The times., 1897-08-08

In "In Buff and Blue the colors refer
ring to the uniform OF the soldiers OF the
Colonial Army, we believe Mr.. George
Bridges Rodney FOR the first time enters the
lists with Mrs. Goodwin and Mr.. Rivers as
an historical novelist of the Colonial and
Revolutionary period. BY the evidence OF
the story's excellence this would be con-
troverted.
In Buff and Blue" is alleged TO be
pertain portions from the diary of Richard
Hilton, Gentleman of Haslet's Regiment
Of Delaware Foot. Capt. Hilton, in the
reposeful twilight of his years tells the
memoirs OF his youth-"those dear old
days, when all was youth and love and
the gratifying sense of duty done and per
feet rest In the reward of duty done.''
Haslet's Delaware Foot were a famous
regiment in the Revolution. They marched
nortbward in &c TO New York, and fought
nobly in the campaign about Manhattan
Island. They were close to Gen Wash
ington; they spent the terrible winter in
Valley Forge with him, and came glo-
riouay out OF the war only eighty-four
strong Mr- Rodney's romance deals de-
lighJfully with the intimate side OF this
period and its people, in the words of one
who lives and acts in the present OF those
stirring days. He has been to evidently
elaborate pains to provide himself Sc
cure historical foundation in fact, and only
extensive reading and faithful study of the
period could have enabled him TO reproduce
70 exactly its atmosphere and teulpera-
ment.
''Ah! the memory OF that winter in Valley
Forge" wrote Capt Hilton; 1.-The terrible
marches Of the half-fed, half-naked troops:
the cold SO intense that it almost gripped
ones very heart, freezing blood and bone
and sinew, tuning strong men into little
children / have seen men who would
never have WINGED under keenest pain in
ordinary circumstances, cry like little
children in their anguish; their only food
dead horse meat or their own lea tleT cloth
ing; their frames and systems so impov-
eTished 10y a lack OF food, that scratch
which in the early days of the war would
have occas:oned only a laugh, would pro-
dace gangrene or some terrible complication
resulting often in death.
''The only quarters obtainahle were rough
log cabins. rudely chinked' with mud, ad
mitting the wind through every crack and
crevice- BAR OF the men at least were in
resulted from exposure alone. have
seen men covering over tiny fires-for
wood. too, became scarce e-afraid to lie
upon the ground for feaI Of freezing,
having literally not enough clothing to
keep their flesh from the frozen ground
Its ri gllt easynow for youto sit comfortably
by your fire, a glass OF hot punch on your
hand and pipe between your teeth. and
say comfortably: An, yes, 1T must have
been terrihlel' but you may well believe
Il was another thing to see men with whom
you have shared perils and pleasures, look
ing with envious eyes on others who had
perhaps sn ounce or two of meat or flour.
Even the death of an artillery horse was
hailed with delight, for that meant n
dainty meal for Some OF ms, and necessity
made good faragers of all.
''I have often wondered how Madame
Washington could have borne those terri
bic privations which she was forced to
undergo. And yet with inimitable grace
and courage she hearten ed every man who
came SO much as within sight OF her, and
when women bore IL so, why should we
give M?
Il shall never forget serving once on
the staff and seeing Gen. Washington,
with tears in his eyes. stop a young fellow
named Lyons, Of the Jersey line, who was
marching cheerfuliy along barefooted,
ankle-dcep in the snow. every step leav.
ing llood stains behind him.
my poor fellow said the general,
this is too much for you. Take this cloak
Of mine and cut it into moccssins.'
- Not J, general replied the gallant
fellow. 'YoIn need It yourself. sir, and
so long as my feet lleed, why. they cam,
freeze and he laughed at his own wit"
fRoston: Little, Brown & Co. Washington;
Woodward & Lothrop.l
III. jules Lemaitre has this to say of the