The times., 1899-12-24
,IiseeIInneons Hooks.

The latest volume Of the series on
American Historic Towns" is Historic
Towns of the Middle States. Like the
first Historic Towns of New England" it
is edited by Lyman P. Powell. The illus
strations are by Albert Shaw. The CON
tents consist of a collection OF essays on
twelve old towrs of New York. New Jer-
sey. Delaware, and Pennsylvania, each by
a different author and pains have been
taken TO select in each case a writer espe-
cially familiar with the ground of which
he or she writes. Among the authors of
these essays are Ellen Hardin WalWOTth,
Hamilton Wright Mabie, Joseph B. Glider,
William NJ. Sloane. Z. n. Fallandgham.
and Rowland b. Mahany. The towns
taken up are Albany, Saratoga, Schenec-
tady, Newburg, Tarrytown-o -the-Hud-
son New York city, Brooklyn, Princeton.
Philadelphia, Wilmington, Buffalo, and
Pittsburg The illustrations include pic
lures OF mansions churches monuments
and statues, and portraits OF historical
characters. while there are also facsimiles
of seals, charters, and like things con-
nected with the history of the town. The
ESSAYS are less descriptive than historical
incidents connected with the early history
5f the places in question making up the
main body of the work.
One of the most interesting chapters is
this city is so little known. compared
with that of New York and Philadelphia
that much of the material has the fasci-
nation of novelty. The chapter on Prince
ton is of course, largely occupied with
the story of the university, and that of
Pittsburg with the history of Braddock's
campaign. The book Will be a most yalu-
able addition to any library of reference.
and especially 10 any school library. CNew
York: G. p. Putnam's Sons, $500
The Seven Voices" is book of poems
| by j. Hooker Hamersley. The contents are
subdiyided into poems of the mountains. OF
the sea of foreign scenes of the future.
love lyrics, historical poems, and verses on
! miscellaneous subjects. Some of them are
graceful in movement and dainty in meta
phor, though the book as a whole is not
| particularly striking, CNew York: G. p.
Putnams SonsJ
| Bob; The Story of Our Mocking Bird. "
| by Sidney Lanier, is a new edition Of a
! charming little narrative with which few
! readers viii be familiar. Lanier's work
/ has never been as well known 10 the gen
! eral public as it deserves TO be, and those
! of his works which are most often seen
| do not contain this dainty bit of bird lore.
! There is a sonnet among his collected
?
exact the poem consists OF three sonuets
and is entitled
To Our Mocking Bird:
Died Of cat, May, ls1s.
1t closes with this exquisite tribute 10
the wee songster, whose life suddenly
| ended more than twenty years ago;
Methuks / hear thy silver whistlugs bright
! Mix with the mighty discourse ot the WISE
! Till broad Beethoven, deaf H0 more and Keats
/ Midst OF much talk, uplitJ their smiling ewes,
! And mark the music of thy wOod-coucejts,
/ And halfway pause ON some large, courteou
word
To call thee Brother" 0 thou heavenly bird
The poem is reprinted at the end oil This
book, and serves as a fitting epiIogue. il
would be spelling the book to quote q bit
of it; il should be taken as il comes. Suf-
fee it TO say that no more charming bird
biography was ever written. The present
edition is illustrated in colOrs, and the
| cover with its fluffy callow nesting
brieht-eyed. and open-moUhed. Is an tho
recommendation which most people vii
need before buying the book tNew York
Charles slribucrs sons $500
The latest volume IN dc Mus. Lovers
-arle- .s The National Music 0t Amrr.
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.ouH ana Their WrIa ...s "a
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