The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-27
BUTTE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Books on History, Travel and
Description.
IN REVIEW AND CRITICISM
The Posthumous Autobiography OF the
Great Observation-Disclosures OF John
Adams-Msssages and Pa
pers of the President.

smaller than it ever was before The ire
mendous increase in speed of locomotion
and in the rapldity of the transmission of
thought, which are among the most mark
ed achievements of the century, have
brought New York and Pekin as near to
one another as were New York and st.
Louis but three quarters of a century ago.
But, on the other hand, the same causes,
combined with the great advance in pop
ular intelligence, have created fund Of
information in respect to past and present
history that makes of the world of the
past a comparatively small pigmy when
we consider the essential greatness of Gre
alton. viz: the concept that the mind has
of it.
Concerning the great world of to-day,
| there is great and a rapidly increasing
accumulation of historical material. Only
a little more than a century ago it was
considered that there were several men
who knew all that was known, not only
of history, but OF all other branches of
knowledge as well. To-day 1t Is almost
certain that not one man has such an
acquisition. even OF any separate branch.
In line with this thought the number of
books before us on the subjects consider
ed to-day is large, and includes many
books of value, covering a wide range of
separate topics
There is no question in our mind that
the most valuable biographical work of
the past year was Bismarck, the Man
and the Statesman; Reflections and Rem-
niscences Written After His Retirement
from Office In other words, this book
is the posthumous autobiography of that
gigantic parsonage who is known to his
tory as the Iron Chancellor. AS a liter
airy production the book, which comprises
two large volumes, is far from being as
satisfactory as might have been desirable
But Prince Bismarck has not taken up
space in the inclusion of narrative ma
terial. with which the world is already ia
miliar, but he has outlined, in excellent
taste, the philosophy of the important
events of his life and the influences that
prominent persons have had in bringing
such events to pass.
This is the great work on the subject,
and the now Indispensable tool of the
scholar of history, but far more read
able and satisfactory treatise on the man
Of blood and iron for the general reader
is Bismarck and German Unity by
Munroe Smith, a small volume which is
which will be of use to the scholar as well
as the general reader of whom we have
already spoken.
Among books of permanent historical
value and interest the library is gradually
accommodating collection of the works of
the great American statesmen. For some
time we have possessed the complete
works of Washington, Jefferson, Webster
Calhoun, Garfield and Tilden. In this ar
10 N1-n trIa tn ion, fta r,f
John Adams, with life, notes, etc., by
Charles Francis Adams, in ten large vol
umes.
Perhaps in this connection we should
mention the admirable publication of the
government called Messages and Papers
of the Presidents, 1889 to 1897" edited by
Jemes D. Richardson which is now COM
pieted by the publication of the ninth vol
ume. The Typographical makeup of these
volumes is much finer than usually OBJ
tains in government publications. Their
value Is so great and so apparent that it
seems strange that they have not been
compiled before. OF this work the gov
eminent has printed and distributed an
exceptionally large number of copies Be
sides which a de luxe edition has been
widely advertised for sale to private par
ties. This private publication for profit
of a government publication is so unus-
ual that despite the evidences of reiiabil-
ity contained in the advertisements,
prospective purchaser should look into the
matter very carefully before paying any
money.
Scotland AS It Was and Is" by the
Duke of Argyle. is readable and reason
ably accurate production.
One of the best biographies of recent
date is Pitt; Some Chapters of His Life
and Times" by Edward Gibson. Lord
Ashbourne. 1t is a fascinating and eulo-
CYSTIC account of the personal character,
the unparalleled parliamentary trumphs
and the craftsmanship of the great COM
moner
An important series of historical books.
which has just been begun, is known as
the Builders of Greater Britain" The
following volumes have SO far appeared,
viz: John and Sebastian Cabot; the Dis
covery of North America" by c. Ray
mond Beazley; "Sir Thomas Maitland; the
Mastery of the Mediterranean" by Walter
Frewen Lord; sir Walter Raleigh; the
British Dominion of the West by Martin
A. s. Hume, and Edward Gibbon Wake
field; the Colonization of South Australia
and New Zealand" by Richard Garnett.
Among the multitude of societies that in
this age of organization are in existence
all over this broad country we know of
none to which we more unreservedly give
our approval than those local societies
events in the history of community
These societies show that life is not en-
tlrely of the material and of the present.
They aim to cherish and to increase those
sentiments that rise above the ordinary
struggle for bread and to educate in those
directions where a nation is truly great.
One of the best-known organizations of
this sort is the Bunker Hill Monument
association. which three-quarters of a
century ago raised the imposing monu-
ment in the city of Charlestown. and
which makes the 18th of June a holiday in
Boston, of significance only less than that
OF Independence day. We have called this
local organization. So ii is, but interest
in the organization is only bounded by
the shadow that the majestic tree of lib
erty can cast
BY the courtesy of the society our Ii
hrary is in receipt of the History of the
Bunker Hill Monument Association" by
George Washington Warren, and of the
Proceedings" for 1869. 1871, 1a.4 1878, 1880,
1882 to 1885. 1888, 1890 and 1892 to 1897. COM
prising in all Is cloth-bound volumes.