The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-22
For The Messenger
A COLONIAL ASPIRATION
A Story of the Cape Fear.

A Colonial Apparition-Such is the
heading of a neat and exceedingly we'll
gotten up pamphlet of about thirty
pages, which We have just had the
pleasure of perusing and which We
found so interesting and instructive
that We cannot refrain from saying a
few words in its praise. The author,
Mr.. James Sprunt, is most favorably
known at home and abroad as an en-
terprising and successful man of bus
mess, the business which he conducts
being gigantic in it's operations and
requiring the closest attention and
more than ordinary brain power,
and yet he can find moments of relax
alton in which to indulge in literary
and historical pursuits, the latter par
ticularly, INT especially in regard to
the traditions and hosiery of the lower
Cape Fear in which he takes so much
delight and is so thoroughly posted.
We do not know when we have read
anything that has inspired more
pleasure than this story of "a CO.
lonial Apparition'-and tn incidents
are true with the exception Of the
supernatural episode but that, how
ever, adds greatly to the interest. The
description of that fearful storm is
wonderfully vivid. One can almost
near the weird shrek of the tempest
as it dashes with irrisistable force
upon the helpless ship bravely strug-
Cling for life amid the wild waste of
waters around. In the midst Of this
awful uprOar of the elemnts the ap-
partition appears, and the scene with
the mate, the only n on board who
saw him, is wildly and powerfully
drawn and would reflect credit upon
a practical ~literateur. We do not
blame the mate for his OBJECTION. 1t
was enough to paralyze the bravst
heart and to chill the warm blood
rushing through the veins. The dis
criptive powers Of the author are
shown with great effect throughout
the work and when he gives rein to
his imagination it is seldom that one
finds even among authors of national
reputation more beautiful specimens
of word painting.
It is a weird story and is told with
dramatic effect and will add to the es-
tablished reputation of the author.
Not only is the work exceedinly in
teresting as a literary production out
it's historical value is very great. Lo-
calities and incidents Of our early
history, unknown to many Ourself
among the number, are gracefully
woven into the story and give tc it
an additional beauty and charm, anu
we confess ourselves under obliga-
lions for historical information deriv-
ed from it, of which we had hereto
fore been ignorant. 1t is from such
publications that history is made and
we hope that the author will employ
his leisure time in adding to the pleas
ure he has given in previous works
by drawing literally from his abund-
ant storesinthe future for tn informa-
ton and instruction of the public. The
last paragraphs of the story are very
charming, we have fingered over them
wistfully, for in thier simple beauty
and grace they are truly exquisite.
There are four capital Illustrations
in the book, viz, the captain, whom
all will recognize as the genial Cap
tain Harper of the steamer Whining
ton, the solitary passenger, Hamilton
MCMILLAN, Esq, OF RObeSOn county,
the mate who was so badly frightened
and the engineer who looks as though
he did not fear either ghost or devil
but was prepared to return with in
terest whatever he might be compel
ed to receive. These illustrations add
much to the interest and value of the
work, for they are not fictitious char
acters but real personages who play
ed we'll their parts during that fearful
night of storm and darkness.
We presume the work will Don be Of
fered to the public and we predict for
it a large and extensive demand, not
only in Wilmington out in other por-
tions Of the country and particularly
so in the Cape Fear section of the
state. SENEX.
! Our boy has been continually
troubled with collie and cholera infan-