The National tribune., 1895-10-17
Read Better than Pension" page B.


RECENT LII T. X a y IKE.
WASHINGTON; OR. THE REVOLUTION.
drama by Ethan Allen. Published by Il. Tenny-
sou Nicely. New York. Price so cents
This drama of our Revolutionary war, writ
ten by a relative of Ethan Allen. the Vermont
patriot, is an effort no whit less loyal than any
of those OF the Revolutionary hero. 1t is
drama in five acts. for the first part carrying
the history from, the beginning of our troubles
with the mother country TO the surrender OF
Burgoyne. 1t is splendid history, and it is
wonder that il has not been dramatiZcd before.
The author says Of his work that it is too long
for stage play; that he has tried to make it
truthful and accurate, and has put in many de-
tails that perhaps would hinder it from pre-
sentation the stage. He says: 1.-The chief
aim of the author has been TO secure to the
reader personal intimacy with tho actors in
the great struggle which made the United
States of America by having them live again
in his presence Every character has been
drawn as closely possible 10 that which he
filled in life. History Is descriptive and hence
cannot present a personality vivid as the
drama, which enables I he dead to speak and
walk as if within the hearing aud sight of the
living. We plod through many volumes Of
historical narration, and leave off with a
Knowledge of events aud OF the actors in
observation-disclosures with what We gain from
personal contact with. the drama" This is
very true. i mere IL ND UeIIsT WAY 10 present
history than by dramatizing it. Mr.. Allen has
preserved historical accuracy in every detail
and the utterances of bis characters are all
duly veuched for. and are often the we'll
known. patriotic phrases and sentiments that
all good citizens know and love 10 hear
Franklin's wise conversations. Washington's
noble aud exalted sayings, aud quotations from
the speeches OF Patrick Henry and Thomas
Jefferson inspire the patriots 10 brave cffOrts
and to success. Washington, Franklin. Put
nam, Nathan Hale and the American Gems
erals; George the Third. Lord North. Corn
wallis, Gen. Howe. and the other prominent
British officers; the King of France, Lsfay-
ette and French officers; Frederick III. aud
German officers. and All English and German
lady are the principal characters. The drama
is interesting from the first. and the events
easily succeed each other. This book, how
ever, only attempts to tell Of tho first part of
the great struggle. second book will COM
plete it, carrying the story on from Valley Forge
10 Washington's Inauguration as President.
The book is dedicated to the Sons and Daugh-
tiers of the Revolution and to all lovers OF
human liberty. 1t is very interesting pa
trotic work, and one that should be highly
valued and widely read.
A sHERBURNE ROMANCE. BY Amanda NJ.
Douglas. Published by Dodd. Mead & Co. Price
$3.50
clean. bright, interesting story, with de-
lightfui heroine. brave and beautiful. who
makes all around her content, and is herself
most happy. The romance is a continuation
of the Sherburne stories, and one who has not
read the other books is little puzzled some
times at references to affairs and characters de-
scribed in the previous accounts; but the story
is well told, and one soon becomes acquainted
with all the girls and their lovers the dear old
ladies and kind hearted unc!es and friends, and
rejoices over their joys and sorrows with them
when they have trials and is glad that finally
all ends we'll.
A COIN CATEcHIsM. BY J. X. Upton. Pub
lishcd by the Werner CO.. Chicago Price, pa
per, % cents; cloth. so cents.
The author of this was Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury under Secretaries Window Sber-
man. aud Folger. He handles the subject
clearly and conyincingly, and the work has
been highly commended by prominent fnan-
ciers.
THE SILVER QUESTION IN NUTSHELL.
BY Theo. G. Knauf Published by the Sound
Money League, Philadelphia, Pa. Price 8 cents.
PASSING THROUGH THE ORDEAL BY Ar
thur Pratt. Published by the j. s. 0giivie Pub
fishing CO., New York. Price % cents.
MOLLY DARLING AND OTHER STORIES. BY
The Duchess. Published by Lppincott, Phila-
delphia. For sale by Brentano. Washington. ID.
&. Price so cents
A collection of eight love stories bound to-
gether in a little red book.
JACK BENSoN'S LOG. BY Charles Ledyard
Norton. Published by w. A. Wilde Il Co.. Bos-
ton. Price Si.25
A historical story for boys The hero. Jack
Benson. enlisted at the beginning of the civil
war. His first ship WIS Old Ironsides. and in
one way or another he saw most of the impor-
tant naval events of the war.
A GUIDE TO SYSTEMATIC READINGS IN
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA. BY
James baldwin, Pm. d. published by the Wer-
ner Co.. New York.
A book about book, being an attempt to
make the Encyclopedia more available for gem
eral reading. IT is true that most folks consult
a cyciopedia much as they do dictionary.
merely to decide some question, never realizing
that il is splendid fund of reading matter.
The author tries to indicate courses of reading
that will be profitable and pleasant for chill
dren, students, aud busy men.
MY SISTER HENRIETTE. By Ernest Renan.
Translated by Walter Gussenrode. Published
by j. ). Oglive, New York. Price IS cents.
A tribute to his sister by the great writer.
A loving, loyal account of her serene, beautiful
character, and an acknowledgment of the value
of her influence and teachings and criticism
in all his writings. Along with the stories of
the devotion of Wordsworth and his sister
Dorothy, Lambs tenderness to his sister Mary,
and the close relationship of MeDdolssohn and
his sister Fanny, we must record this evidence
of how beautiful the tie between brother and
sister may be.