Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-07

10 be able To review the work in extenso.
For this issue we can only say that the
scheme OF the main part OF the volume Is
dictionary-like In form, and includes
many names OF families, showing the au-
thorized spelling and the common pro-
nuncation In Virginia There is also a
chapter on folk-sayings in Virginia,
collection OF. phrases and proverbs that
have been current here for more than
two centuries. The glossary proper con-
tains hundreds OF words, many OF them
English OF the Shakespearian time, while
others are derived from the language OF
the aborigines. From the brief glance
we have thus Jar been able to give the
book, IT appears to us that DIR. Green has
done his work with skill. care, and pa
thence. and we believe that 1t will be
much sought after. 1t should be found
In every library in Virginia. Price. 81.
THE HISTORY OF YIDDIsH LITE
RATURE IN THE NINETEENTH
CENTURY. By Leo Wiener, Instruct
or Of the Slavic Languages at Harvard
University. New York: Charles Scrib-
ners Sons. Pages, 4O2. Price, 81.
This volume will carry not only the gen.
eral reader. but the average student, of
comparative literature, into field re-
garding which the prevalent impression
is shadowy almost to the last degree, and
In his explorations the author will be fol-
lowed with the deepest interest. When a
suggestion TO write the book reached Mr..
Wiener he had already gathered together
library OF several hundred volumes OF
JudeO-German (Yi1dish) productions. but
not satisfied with the meagre details that
could be CLEANED from the internal tcsti-
monies In the works Of the Judeo-German
writer's. he determined to visit Europe, FOR
/ the sake OF collecting data. both literary
| and biographical. from which anything
| like a trust worthy history of the litera-
ture could be constructed. His investi-
cations and labors during the visit were
| painstaking and thorough. and the result
is a notable contribution TO the resources
OF scholarship.
| In the introduction the evolution OF Yid-
| dish, and the causes that led thereto are
| briefly and clearly described. and the au-
! thor fully sustains his championship Of
Judeo-German literature, which is set
/ forth i'm these wordsa
"In it's popular form Judeo-Gcrman IS
certainly not inferior to many literary
enough to attract the attention of the
linguist and the student of comparative
! literature. in its belles-lettres it com
pares favorably with those of countries
! like Bulgaria. which had their regenera-
/ ton about the same time-nay. IL may APP
pear to the unbiased observer that ii even
| surpasses them i'm that respect. And yet,
| i'm spite Of ALL JudeO-German has remain
| ed practically a sealed book to the world.
| The few who have given reports OF II dis
| play ali astonishing amount OF ignorance
on the subject. Karpeles devotes. i'm his
! history of Jewish literature. almost thirty
/ pages 10 the medieval form of it, but, to
| the rich, modern development of II, only
| two lines. Steinschneider knows by hear
! say only. and denies the practical value of
modern Judeo-German. But the acme OF
| complacent ignorance. not TO use strong
| or word, is reached by Grunbaum. who
! dishes up as specimens of literature news
paper advertisements and extracts from
! Schakewitsch, not mentioning. even by
name q single one of the first class
/ writer's"
! After this the author treats his subject
| under the several heads OF Folklore
printed Popular Poetry" "Other As
! poets Of Poetry Before the Eighties.
Poetry Since 1881 i'm Russia" Prose
Writers from 1877 TO 1866" Prose Writers
| from 1863 to 1881" "Prose-W Writers Since
| 1881" Prose Writers in America" THE
| Jewish Theatre" "Other Aspects of Lit
erature." and "Chrestomathy." with
! TRANSACTIONS on opposite pages
! Though. as its title indicates. the vol
ume deals more specifically with Judeo-
| German nineteenth century literature
| there is continual recurrence to the old
| or development and stimulation Of de
/ sire for fuller knowledge Of Jewish 1T
erature i'm all its broadness. And the
! further we get into the work the more
! thoroughly we agree with Mr. Wiener
! contention as to the loss comparative lit
/ erature has sustained I'm ignoring the Jul
| deo-German. Some idea of the extent
OF Mr.. Wiener's research. and OF his pre-
! paration for his task may be formed
when it is stated that the photography
/ OF the volume covers twenty-five closely
| printed pages. There Is, also, a copiou'
! index.
For sale by the Bell Book and Station
cry Company.
THE MAINE. AN ACCOUNT OF HER
| DESTRUCTION IN HABANA HAIR
| BOR. The Personal Narrative OF Cap
tain Charles ID. Sigsbee. L. 5. \. New
York: The Century Company 1899
THE SINKING OFTHE MERRIMAC. A
| Personal Narrative of the Adventure In
the Harbor OF Santiago de cuba, June
3. 1898, and OF the Subsequent Imprison-
ment of the Survivors. BY Richmond
Pearson Hobson. Naval Constructor, L..
S. y. New York: The Century Com
pany 1889.
The personal narratives Of Captain
Slgsbee and Lieutenant Hobson, which
have been running in the Century Maya
! zine during the months just past, are
issued now bv the Century Company as
| companion volumes. They are well match
| ed--but not as a trim span OF running
mates. They ought rather TO be likened
| TO beauty and foil, and as beauty and
| foil are admirably paired. Unfortunate
| ~. the "Merrimac" is the beauty. the
maine" the foil. We say unfortunate
| ~" not from prejudice against either
writer, but because 1t is TO be regretted
| that the important work should be the
| duh one the unimportant the interesting.
! The loss OF the maine" precpitated the
! Spanish war. and bids fair 10 change the
national policy of the United States, while
! 1t will make little difference To history
whether the next generation remembers
| exactly how Hobson took the "Merrimac
I'm. or forgets that he ever took her in at
all. II either book mad to be dull II is a
| pity il should be Sgsbee's. But Sigsbee's
| IL is: and the duness OF 1t is accumulated
by the liveIiness OF ITS companion.
| Captain Sigsbce has much TO excuse
! him. however. for falling short OF his
/ fellow-writcr There were difficulties con-
nected with his work that Hobson was
not troubled with. Captain Sigsbee was
Handicapped by the nature Of his task
For his book to be Of value historically