The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-09
CURRENT LITERARY TOPICS
Three Important Books in the
Colonial Renaissance Class.
"a STREET IN sUBURBIA"
Mrs. Goodwin's Biography of Dolly
MadiS0n-Life of Martha Wash
inPton Is 10 Be Written.
"a STREETIN SUBURBIA"

DO late for classification In the recent
symposium or the rena issa nee in
revolutionary and colonial literature
come three important books from the
press OF the Scribners In theme
and treatment they are of the first rank
OF books of this character and deserve in
innate Identification with any review touch
the literature OF our early history. They
are three handsome volumes OF the Scrib-
ners' series of Women OF Colonial and
Revolutionary Times. Each is devoted to a
patriotic character who left the impress
or her life on the period it comprised
One of them is Dolly Madison, by Maud
Wilder Goodwin; another Margaret Win
throp. by Alice Morse Earle: the third Eliza
Pinckney, by Harriet Horry Revenel.
These three women We're history makers
as well as home makers. They stand for
types OF three periods OF national progress
In Margaret Winthrop. daughter OF Sir
John Tyndal, a man OF character and influ-
cnce in Essex county, England, is found a
theme OF uncommon attractiyeness. Manor
life in England in the time OF the first
Stuart king, especially that which reflected
the Puritan spirit of the day. is graphically
painted, and suggestive contrast is pre-
sented between the manners and customs
OF Puritan England as they affected the
country housewife Il nd thel lady OF the manor,
and those Of Massachusetts in their relation
TO the wife of the governor of the colony
Mrs. Earle has been referred to before as
an accomplished connoisseur of matters
colonial a I'D it may be said that her genius
for constructing vivid pictures from ma
terialsthat would have no inca ming value
to most Diographers is conspicuousiy shown
in this entertaining book in the absence
OF an exist ing portrait OF Margaret
winthrop, the front:sp!cce is a facsimile
reproduction of Deaut fully written
letter from Mrs. Winthrop to her husba nd
The life OF Eliza Pinckney naturally
takes us to the other extreme Of the
Atlantic washed colonies 1t also carries
US to later period Mrs. Ravenel's book
gives an extra ordinarily valuabl lie and
entertaining picture of social and domestic
life in South Carolina, from 1877 until
the time of Mrs Pinckncy's death in
hitherto unpublished letters written by
and to Mrs. Pirckney, describing in detail
and with exquisite charm the manners,
customs, and mode OF life in her day,
and possess an extensive historical as we'll
as an intimate personal interest Eliza
Pinckney was the wife OF Chief Justice
Charles Pinckney and daughter of Lieut.
Col. George Lucas, of the English Army.
Her life is the early history OF tie South
ern seaboard colonies during the eighteenth
century.
The very name of dear Dolly Madison
is assurance OF a mire of good things
between the covers that Dear her name.
Mrs. Goodwin's excellent biography real
yes every wish of the reader. Says the
in her introduction: 'Thack-
cry. makes loving mention of a charrsing
ady of the old school, whose life eN-
ended far hack into the last century. Il |
often thought he says, AS took my |
sind old tnCnu'S hand, how wit tn IL held |
IN to the society and wits of the old |
world Even such link with the past, |
o those OF US at least who have reached !
middle age, is MIS-. Madison. This life |
Df hers which almost or quite touched ours, |
touched also the life cf Alexander Ham |
lton and Aaron Burr, of Decatur anil |
and Paul Jones, Of Talleyrani !
and jefferson and La Fayotte, while she |
vas dear Dolly tothe spouse OF Washin gtun |
ii mself."
The projectors OF this series have in |