Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-13

Its Origin to the Present Day, 1775-lS97
BY John r. Spears, author Of "The Por
OF Missing Ships" THE Gold Digging
Of Cape Horn" &C., with more thar
four hundred Illustrations, maps, anC
diagrams. In four volumes. New York
Charles Scribner's Sons. Price S.
The author has undertaken a big task
and he has performed it for the mos
part faithfully, accurately, and interest
ingly. Appreciation Of the heroic deed:
the historians art and mastery of an
easy style, has enabled him TO tell his
story with the attractiveness not found
in all historical romances. The dedica-
ton, which reads, ITO all who seek peace
and pursue it," sounds a little ironical in
view Of the present situation in the
country. and that suggestion is accen-
tuated by the following from the pre-
face: Il believe that when the reader
| has considered it well he will conclude,
as L do. that because Of the growth of
| civilization and the spread of the pure
| doctrines Of Christianity throughout the
| world and the progress of the arts OF
making guns and armor-plate in the
| sue, for many years, our daily vocation
Of peace" But the conditions that an
tagonize the authors optimistic view are
| calculated TO make "The History Of Our
Navy more the vogue than it would
otherwise be.
| The first volume commences with THE
| Origin of the American Navy" and en-
| braces such other subdivisions as First
| Cruise of the Yankee Squadron" along
| Shore in lU6," '"The Story of Arnolds
| Fight" "Under the Crags of the Tight
| Little Isle" John Paul Jones and the
Ranger" THE First Submarine War
| ship" 'The Privateers Of the Revolu-
| ton" John Paul Jones and the Bon
homme Richard" after the Scraps
| Surrender" ''The Year 1871 in American
Waters" Building New Navy" war
with the Barbary Pirates" Decatur and
the Philadelphia" Hand to Hand with
the Pirates" and why We Fought in
1872"
In the second volume we have ''Trou-
bles on the Eve of War" THE First
Exhibit Of Mettle," "a Race for the Life
Of Nation" THE Constitution and the
Geuerriere," Fought in a Hatteras Gale"
Story of the Macedonian" when the
Constitution Sank the Java" Hornet
and Peacock" Loss of Lawrence and
the Chesapeake" 1.-THE Privateers of
1872" early Work in the Great Lakes"
Battle Of Lake Erie" "rhe War on
Lake Ontario" and STORY of the Enter
prise"
The third volume presents "Porter's
Cruise in the Pacific" "The Mystery of
the Lost Wasp" con the Upper Lakes
in 1874" 'McDonough's Victory on Lake
Champlain," Samuel Reed, Of the Arm
cf,sg
New Orleans" 1.-THE Constitution Once
More" 'In British Prisons" Among the |
West India Pirates" Decatur and the |
Barbary Pirates" and 'In the War with !
Mexico"
The fourth volume opens with 1.-THE |
State of the Navy in 1859" then follows |
'Blockading the Southern Ports" Loss |
of the Norfolk Navy-Yard," 1.-THE Story |
Of Confederate Privateers," "The Fort |
at Hatteras Inlet" along Shore in the |
Gulf of Mexico" STORY Of the Trent
Affair" THE Capture of Port Royal"
THE Monitor and the Merrimac," First
Battle Between Ironclads," with the
Gunboats," "Farragut at New
Orleans" Mobile Bay" Tales Of the
Confederate Cruisers" "The Albemarle
and Cushing" Navy at Charleston"
and STORY Of the New Navy"
We have said that the author has done
his work well for the most part. The
exception is that in the period covering
the civil war bias subordinates the true
historic instinct to some extent. Time
VIII have TO revise some of the descrip-
lions he gives Of engagements in order
that the South may have full credit for
what she accomplished with the limited
facilities at her command. Only as TO the
civil war period is the work disappointing.
yet even here the author has preserved
important details on which the future his
iorian may elaborate and base true YER
iict. For the rest the history is standard |
It carries in its current intensely inte-
resting personal matter and a wealth or
account Of thrilling exploit, and opens
Up to the reader a rich field of informa- !
ion not accessible elsewhere without
great labor. Many Of the illustrations
ire unique. Indeed, We have in the illus
rauons OF ships a pictorial development |
If the navy. The South's share in re-
iecting glory on the American navy in
he period antedating the civil war is
ully recognized and TO hundreds OF
southern families the work appeals as
to family history.
For sale by the George NJ. West Com
amy.
PARIS. By Emile Zola Translated by
Ernest Alfred Vizetelly. Two Volumes
New York: Macmillan & Co. Pages, !
743. Price, 50.
Paris" completes Zola's "Trllogy [
Il Three Cities" which commenced $
With "Lourdes," and was continued I'm E
Rome" We had hoped that paris"
you'd reflect some of the better nature ,
nd loftier ideas and sentiments of lola. 4
s evidenced in the stand for truth and I
lstice he took In connection with the n
'reyfus matter. We had hoped to find v
1 its pages testimony such as his recent y
tempt TO reform French justice fur-
ished In refutation of Nordau's judg- h
lent that he is a degenerate" Not | q
D. In paris" lola grovels. He reveIs | n
! vice. That some of his Character y
rawing is strong. none can deny. That =
his descriptions there Is power, none :,
IN question. But 1t is a power against X
hich every refined sensibility reyolts | nj
10 dwells upon disgusting details. At :,
mes he is the fresh reporter who wants q
tell II all, even TO the most narrowing a
inutiae. A notable example OF this Is 8,
IS description of the execution of an yv
narchist. AS Is the case with Zola's N
works, the style is jerky and N
sconnected. A tenuous story runs p
trough the three books, after a fashion. Of