The times., 1899-02-05


10 the library of every public school in the
country. (New York: d. Appleton & Co.
S1.50D
4 Book of Famous Men.
Mr.. Ebert Hubbard's Little Journeys"
are already so well known that the an
nouncement of 4 new book by him, 10 be
called Little Journeys to the Homes Of
American Statesmen" has nothing mystic
rious about it, This series of historical
papers is in no way inferior to others of
the group. AS the name implies, it has to
DO with the lives of nearly all the great
men of our history, including some who
were Presidents and some who were not,
but wished to be, and others who had no
ambition in that direction. Like its pre-
decessoTs. it is fully illustrated with por-
traits and reproductions OF photographs.
OF course Mr.. Hubbards work is not that
of the serious historian. Ii is his business
to throw sidelights on history, occasionally
Illuminating unexpected places; and TO
some his way of dealing with our polit-
ical heroes will seem trifie irreverent.
But it is not really irreverent, and it is
truly entertaining. This writer is a sort
of Pepys OF the nineteenth century, deal
ing with past instead of contemporary his
tory The whimsical and tricksy humor Of
his work comes out in the consideration
OF no less person than Washington. He
says:
If you have copy Of weems' Life of Wash.
ington" YOU had better wrap it in Chamois and
place il away for your heirs, for some time II
will command a price. Fifty editions of Weems'
book printed. and in its day no other vol
approached ii in point of popularity. In
American literature Necms stood first. To Neems
arc we indebted for the hatchet tale. the story
Of the colt that broken and killed in the
process, and all those other fine ronanccs OF
Washington's Youth Weoms' literary style re-
vealS the very acme Of that vicious quality of un
truth TO be found in the old-time Sunday school
books. WecmS mustered all the Little Willie
stories he could find. aud attached TO them Wash
ington's name. claiming 10 write for "the Bet
the Young should carefully conceal The Truth.
Possibly Washington could not tell lie, but
weems was not thus handicapped.
If Weems left out most of the human
qualities of the Father Of his Country, no
such fault can be found with Mr.. Hubbard.
Here are some of his remarks concerning
Washingtons domestic affairs:
Samuel Washington. the brother two years
Younger than George. has been described
small. SlHdy-wlisSCrcd. shrewd and glib Sam
uel was married five lines. lie was
always in financial stIdirs, and often applied To
his brother George for loans. IN l1el we ind
George Washington writing to his brother John:
In Gods name, How has Samuel managed 10
get himself enormously in debit
An entry in Washingtons journal shows that the
children OF his brother Samuel cost him full
5000.
Harriet. ono Of the daughters of Samuel. lived
in the household Mount Vernon, and evidently
was a great care. Tor we find Washington pleading
a. an excuse ior her irivoiity that she was not
bTung UP right; she has no disposition, and takes
no care of her clothes. which are dabbed about
in every corner. and the best are always in use
She costs me enough And this about as
TfE lylnf g- ~
and the father OF all his poor relations ever made
The next biography on the list is that
OF Franklin, headed by a portrait of the
philosopher, his shrewd humorous, spec
tacled old face looking out from under
fur cap. There is also picture Of Frank
Inns electrical machine, and the sketch is
characterized by the same informality as
that shown in the chapter on Washing
ton. But this mischieyous humor is not
all that there is in Mr.. Hubbard's book.
Here. in the chapter on Henry Clay, are
flashes OF insight which betoken the true
reader of character:
The character Of Henry Clay had in /; various
traits thai were peculiarly Irish. Tie Irishman
knows because hc knows. and that's all there is
about il. He j. dramatic, emotional. impulsive,
humorous without suspeciing il. and will fight
friend or foe small prOyocation. Then he Is
much given To- dealing in that peculiar article
known paaver. The farewell address OF Henry
Clay 10 the Senate, and his return thereto few
years later, comprise one ot the most lrisli-likc
proceeding. to he found in history.
There Is finer earth than your "thrue
Irish EiniicInan.' and Henry Clay had not only
all the highest and most excellent traits Of the
'giutleInan.' but a few al his worst. Clay made
friends other american statesman did.
TO come within reach oi the snare oi ms speech
was love him wrote man. People loved
lin because he was 4Tect!onaJc. for love only
goes cut 90 love. And the Irish heart i q heart
Of love. Henry Clay called himself a Christian.
aud Vet ~ times he pictnresquely proflne.
He . graduate o! the nyer-ity OF Hard
KNOCKS; he also tOok several post graduate courses
at tlr institution. Very early in his life
him Possessed of the fine. eager. receptive
spirit that ah7ofb- knowledge through the finger
tips; and the ability 10 think and 10 absorb Is
] doEbt whether college would have helped Clay,
and IL might have ditnHel the diamond lustTe
of his mind. and dilntcd That fine audac.ty which
carried him on his way. IN this capacity TO com
pTehend in the mas cdy's character essen
TALLY feminine. We have ThGreau for authority
Z in the saliurS OF the world are imrcy feminine
attributHs-ihe legacy bequeatbcd from mother
/ who tlirsted Tor better things.
The last chapter In the book, that on
/ Lincoln, is written not so much about the
/ great war President as about Illinois in
/ his day. Mr.. Hubbard was born and
I brought up within few miles OF Lincoln s
( home and all his friends and relatives
/ knew "old Abe" or knew of him. Taken
altogether, this volume of Lite Jour
/ neys" in no way suffers by comparison
with its predecessors. New York: e. F.
! Putnam's Sons $l.75J