The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-06-28
A Book Review.

John Trotwood Moore S new book is
indeed true to it's name, "A Summer
Hymnal 1t is very different from
all of the late books, and abounds not
in startling occurrences, and series
of adventures and hair breadth escapes I;
on the other hand it is a restful book
The scene is laid in Tennessee, and
the story is the purest sweetest of love
stories. The hills and rivers, even the
very spots mentioned, are familiar to
all Maury countians, but Maury coun-
tians will love them more after having
read this book. Our Tennessee birds
ought to sing for Mr.. Moore more
sWeetly than ever before, for they owe
to him an eternity of gratitude. No
one who reads the book can ever again
listen carelessly to the sweet notes of
the birds, and deeper appreciation of
their melodies and their sweet natures
is certainly one of the objects attained.
The Jersey COW will be to the readers
no longer the family necessity; she
will be the family pride as well.
The tribute paid this noble animal by
Mr.. Moore is 50 beautiful that no one
who is not absolutely careless can ever
forget it, and it will become an in
fuence in the life of each.
The book is an exquisite poem, SO
beautiful are its word paintings, SO
simple and effective the language,
and all seeming to spring from the
very heart of nature, so closely does
| the writer ally himself with that great
majestic force.
Some of his most poetic touches are
bestowed upon the noble little mare
Marjorie So much of our love does
she win that on the drive from Column
bia to Nashville, which must be done
in two hours time to save the heroine,
''Thesis. - we find ourselves weeping
in genuine sympathy with the plucky
little animal. If any one thing
makes the book more of interest thar
the others, it is this ride as the
hero and his little mare go at full
speed the writer fingers to mention
many historical scenes along the way
and battles, death scenes, and crue
separations are relieved by brief de
scriptions of the beautiful scenery
and the waters of the beautiful blu'
Danube never received from poets pei
a more exquisite tribute than Mr.
Moore bestows upon our own "Classl'
Duck. 1t is obvious that tn
writer loves his heroine, "Thesis, mos
of all his characters and so completed.
captive does he become under the III
fuence of those thoughtful, sad brown
eyes, that it is to her he dedicate
his work; but the readers heart goe
out to 1.-The Blind Man, and t.
Marjorie, the mare.
We admire Thesis, and therefor
we love her; but it is the wonderful
love born of pity and nurtured by tn
gentle yet manly qualities of the tru
Southern gentleman, that we bestoy
upon The Blind Man. 1t is 70
; him our tears are shed, and his cheer
fulness is to us blessing and an In
spiration.
And Marjorie, - as she speeds he
way through the darkness OF the nigh
to almost certain death; and VIII
when her misfortune comes gives II
groan of complaint, but with huma
Intelligence licks the pale face of he
master and nickeTs her love an
sympathy to his troubled soul; Maj
. loire. &" the mare, becomes an integrf
part of The Blind MAJ" an
Thesis and Ned, and we low
her human virtues sufferings an
sorrows with personal sympathy an
kindred love,
The book may be summed up as
T love song carrolled by the birds;
i lullaby crooned by the murmur Of I'll
:, deep flowing rivers. the swift brooke
and the gentle breezes among the tret
Q of Tennessee philosophy compile
from those creatures of instinct WI
y are children of Nature yet seek NJ
to fathom her mysteries; all this, wit
a great heart like that of The Bin
2 Man as interpreter.