The age-herald., 1899-02-21
Reviews Recent Biographies
 and Pleads for rIOre Accurate
HISTORIES OF SOUTHERN HEROES
Suggests That the Federation of Wo- mems Clubs Establish a Publish ing House News and Cos
 sip of Society.

The attention of those interested in trav- cling libraries is invited to a catalogue of the Western Book company, of Chicago, Boston and New York.
 Among their most attractive new books for young people are those comprising the series, Baldwin's Biographical Booklets. Of these four are especially timely-Four American Naval Heroes. In well-ound volumes of about seventy pages, with large, clear type, in simple words. with few ex- celent illustrations. is tod the story of Paul Jones, Oliver Perry. Admiral Farra- ; gut and Admiral Dewey.
 prefix to the first volume sketches sue cinctiy the evolut on of our navy. in man. ner that challenges further investigation of those epochs that demanded improvement and enlargement of this branch of govern ment defense.
 A rapid resume of each book is attempted by the writer, in order that an estimate of its interest and value may be formed. John Paurs happy healthy, tdle child , hood on Solway Firth, Scotland, is given, his first trip to America (at IF years of age) 2, when at Fredericksburg, Va, he visited an older brother and realized all suddenly that he could not get on without an education { and commenced his habit of giving regular time to hard study. his apprenticeship af- forwards in Scotland, his service on the English slave-trading vessel till soul-sick at the cruelties he witnessed he left the service at Jamaica and went home pas senger on another vessel. his being called in F midocean to the captaincy of the vessel Qts commander having died) and the proof he gave of fitness for the great responsibility all are told in way that puts young reader in close touch with the earnest pur- nosefu1 tubn m a g great hero. The circumstances that led up to his offering his services to the naval Z, committee of congress in I775, calling him. E self John Paul Jones, are detailed, with his being made lieutenant of the flagship Alfred. The remainder of his brilliant and adventurous career is described in a way that makes 1t all very real and vivid, and quite as taking as any fiction.
 The story of Perry goes back to Ermund Perry. who, in 1650 to preserve his Quaker principles unmolested. left his English home, and came to America founding in Rhode Island his family whose descendants lived for years on Narragensett Bay.
 The earliest pereonal incident is that, so characteristic Jf his natural fearlessness of Oliver 5-year-old child playing in the ; Siddle of the road undismayed by a rapidly approaching horseman to whom, as reins were drawn, the little tot, both bland and brave, said: Man. you will not ride over ' me. will you?'
 second incident would enlist the sym pathies of any boy. Divers high-tempered teacher, breaking a ruler over his head. quietly the child took his hat and went home to the mother who managed the fam fly while the father was off at sea.
 Next day when his good and beautiful mother gave him a note to the teacher con- taining the reminder that 'she had trusted him once with her boy and would do so again." the youth, out of loyalty to his mother forced back his tears, swallowed pride and detestation of injustice, and went back to Mir Frazer. Completely won by the mothers courage and confidence and the boys respect for her and allegiance to her wishes MT. Frazer became Divers best friend, and added to the ordinary course in Divers case careful instruction in all he himself knew of the rules of navigation and use of sailing instruments.
 Oliver had been charmed listener at his mothers knee of tales of naval daring by her countrymen, the English, and. when at 13 he became midshipman aboard a vessel Of his father its captain. no happier youth could have been found. His father con- yoyed ships between the United States and Cuba in the midst of the troublous times with France, and accompanying him, the lad Iarned many lessons of coolness and daring.
 z. Aboard the Adams in the Mediterranean when we were operating against the pirati- cal Bashaw of Tripoli Oliver then r, was made lieutenant. Great stress Is laid on the fact that he embraced every opportuni- ty of self-improvement in the studies of mathematics and astronomy, and in horse- manship, sound exercise and flute playing. While the embargo act was in force,