Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-21

taken from tho reports OF this depart
ment and presented with especial regard
70 the requirements OF the agricultural
reader. Statistics OF agriculture taken
from the report OF tho Census. and much
interesting Information relative TO the
exports, imports. and per capita con-
sumption OF agricultural products from
the publications OF tho Bureau OF Sta.
ustics OF the Treasury Department have
also been compiled In convenient form
down TO tho latest available date.
1t has thus been sought TO make the
volume n concise reference book OF USE
full agricultural information, based in a
great part upon the work OF this and
other departments OF the government
without making IL an encyclopedia OF
general information. In brief, the ef-
fort has been 10 make a book, and not
a mere government report-a book worthy
20 be published IN an edition OF half a
million copies, and at an expense 10 the
people, If We count both publication and
distribution. Of over 10000.
Time and space have not been spared
In the preparation OF an index 10 the
book which, II is believed. will prove an
efficient guide to all who consult 1t.
CHARLES w. DABNEY. Jr.,
Assistant Secretary.
'''+--f'--t1NNA'f - ~ A WI AeA = Aoats
THE TALE OF BALEN. BY Algernon
Charles Swiuhurne. New York: Charles
Scribners Sons. 1872 pages. Price, $40
swinburne has here given us in elaborate
verse Malory's story Of Balen, and in a
sense his muse has entered a new field.
lie, however, conforms closely to the Ma
Tory thread, and his narrative construc-
ton IS such as 70 be easily followed,
even by those not acquainted with the
story Of Baien In prose. virtue that is
not found in all Of the poetical renditions
from the Arthurion cycle Of romances.
The drawing OF the maiden's sword by
Balen, after all the other knights, by
reason OF faint Of shame. treachery, or
guilt had failed TO release her is thus de-
scribed by Swinburne:
Then from the lowliest place thereby,
With heart-enkindled cheek and eye.
Most Ike the star and kindling sky
That say the sun-dawns hour Is nigh,
When rapture trembles on the sea,
STROBE Balen in his poor array
torth, and took heart OF grace TO pray
The damsel suffer even him TO assay
His power 20 set her free
Nay, how should he avail. she said,
AFcrse with scOrn-aNerted head.
Where these evailed not? None had sped
OF al these mightier men that led
The lists wherein he might not ride,
And how should less men speed? But he,
With lordlier pride Of courtesy,
Put forth his hand and set her free
From pain and humDled pride
From the co'loquy over the return OF the
sword which Balen refuses 20 return. the
following is taken as another example Of
Swinburnes treatment:
What chance God sends, that chance
take
He said Then soft and still she spake;
j would but for thine only sake
Have back the sword OF thee, and break
The links Of doom that bind thee
But seeing thou wilt not have It so.
Ny heart for thine Is Wrung with Woe
Gods will quOth ne, 10 is we know,
Wherewith our lives are bound "
In the scene IN which Balen kills the
Lady Of the Lake
This water-snake OF poisonous tongue"
who
$50 many a knight. so many a may,
To death By words and wiles hath stung,'
there are some intensely dramatic lines.
We quote again:
"Then Balen turned,
And saw the sorceress hard beside,
By whose fll craft his mother died;
Three years lie had sought her, and hero
esDieI,
His heart against her yeained
I'll be thou met he said, whose ire
Would siake with blood thy souls desire,
by thee my mother died I'm fire,
Die thou by me q death less dire
Sharp flashed his sword forth, fleet
as flame
And shore away her sorcerous head.
Balen's many adventures after being
banished from the Court Of Arthur, are
4. 4 o., al frt frrrrnTu with
the development of the story Swinburnc's
power Of description are most strongly il-
Illustrated I'm dealing with the fatal joust
between the hero and his brother wherein
IS fulfilled the prophesy Of the maiden
touching the sword
" For with it thou shalt surely STAY,
or all that look upon the day,
The man best beloved OF thee, and lay
Thine own life down for his
Here Is a quotation from the combat
scene:
"Balan smote Balen first. and Glove
His lifted shield that rose and strove
in vain against the stroke that drove
Down: As the web that morning wove.
OF glimmering pearl from spray TO
Dies when the strong sun strikes e.. so
Shrank the steel. tempered thrice 10 show
Strength, as the mad might OF the blow
CiDfe 1hlrn p AhlHl NV das
ATTer Balan discovered that II was his
brother whom he had mortally wounded
though dying himself. he
Rose on hands and knees
Ana crawled by childlike, dim degrees
Up 20 has brother as breeze
Greens Wingless over sluggaId seas,
When all the winds heart falls II; so
Beneath their mothers eyes had he'
babe that laughed with JOY 10 be-
Made towards nina standing by her knee.
For loves sake long ago.
This effort Of Swlnbourne's will win for
him many new admirers. The volume is
neatly bound. and the printing IS on
heavy paper with wide margins.
For sale by the J. W. Randolph Com
pany.
ELIZA PINCKNEY. wife OF Chief
Justice Thomas Pinckney, OF South
CaroHna) by Harriott Horny Ravenee,
great-granddaughter of Mrs. Ptnckney,
with fac-simile reproductions. i2mo.
Pages. 323. SIS.
The beautiful typography with which
the publishers present this little volume
is in striking harmony With the happy
thought which suggested the issue OF
this series Of sketches Of Women Of the
Colonial and Revolutionary Days"
The pioneer of the series IN the life
Of Margaret Winthrop" wife OF Governor
John Winthrop. gave us some months
ago a. very pleasing delineation Of the
character Of q typical Puritan matron
and her experiences IN the earliest Co
lonial DAYS OF New England. This
volume presents another phase Of Co
lonial life in the no less commanding
figure Of typical Caroline woman, whose
descendants lr her own southern land,
like those Of Mrs winthrop In her more
northern cline. have continued 20 COM
mand 10 this day the highest social and
political recognition.
Mrs. Pinckney was the daughter OF Lieu
tenant Colonel George Lucas. OF the Brit