
a great mauy OF the most interesting and
brilliant thoughts and "reminiscences from
Col. JoyCe's ineXhausiible treasury. The
volume contains 245 pages, the subjects
being personal "reminiscences of the war,
itsheroes sandliterarymen, ,orationsdelivered
from time TO time 10y the author, aud sixty
pages OF poems, under the title Poetic
Pebbles"
The intention of the publication is found
in the following by the author: Il
dedicate this volume TO the American sol
dierand sailor whose braveryaudp patriotism
on land and sea for more than century
challenge the respect OF mankind and Will
command the admiration of posterity"
The preface tells in few words what is
expect ed to be accomplished by the puhli-
cation S follows: These jewels from
the casket OF personal memory / flash over
the ocean OF literature trusting that some
sparkling rays may attract human hearts
when the soul that OWNED and the hand
that fashioned them has vanished like
the dews of the morning"
The reader will be charmed with the easy
and fluent style in which Col Joyce tells
his stories OF the war. A special value
attaches to these tales as they are not
made up from records but are the recol-
lection OF the gallant soldier himself, who,
like Eneas, was part Of the adventures
he related
Among the worthless TO whom we are in
troducad by Col. Joyce and made part of
the company are Roscoe CoHkling, Sheridan,
Grant, Spinner, Fauagut ana Porter, Cor
porai Tanner, Burnside, and Allison.
One of the singulaIly happy descriptions
is that of the battle OF fShiioh and the authors
Louisville experiences.
There is a successful effort all through the
discussionSof questions which have been
subjects OF diverse political opinions to be
just and impartial A fine example OF this
is the following passage from the opening
sketch on Lyon and Jackson
The name and fame of Lyon and Jack
son shall emblazon the military pages Of this
great republic as long as honesty and yaior
are respected, anC side by side through the
coming ages these imperurbable ideal
soldiers shall march in the van OF the MILL
tary heroes who have gone down to uni
yerSal silence in the crash OF battle.
There is fine sketch in the book OF the
National Capital, beautiful alike in thought
and composition.
A fine example Of how Col. Joyce tells his
stories is to be had in this extract in which
he describes his first visit to the great
editor. George ID. Prentice. the visitor being
diked out in his best regimentals:
looked around the shabby, naked room,
and saw a stout, low built man writing
away at a rude desk with a tremulous
band Hishead waslargc, round and some
what bald, but the bumps and furrows
on bis brow reminded me of Socrates, or
some of the ancient philosophers whose
pictures ] had seen in historical and clas-
sical works He did not look up, although
be must have known / was present, till
coughed, tramped around, and becoming
impatient at non-Tecognition, finally threw
on the floor a pile of newspapers off the
only stool in the room right near his desk,
and planted my military greatness on the
site OF bis displaced literature.
''He went right on with his scratching
hieroglyphics until he got to the bottom Of
the page, and threw down his pen, whirled
about in his chair, and with look of
mingled madness and sententious satire,
said: who are you?' L am fool. so am
l, shake. And that was our first ac-
quaintance.
ut VI bOi oVSNS 10 ohpJSN"'S.
Some of the poems breathe the spirit of
true devotion TO the poets art, and some Of
them are full of the finest and tenderest
feelings of the heart.
There is a very interesting account in
the sketches of the manner in which Laugh
and the World Laughs with YOU was
composed in fifteen minutes at sympo-
SUM of the author and some distinguished
friends This "brainbaby' Col. Joyce
remarks. has been the property of "Anony-
nous and others for the past thirty years,
| but be now claims it and avows its author
ship.
The Jewels of Memory will repay pc
rUsal. The frontispiece is a cut of Col.
Joyce, who is a well known and picturesque
figure in Washington. The printing is by
Gibson Brothers. publishers of this city.