The times., 1897-05-23
4 14!!||-ll -ll|71l't|[+tla-l 3 !

relative value It is not without its im-
portance as an achievement in condensa-
ton, accuracy. literary grace, and the
addition in places OF new and valuable
material
The historian is James Grant Wilson,
qualified by endowment and u lifelong &C
quaintance with the subject OF his biog-
raphy to fitungiy accomplish his work.
be knew Grant in Cairo, H.. in 81, he
served under him at yicksburg, and the
friendship thus began continued pleas
antly for quarter OF a century lacking
but one year. The continuity OF the asso-
citation and the fervor of the friendship
inevitably begot an intimacy which re-
vealed the real character and much OF the
personal side of the warrior Presidents IS
life TO Ills destined historian. The result
ant is not only manifest in the whole tenn
permanent in which the narrator writes,
but il has enabled him TO approach the
controverted points with measure Of as
surance grounded on knowledge. The very
brevity of the work gives it a firnness
and coherency whichis lacking in diffusive,
apparently stndious, and certainly belabored
histories OF greater bulk.
He found in his friend first OF all the
genius OF common sense, F" and above this,
asitwere, ,thesupcrstructure ola well-found-
ed character. lie described the general
as q warrior who really loved peace,
man of pIIe mind and unpolluted tongue.
sympathetic in the presence OF suffering,
upflinching before an obstacle, single
minded, honest hearted and direct.
Until attention is called to it by Mr.
Wilson'S recitation of some OF the com
mander's speeches, it escapes one how
brilliantly and effectively he frequently
spoke. 1t was Kansas ciitic who said
that Hamlet" was good play, but had
too many quotations in ii. He might say
the same of Grants conversation SO
famous have some of his sayings become
that they have grown beyond their moor
lngs to him and have swung cut into the
general current Of uncredited anecdote.
How few there are who know that when
man about TO tell an indelicate story re-
marked, There are 10 ladies present,
it was Grant who replied: No, but there
are gentlemen Again, there is the witty
rejoinder which sounds like 4 proverb and
epigraIn rolled Ii one: 1T is the business CT
] soldier TO beat the enemy whenever and
wherever he meets him If he can should
defeat iNew York: ID Appleton & Co.
washington: Woodward < Lothrop)
We have a question to ask the Bookiilan
magazine OF course, this Is not the regti-
lar and advised way Of asking questions
.f the uagaZine in Z what color Is it?b-nut
the prospect of hanging ourselves on the
large hrown book beside the editors desS
and there accumulate dust from the office
boys daily morning sweeping while wait
ing for other querists to come and hang
before us until there be such an accitnuh-
ton as merits the dignity OF place In th-
| table of contents, is not alluring- But thc
question Why is il. dear Bookman, that
| month after month we and other readers
! are reraled with the ron of honor OF best
J selling books from all points of the country
except Washington?
It's not, unders nd, that any one
cares hang what hooks sell best or wha'
! hooks sell at all, but it's snch blow tf
| our pride. You tell us that In salt Lake
! CITY Children is at the top of the list
! while our conviction is spitefully firm ina
nothing could possibly suit those Morin"n'
better than Two Women and Fool
| 'sQuo yahis'' is given first place in Bal
/ tiuore, and THAT Affair Next Door Is