New-York tribune., 1900-11-10
AMERICAN CITIES.
TWO TYPOGRAPHICAL VOLUMES.

AMERICAN HISTORIC TOWNS: Historic Towns
Powell Illustrated octave. PIP. xxxvti. so4
G. P. Putnam'S Sons.
~ RTsN ANR p AaPs bSeEe
New and Revised Edition: IlpstIa1e9: = CCctaVo'
The part that the South played in the earlier
history of this country has never been quite so
fully expressed in the literature of the subject
as the North's Not only has the North had all
the advantage of producing most of the writers.
but It has been the region of urban development,
whose towns have engrossed attention through
their growth in commercial and other material
interests. Atlanta, through its enterprise and
activity, has been perhaps the only southern
city that has in recent years notably impressed
itself the Nations consciousness as PROFESSOR
Trent points out in his introduction to the pres
ent volume. There Is. consequently, much or
interest that is little known to be said about
these Southern cities which various Southern
writer's have embraced the opportunity to say In
this book with enthusiasm. There are eighteen
cities described from Baltimore to st. Angus
tine and Nashville; many of them were active
in Revolutionary times and before, and. while
some. like Baltimore and New-Orleans, have
always had position of leadership, more re-
Gently others have steadily advanced in COM
mercial importance and still others, like Will
amsburg and Frederick Town have faded from
the most curious memories, and their champions
have allowed none of their former glores to
escape celebration.
Williamsburg, for instance, was once the capt.
tai Of Virginia. and was in many ways as the
writer OF the sketch asserts, the capital OF the
revolving colonies. There In 1865 Patrick
Henry offered his famous resolutions against
the Stamp Act, and the Convention of 1776
adopted the Declaration of Rights and the first
written constitution OF anV Of the States There
William and Mary College stood. that educated
three Presidents Of the United States and un-
numbered lesser statesmen; and at the theatre
in Williamsburg, built about 1716. the historian
asserts. the first professional acting was seen
in America The impartial reader must recon
Cile this last statement with the claim of the
annast of Annapolis that the playhouse in
that town was the first in America. But such
conflicts OF local pride not uncommon Will
mington. for instance. may fairly claim the
first place among all the towns Of America for
resistance to the Stamp Act" in the view Of
Its historian; although Frederick Town accom-
pltshed the first reputation Of the Stamp Act"
under circumstances related in the story OF that
place, and Williamsburg puts in equal claim.
No doubt the fire sprang up in several places
almost simultaneously. The history of Wash
ington has OF course, more than local interest;
it is curious to note in the account OF it the
as the head of a little body Of reformers" who
undertook the salvation of the city both in its
government and in its physical conditions. and
whose services were at time simply not ap
preciated! So great are the changes few years
bring about. That Barbara Frietchie
real parsonage is the interesting assurance of
Sara Andrew Shafer in her story OF Frederick
Town; her home is pictured. her strong Unionist
faith described. But she never Stonewall
CSTLi
who honor the memory OF a brave Christian are
glad that the story is not true"
The more modern towns. Knoxville. Nashville
Louisville and Little Rock. still historic and
have played important parts in the development
OF the country and Of their sections. clearer
knowledge OF them is gained from this book.
There numerous good illustrations. repro
duced from photographs. prints and portraits.
and an interesting collection of municipal seals
is used to furnish tallpieces to the chapters.
The lore OF Boston is enough to fill the very
substantial volume that Samuel Adams Drake
first published twenty-eight years ago with
joyabe sdelights Colonial history. The in
creased consideration that is paid TO such mat
ters induced him to make q careful and thor
ough revision Of the book Boston itself has
changed-the great fire. the fitting up OF the
Back Bay. with other municipal improvements.
and the removal of of old build
ings with historic associations have all
wrought havoc with many monuments Of
the past that standing when the book
was first published. Their disappearance can
only enhance the value of this pleasant de-
scription. with its minuteness and historical
learning. 1t would have been we'll If the
vision of the text had been accompanied by
thorough revision of the Illustrations Cuts that
would pass muster thirty years ago-we refer.
of course, to the original Illustrations not to
reproductions of old prints, etc.-seem out of
place in a book dated 1900.