The sun., 1897-05-15
SOME NEW BOOKS.
,.,,, reviews or Important and Interesting
yew Publications.

rror, Boston comes little volume modestly
,ornd in sober brown and bearing tho imprint
medallion which shows an ancient warrior
O.osnlnp battle axe and surmounted by an arm
s.,howed brandishnE what 10 eithcs n eutlass
carving knife; md from its title we gather
,h.t this modest tome commentaries a great
srd porgeods natitn i occurrence. For this
4. the true and authentic history OF the
.,orn,,nc and capture OF tho British Islands
Nv tho Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com.
nany Of Boston. "Trip OF Tho Ancients" is Its
t,,,c and Mr. William Hichborn IL the writer,
and herein the world may learn all that took
placc upon that great and glorious expedition,
when. filled with enthusiasm and other things.
these noble warriors set forth with peace in
their hearts and poet or two from Boston In
,hc hand wagon, to assure the dwellers on the
,hores OF Albion that they, tho Ancients, were
men and Plymouth brothers, and that, whatso-
aver fortune might befnll Old England, Boston
was, and always would bc, with her.
On Monday, the 29th day Of June, 1895. at ex-
aotly twenty minutes past 12 Boston time amid
the booming of cannon, the braying OF the
bands and the shricking Of steam whistles, the
Ancients launched upon tho mighty deep. In
the interest OF generations yet to como We are
Rlad that the historian is thus precise as to tho
time 1t inspires confidence and shows that he
disnanty deny an entirely unfounded rumor
for which, 1t seems. THE Sun was mainly
responsible. in printing tho following warn
ing: ITO block up the whole Atlantic
with bottles would be a grave danger
to the safety Of other navigators and travellers
for pleasure. The Ancient and Honorable Ar
tilery Company should not be allowed to throw
its relics into the brine. Tho Atlantic must be
kept open" NOW" says Mr.. Hichborn with
-
all that was going on on board the Servia in go
Ing and returning, and did not sec but ono
bottle thrown overheard. and that was one
threw myself" This straightforward statement,
in spite Of its slight ambiguity in point Of gram
matical construction, may be accepted as dof-
nitely disposng Of very serious matter.
The narrative flows onward in an easy. placid
stream until. in his account OF the Fourth OF
July celebration. tho chronicler is moved to an
enthusiasm befttins the occasion. Imagine
yourselves" he exclaims, in that elegant din
ing room built of choice inlaid woods highly
polished. with five tables stretched the length
OF it, some 100 feet long. each covered with the
choicest viands earth can produce, crowded
with fair women and brave men In Rayest attire
the uniforms of the officers and soldiers mix
ing with the splendid and costly toilets Of the
ladies, Rlittering with diamonds on every
hand" Mol we cannot do It. We might
manage to call up mental picture
OF the choicest viends the fair women and even
the brave men. But the brain reels at the very
thought of the splendid and costly toilets Of
ladies who glitter with diamonds ION every
hand" After picturing tho decorations, the
American and English flags entwined around
the saloon, with "the British lion and the Amer
ican eagle in loving embrace" he works up to
one magnificent burst descriptive of tho enthusi-
asm when " the Salem Cadet Band tuned in with
God Save the Queen The very air
seemed charged with inspiration. The
English steamer we were in. as II moved by the
same spirit, seemed to leap forward with q sim
gle bound and to shake the water from its sides
as II it were q thing Of life. At IL
o'clock the grand event had passed into his
tory Next day, We are pleased to read, the
weather was fine usual"
We would that space permitted US to give the
readers some specimens Of the stately and classic
eloquence Of Col. Walker. and to follow the his
torian in his account of all the strange and
thrilling adventures that befell the Ancients;
their first banquet in London, after which, at
about o'clock In the morning. we were taken
in hansoms and carriages to our hotel;" their
meeting with the Queen and the Prince Of Wales
the exclusive entertainments to which even the
band was not bidden. but for which special
invitations to Lords. Dukes, and Generals were
very numerous" But here It Is all set down,
and he who buys may read. We must restrict
ourselves to one short extract that will serve as
sample Of the music provided by the laureates
Of the band wagon.
We come skim ming sea birds come
Across the stormy foam;
We bring you friendships choicest gifts
From our New England home.
Some day this noble verse may inspire an art.
ist TO the creation of great historical work:
the picture OF portly Ancient coming, as skim.
ming sea birds come, across the bright, blue
bosom OF the broad Atlantic, bearing champagne
bottle in one hand and an arbitration treaty in
the other; while in the lower righthand corner
Is an alegorical presentment of the British lion
and the American eagle in loving embrace. -
Meanwhile let us cordially commend the histo-
rian when. speaking of the expedition, he says:
1t was the first time In history that anything
like 1t had taken place. Il was worth
all 1t cost"
In Middle Greyness John Lane) Mr.. A. J.
Dawson has not only written powerful and In.
teresting story, but has enriched 1t with some
descriptions OF the Australian bush that recall
the sombre. aweinspiring beauty OF that strange
region more vividly than does the work of any
writer we can recollect since the late Marcus
Clarke, whose introduction TO the poems Of Adam
Lindsay Gordon stands as the point of highest
ture. Henry Manton barley. the man who beSfn
ming life with brilliant career before him. has by
reason of the black streak in him. drifted down
ward through successive stages TO the bush, tina,
vast beach on which 80 many wrecks arc ulti
mately cast, Is the central and imposing figure
OF the book. His two sons, who have boen edu
Gated in England BY millionaire uncle repro
sent the conflicting sides Of the mans nature
Robert. brilliant. superficial and selfnduleent
has the black streak in him; while William, ths
impractical dreamer. has the artists soul and
the possibilities Of achievement that, but fol
the stronger evil tendencies, might have domi
mated the father.
The outcast goes back to England as a stranger
becomes the private secretary Of his brillian
son. and, with his experience of the world ant
cynical knowledge Of mon, pushes him quickl,
70 the front at the beginning of promising par
lamentary career. Then the black streak show,
itself. The son discharges his secretary and ad