The news & observer., 1897-06-09

DOWD'S LIFE OF VANCE.

The Life of Zebulon b. Vance" by
Hon. Clement Dowd ought to have the
largest sale of any book ever printed in
North Carolina 1t is well printed and
durably bound, the product of the Oh
server Printirg and Publishing House,
Charlotte, y. C. 1t is therefore North
Carolina book in every sense.
Mai. Dowd undertook the work OF
writing the life of our greatest man with
great reluctance, and only when it was
apparent that he must yield to the solici-
tations Of the friends of the dead man,
or no fitting biography would put
Vance's deeds and words in permanent
form for future generations. 1t is scant
praise to say that Maj. Dowd has more
than met public expectations. Coming
10 the task with sincere admiration of
Senator Vance, Maj. Dowd's long and in
innate association with him gave the wrl-
ter the very knowledge that is needed by
the man who would give to posterity the
correct view of the subject in hand.
The biography is neither critical nor
fulsome. 1t is an appreciative and just
estimate of the services of the greatest
man the State has produced, with many
of the more important incidents Of his
career given as illustrations of Nance's
power and versatility. The mine of anec-
dote and incident was practically mex
haustible. and the authors wisdom is seen
in the use he makes of the nuggets that he
has gathered.
OF the twenty six chapters that compose
the book, seven are written by other
prominent citizens, Maj. Dowd having IN
yited a number of distinguished men who
were more or less intimately associated
with Vance at various periods of his life,
10 contribute articles to be printed as a
symposium, setting forth their respective
estimates of his characteristics, and es-
peciaIly the sources of his great popular
ity and influence among the masses.
Gen. r. B. Vance writes four chapters
Ancestry, Birth, Etc." 'Boyhood-Edu-
cation Begun "Marriage-Public Life
Begun Breaking Out of the War
Raises a Company" Hon. Kemp Z. Bat
tie writes of him GAS Student at the Uni
versity;" Rev. r. n. Price, d. D., has a
chapter on s.Nance as Knew Him. and
DR.. Chas. D. McIyer writes of him LAS
Governor After the War;" Chapter thlr-
teen is a symposium containing strong
portraitures of Vance written by Richard
H. Battle, Joseph p. CALDWELL, Walter
Clark, William Il. Cox, Wharton j.
Green, Edward ]. Hale, Wade Hampton,
Hamilton c. Jones, James d. Mclver,
William j. JsMontgomery, William NJ. Rob-
bins. and Alfred NJ Waddell. These
contributions from the above mentioned
able and respected leaders in the State
constitute, as Maj. Dowd well says "a
pleasing variety in the presentation OF
their views and opinions"
The book contains the following illus
trations: u. B. Vance (frontispiece)
Birthplace of Vance; Fireplace in room
where Vance was born; Vance, age abou
IS; First law office; Vance, age about 36
Charlotte residence Of Vance; Mr.. ant
Mrs. Charles n. Vance; Mr.. and Mrs
David NJ Vance; Espy and Ruth, daugi
ters of David NJ. Vance; Lieut.. u. i
Vance, L. S. A.; MIR. and Mrs. Thoma
NJ. Vance; mother of u. b. Vance; Mrs
HARRIET Espy Vance; Gombroon.
Only a few Of Vance's speeches ar
given III full, though those given mos
thoughtful men will agree are the best h
ever made, though of course his mos
effective speeches on the hustings canno
be reproduced The chapter on "th
Vance and Settle Campaign" places
just estimate upon the unprecedented
brilliant and effective campaign made b
the winning candidate for Governor j