Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-08
VIEW ponlIcArioss.

1.-THE BRANDYwIYE." John Russell
Hayes. Wilmington: John NJ. Rogers
Press.
From youth up, natives of Whining
ton and the upper portion of New
Castle county have been accustomed
to the phrase ''historic Brandywine. !"
As opportunity permitted they have
rambled along the banks of that stream,
or tished or swan in its waters or en-
ioyed u moonlight boat ride thereon.
Because of its very nearness and ease
of access, many have not appreciated
the great beauties of the stream and
few perhaps have cloar and complete
conceptions of why it should be called
the historic Brandywine, yet having
grown up beside the stream, ms it were,
these persons have real although often
uneXpressed regard for it.
1t will be good news, therefore, to
all such lovers and acquaintance of
the Brandywine TO know that its beal-
ties and glories, its history and its
hopes have been at last placed in poeti-
cal form. This has been done under
the title "The Brandywine, poem
by Prof. John Russell Hayes of Swarth-
more College, Pa, which has been
illustrated by Robert Shaw. As Della
ware can claim only part of the
stream, so she can claim only share
in this brochure, Mr.. Shaw, aud John
M. Rogers, the printer. being of this
State. The author is, however. not a
stranger to Wilmington, for no is the
son-in-law of j. Newlin Gawthrop of
this city; SO that, when all is said and
done, Wilmington can take pride in
this completed work,
The cover Of the brochure shows the
trunk of noble tree with the water
playing near its roots. AS frontis-
piece is II reproduction of piece of
color work, showing
Sheltered pools
And fords where mid'eyed cattle seek the
shade.
There are seven other specimens of
Mr.. Shaw's facility, generally setting
forth pastoral scenes. The drawings
from which the cuts for the booklet
were made ar on view Mt Buffers
book store, where the booklet is on
sale. The fact that John M. Rogers
printed it is sufficient to convey the
information that it is well printed.
AS for the poem, it is an epic adj
dressed to the Brandywine. Thus tho
opening lines are;
Dear stream of beauty-famed from olden
time.
Renowned in annals of our early days;
Stream by whose banks the ancient Indians
dwelt,
And on thy waters piled their swift canoes,
And in thy woodlands tracked the iieeting
deer
n i.
Stream on whose shores our fathers fought
and fell:
Thee would / celebrate. o fill my page
With thy soft music. and vouchsate 10 grant,
In measurement however small the power
10 picture with a true and loving hand
Thy visionary beauty calm and sweet
Prof. Hayes has pictured with true
and loving hand the beauties of the
Brandywine. Here are a few verses
which give "a hint of his success in this
regard:
Youths golden years and seasons of delight,
Its happy fantasies and dreamings high
Were brighter yet for thy companionship.
The old farmsteads upon thy grassy slopes
Are homes of contented people, proud
To till the acres which their fathers held
Ere that red day on Birmingbam's high hills
The tranquil evening hour beside thy
stream,-
What peace vesolitude then reign.
In stanza referring to the use Of
the water in turning the wheel Of
'some loud-droning mill" the writer
speaks of the pleasure of hearing
The mill-wheels grumbling DER their task
OF grinding grain for all the countryside.
That word grumbling" is most ex.
| pressive.
But we must not quote too much.
The reader is recommended to read the
poem in its entirety. From pride of tht
| stream, Wilmingtonians will find this
a most pleasing little book to own. II
would be happy selection as Christ
mas gift for distant friend.
Received of the publisher.
"TEKLAa A ROMANCE OF LOVE AMI
WAR" By Robert Barr. New York
The Frederick A. Stokes Co.
Mr.. Robert Barr is a novelist o.
reputation, whose works have founc
high favor with the reading public
"Tekla' is his latest production, anc
also his best, and when this is said
those who are familiar with Mr.. Barr!
romances know what to expect.
The scene of the story is laid il
feudal Germany, in the thirteenth
century, and, briefly told, the plot j,
rs follows; The Emperor Rodolph
young and romantic, but with truth
and courage as the basic elements o
! his character, determines to see fo
himself the real conditions of hi
empire. At that time, German EN-
| perors were hut nonentities, and tn,
powerful archbishops of the churcl
were the controlling elements, eacl
supreme in his ecclesiastical domain
in matters of state as we'll as o
church, and in combination serving NJ
the rulers Of the empire. 1t Remained
for Rodolph TO work the change.
And so, accompanied by his faithful
premier and friend, the Baron Siegfrie,
von Brunfels, the young Emperor, afte
giving it out that he had gone on
crusade to STAY the inhdel Saracens il
tho Holy Lands, started on his journey
incognito. They first went to tn
ancient city of Treves. Here, at tn
outset, the young Emperor secs an,
falls mndly in love with the Counties
Tekla, niece and ward of the Arch
bishop. She has been Detrothed b,
her uncle to Count Bcrtrich, whom
she loathes, ard in desperation at tn
hated approaching nuptials, makes
desperate resolve to flee. Chance bring
Rodolph TO the scene at the time o
her hurried departure, and he take
charge of the expedition, which Gem
prises u dangerous journey to the HON
of her uncle, Heinrich, the Blacl
Count, at his Castle Thuron on tn
lower Moselle. The Archbishop o
Treyes learns of the flight and give