Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-12

THE WORLDS BEST CREATIONS. From
the Earliest Period TO the Present Time.
David j. Brewer, Editor; Edward a. Ale
Ion and William Schuyler, Associate
Editors. Ten Volumes Ferd. p. Kaiser.
ST. Louis and Chicago 1899. Quarto.
Green Cloth. With Gilt Tops.
We have received the first two volumes
OF the Official edition" of this great
work. each Of which contains over 400
pages Besides the editors. there is an
advisory council headed by SIR Charles
vs.. Dixie. OF England. and embracing
fourteen 4. Ms. Pm. DIS. D. DIS. and
IL. DIS I'm dlnerent sections OF the
United States We have also been fur
nished with q very long list of those who
assisted in the preparation Of the work.
among whom are William j. Bryan.
Thomas p. Reed. and Bishop r. T.. Dud-
ley, a Richmond man. The work is to be
sold only by subscription and Publisher
Kaiser has well paved the way for # TO
meet with an extensive reception. The
paper IS thick and good, without being
heavy and the type, printing, and bind
ing are to be commended.
Judge Brewer gives an excellent pre-
face on tho masterful power Of oratory,
but makes several statements which ma
terlally modify the title page as to "The
Worlds Best Orations." Moreover, some
authors are admitted who were not speak
ers. It is well known that the pen can
deliver true eloquence but this IS not
oratory.
a very brilliant political writer. who
was often eloquent, was once loudly cali
cd upon for q speech. He declined, say
ing that IL he were to stand up and at
tempt 10 make a speech ne would not
know whether he was on his heels or his
head. The people cried out: "Then sit
down and give as one OF your talks" but
he stl declined.
Associate-Editor Allen Introduces the
orators with fine essay on THE Ora
tory OF AnglO-SaXon Countries" He is
Professor of Anglo-SaXon and English
Literature in the State University of Mis-
souri,. and we are under the impression
met he IL a Nirginan.
IS the work is arranged alphabetically.
We have In Volume J. a sketch of our
Governor James Barbour. and specimens
OF his oratory. lie was an orator OF no
low grade. We heard him IN the after
noon Of that bright october day on which
Webster had enchained his thousands Of
hearers. from the southern portico of our
classic Capitol Governor Barbour spoke
from platform on its northern end, and
i'm three quarters of an hour aroused
more enthusiasm than Mr.. Webster did
IN four hours His dlctOn was peculiar
and somewhat pompous, and listener
might az first feel some fear lest ii
should become entargled but he kept it
STRAIGHT and even clear 10 the end Of his
sent.nces.- and made IL both expressive
and impressive. He has been laughed at
because he is said 10 have asked one Of
bis plain felow-farmers: My good
friend and neighbor, why do you not
plough the perpendicular decliyiues Of
,,onr mountains horizontally, so as 10
nrevent them from being indented by
foundations from the heavensf And he
used 10 amuse himself and others by the
title Of The Duke OF Empty Barrels"
with which the splteful Dun Green dub
bed him. 80,
OF course. the alphabetical order nulli-
nes chronology, and whilst Volume i.
opens with Pierre Abelard, a. D., lOls-ll42
Il runs next 10 FIVE Adamses, or whom
the great-great grandfather, Samuel liz
1903. Is the last. Very soon we come 10
Frederick A. Aiken's Defence OF MIS-
Mary Il. Surratt," 1873 and are faVoreu'
among the eight illustrations OF Ao' pages
with a phOtograyure Of her house IN the
national capital. The Judicial muruer Vi
this unfortunate woman would have
more fitting place IN a history OF state
trials. IL Is followed up In Volume H.
with the horrible. unjust, and untrue Ut