Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-14

the sake of the. women and children who.
hiding from the white man are starV-
ing in the woods and canebrakes.
This book ought to be reprinted and
widely read for it's interest both as his
tory and literature.
Pickett's History of Alabma." before
mentioned, gives the fullest and most sat-
through Alabama. He relates all the de-
tails of that expedition through the state.
tracing its course from the entrance into
Cherokee county, along the Coosa river
southwark to the Alabma river, past the
Indian city-for 1t seemed to be very
large community-Tallassee where De-
Soto received the embassy of the great
Indian chief, Tuscaloosa, or Black War
rior; OF his descent of the Alabama river,
and of that mighty battle of Mauvila or
Mobile, Black Warriors capital city, in
which both Indians and white men were
slain by the thousands and the Spanish
army was nearly exterminated
The Indian tribes who dwelt here in
1889 are fully and carefully described: and
the legend is well told of how some of
them came northward from Mexico to
Alabama in wandering about to find bet
ter country and kinder neighbors. Their
habits and modes of life, their villages,
their temples, their religion, their dances
and feasts and funerals. their traditions
as related by themselves. are set forth in
graphic detail
Picketts History has also some very
valuable pictures in it, which were drawn
by Jacob lie Moline, in 1864, and which
well illustrate the Indian customs and
dwellings, In the south. These testimo-
malls of an eyewitness are of the great
est interest. A competent critic calls this
account of the Indians the best that he
has ever seen anywhere. 1t abounds in
anecdotes and Incidents thus relieving
the style of unbroken description which
is apt to become tireSome.
The relation proceeds with the story
of Alabama from it's first settlement,
through the various vicssitudes of
French, Spanish, and English occupa-
ton, to it's being a part of Mississippi
Territory, and finally to it's admission
into the union in 1919. Here it stops for
other hands to continue and it is only
now at the end OF the century that the
task is renewed. We have reason to be-
lieYe that 1t will be continued in style
worthy of its beginning.
1t is said that new edition Of Pickett's
History is soon to be published, and
we hope that this report is true.
Most valuable works on the history of
our state are the county histories which
several counties have issued. Their ex-
ample ought to be followed by all, for in
these can be given with greater detail
than in q state history the special legend
and incidents belonging to the different
counties, Such histories cannot fail
to interest the children of those counties,
and they should be used in the county
schools as text books. or at least as read
ers Halls "Claike County" Riley's
"Conecuh County" Littles But
Ter County" and "Marengo County," con-
tain much that still interest even out
siders; and the material in such books is
necessary for an extended history of the
state. F
Professor T. c. McCorvey, of the state
university, has just published an excel
lent and timely work, especially for our
young men. 1t is '"The Civil Government
OF Alabama" and it will greatly aid In
proper knowledge and appreciation of the
history and standing of our state. An
other book along this line, one includ-
ing the entire south, is DR.. ]. L. M. Cur
rvs able and learned volume, 1.-THE
Southern States of the American Union"
The south has too long delayed to show
and calmly maintain her rightful atti-
tude in this union, and it is time that her
sons were waking to the necessity of put
ting her true record on the imperishable
page of history. DR.. Curry is a noble
leader in this great cause.
Hodgson'S Grade of the Confederacy,"
Hannis Taylor's Political History of
Alabama" DeLeons -Four Years in
Rebel Capitals" DuBose's Life and
Alabama" CARROTS Public Men of
Alabama" Berney's industrial History
of Alabama Riley's Alabama AS 1t
Is" Willis G. Clark's Education in Ala
Ddlnd, w liuAsG tleCeIll HdSt FROM q
Southern Standpoint" and "Reminis-
cences of a Grandfather all contain in
valuable matter for the historian as we'll
as for the patriotic lover of our state and
her cause and institutions. Such works
as Mrs. Pyrnelle's tale of plantation child
life, called 'Diddie, Dumps. and Tot"
Mrs. Bellamy's, Mrs. Wilson's, and Mrs.
Lee Hentz's novels and other stories of
southern life, fill in and illustrate what
to many seem the bare outlines of his
tory, and render lifelike and interesting
the times and men and events that fig
ure on history's pages.
A hint to our citizens who lived DUR
ing the civil war: let them put into writ
ing their recollections of persons and
events of the past, both before and dur
ing the war, giving anecdotes and incl
dents, pathetic or laughable tales of the
soldiers, of their servants, and anything
else OF interest, and thus preserve for the
future a record of those wonderful times
which are fast fading from memory
What has become of the Alabama His
torical Society?
LOUISE MANLY.
Judson Institute, Marion Ala
Splint Coal. Va. and Ala.