New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-21

tavo. Pr. y. S% Charles Scriorers sons.
PICTURES FROM THE LIFE or NELSON; By
w. Clark Russell octave. PIP XVIII. SOL Podo
Mead & Co.
The LEE OF NELSON: Ey Hceer,, sOu!hey
VITA Illustrations by ". II. Otcrend. octave
pr &c. George Routledsc & Sons.
HISTORY or THE UNITED STATES NAVY
FROM -: TO 1873 ny I.dssr stsn'In MaTlas
ROY G. Smith. T. s. ~ Illustrated New Ed:-
ton. fsvised ard ENLARGED. In Two Volumes.
oc:avo. pp xxxviii. ESQ., XVI Ss4. d. Appleton
& Co.
Mr. Fitchett declares the; his book was writ
ten 80 noutish patriotism" and 1t may be en-
pected 10 appeal. therefore. more directly TO
young Br!tons than TO the older readers OF other
nations: We: through the excellence OF his
method h. has succeeded n producing some
thing much more important than n boys
book" Every nsht which he has described may
be found described at greater length and IN
more minute detail in some high authority. but
in detaching each one from the war of which 1t
was part he has given It 4 greater pictorial
effectiveness Deeds That Won the Empire"
is book of vignettes One passes from chapter
TO chapter from short story TO another
in book by some clever writer or fiction This
historian is merely picturesque summarizer
of other mems narratives. either He arranSes
his facts with the compac,ness Of one who has
been privileged to sclec; the main points from
WclI-dutHcnlCuteu uOCuiIcHts Dut tic teioc GU
ouence Of his work we ascrlbe chiefly 10 the
sympathy with which he has grasped his sub
jects TO the generous warmth with which he
has flung himself into the celebration of one
heroic deed or another. He has had the tact TO
perceive the Importance OF the individuality be-
hind every such decd. and at the same time TO
keep II In its proper relation. that no single
man in his long list Is either neglected or unduly
exalted Mr.. Fitchetts idea was 10 show forth
the herosm OF the British forces. well as tho
genius or bravery of Wellington or a Nelson;
and thus we draw from his book not only sense
OF glorious names, but Of bread devotion,
characteristic OF the whole army and navy,
without which the leaders could have done moth
ing. This tudcious distribution of the colors
in his picture Is we'll shown In the chapter
Wofes extraordinary exploit on the Heights OF
Abraham. The portrait OF the English com
mander is admirably drawn: could read
these pages without realizing that Wolfe
the presiding genius of the fight and that with
his name the fame Of it is inextricably wound
up; but when ii comes to the actual battle Mr.
Fitchett contrivcs to put every element in its
proper place-the perspective is perfect He
says:
The fight lasted fifteen minutes, and might
be told in almos, many words Montcam
brought his men in three powerful columns
in numbers double that or WOneS force. Inc
British troops stood grimly silent. though they
were tormented by the fire Of Indians and Cana
dams lying in the grass. The French advanced
eagerly, with a tumult Of shouts and G confused
FIRE: the British moved forward a few rods
halted, dressed their lines. and when the French
were within forty PAGES threw In one fierce
volley. so sharply timed that the explosion Of
four thousand muskets sounded like the sudden
blast Of cannon. Again again and yet again.
the flame from end TO end Of the steadfast
lire. When the smoke lifted the French col
charged The spirit Of the clan awoke In
Fraser's Highlanders: they flung aside their
muskets. drew their broadsweFds. and, with a
fierce Celtic slogan, rushed on the enemy Never
charge pressed more ruthlessly home.
After the fight one of the British officers wrote:
There not bayonet IN the three leading
British regiments. nor n broadsword an org the
Hi?hlanders that was not crimson with the
blood OF a foeman." Wolfe himself charged at
the head OF the Grenadiers. his bright uniform
making him Onspicuous. He shot In the
wrist wrapped handkerchief round the wound.
and still ran forward Two other bullets struck
him-one. Il is said. fred by a British deserter,
a sergeant broken by Wolfe for brutality to a
private. Don't let the soldiers see me drop"
said Wolfe. he fell to an officer running be-
side him. An officer Of the Grenadiers gem
tleman volunteer. and private. carried Wolfe
to n redoubt near. He refused 10 allow sur
geon to be called There is no need he said ,it
tie group. casting look at the smoke-covered
battlefield. cried. They run. See how they
rum" Who rum eaid the dying Wolfe Ike
the answer flash of life came back to Wolfe.
the eager spirit thrust from 1t the swoon Of
death: he gave clear emphatic order for cut
ting off the enemy's retreat: then. turning on
his side he added, Now God be praised; die
In peace"
Mr.. Fitchett writes as this extract would sug-
gest. with a downright delight In the splendid
achievements OF his countrymen. but we find
him singularly just, without passage OF sheer
tingoism In his book. His attitude Is one OF
hearty, but reasonable. appreciation. and he
never overstates the heroism OF either prvates
or officers Neither will he understate 1t. and
It Is pleasant to read his frank eulogy OF Sir
Sidney Smith, whose defence OF Acre should
alone have saved him from Wellington's sneers.
Mr.. Fitchett sagaciously observes that yelling
toms temperament made 1t impossible for him
70 understand Smith. and he considers MIN
rather from the point of view Of NAPOLEON, who
described him as "a young fool but neverthe-
loss admitted that the Englishman had caused
him. at Acre. to miss his destiny. II Acre had
falI.n the French armies might have penetrated
further TO the East and Napoleon's dream OF an
Oriental empire miSIt have been realized SID
NV Smiths gallant defence OF the place De-
oueathed to us ono Of the most thrilling pict-
ures In military history. Mr.. Fltchctt dweiis
upon II with relish and one Is bound 70 sym
pathize with him. He has the rcaoer on MS
side. In fact. from one end Of tho book to the
other. II Is O book to rejoice every one VINO
loves great deeds nttingly recountod 1t gives
the essence OF British history and truly shows
us tho source, in the British genius OF the Bit
fish Empire.
We wish Mr.. Clark Russell could have taken
a page out OF MI Fitchett's book; that ne couid
have written his Pictures from the Lie OF
Nelson" with something Of the literary skill
which 10 shown in that production. For TINS
monograph on Engand's great sca-Aghter Is not
at all bnd book. 1t is written with some spirit
tho facts are handled with intelligence, and as
piece OF popular history it is to be praised. But
the praise must be mild. We get mora rhetoric
than true eloquencc from Mr. Russell Ho is
familiar with his theme but 1t does not strike