The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-23
NEW BOOKS.
HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND. EditeA
by Edward, Field. A. H.;



The Mason Publishing company OF Bos-
ton and Syracuse. publish by subscription.
| (priee SOD the state OF Rhode Island and
| Providence Plantations: A History"
edited by Edward Field, A. b., of Provi-
| dence. and written and edited as to spe-
cial sections by Mr.. Field and the fol-
| lowing named. mostly residents of this
state: Josiah Browne Bowditch. Clarence
| Saunders Bringham, A. b.; Charles Value
| Chaplin, M. D.; William Eaton Foster.
| Rev. Daniel Goodwin. A. NJ: III. Perry
| Smith. Edward Clinton stiness, A. b.. LII.
b.; Howard Kemble Stokes. Ph, D.;
George Grafton Wilson. Fh. d. The fol-
| lowing named are associated with Mr..
| Field as editorsi Joshua NJ. Alderman.
| Charles II. Bennett, william III. T. Mos
| ley, Horace s. Tarbeil. LII. D.; Henry r..
| Tiepke, William Howard Walker and
| George III. Webb.
The editor-in-chef also acknowledges
his Indebtedness, as assistants from time
10 time in his labors. TO Associate JUS
tice Horatio Rogers, OF the supreme
court, Mr.. Fred A. Arnold, Colonel Philip
S. Chase, Mr.. George III. Burnhsm and
Mr.. Howard w. Preston. Mr.. III. Perry
Smith. representing the publishing COM
pany, Is especially recognized as an asso-
ciate not only among the writer's of the
monographs but i'm the work OF plan and
supervision required of the editor-in-chief.
The new history of Rhode Island begins
at the earliest traditions, identifying
Rhode Island with the discovery of the
Western Hemisphere and is brought up
To the close of the 18th century. IL is
published In three volumes. with stately
printed page and bound in green cloth
with gold letter. With gilt top and uncut
At. Al. a,A
some set as specimen OF the book
makers art. Including the indexes, each
volume comprises upwards of 200 pages
IL is the first publication of the sort since
the work OF Arnold in 1889 while, as Ar
nold's history concluded with the events
OF 1890. this may be said 10 be the first
comprehensive and assembled record of
the progress OF the state for the period OF
100 years 10 the 20th century.
The scheme of the work was dictated by
the purpose To supplement general history
with an adequate presentation OF the
several important lines of developmnt.
To this end a number OF specially quail
fled writer's were selected. who working
simultaneously, secured the object OF pub
lication with promptness and timeiness-
so that the history was In the press but
little after the close of the period the epi-
sodes and events of which are presented.
In connection with one special work thus
laid out and distributed between the sew
eral authorities entrusted with its writ
ing, Mr.. Bingham, who is the librarian
OF the Rhode Island Historical society.
writes a general history OF the state
which occupies the greater part of volume
l. The several and specific features then
follow, filling a part of the first volume
and the whole of Volumes III and III.
These features are as follows: Military
history and Naval history. in Volume /;
Medical history Religious history, Edu-
l. .t.l .lasA
Newspaper history, the history of Public
Libraries. In Volume IL; and Municipal
history, judicial history, Financial his
tory, the history OF manufactures, of
public Charities and Corrections, of Ma
sonry and Odd Fellowship in Volume III;
with a closing chapter on Early Habits
and Customs and Old Isandmarks.'
The volumes are literally illustrated.
chiefly with pictures that have not here
tofore appeared in detached works of an
historical nature, and most of which are
not commonly available.
In work OF this character II would not
be claimed we should say, that II should
be conspicuous for novelties or spectacu-
lar results from initial researches. The
design Is, plainly, TO present compre-
hensive record OF the history and pro-
gress OF Rhode Island that shall be ac-
curate, full and complete for reading or
study or Observation-Disclosures as may
ID
so far as earlier history is concerned,
giving the best and latest authority on
matters that may have been differently
viewed from time 10 time. But on the
whole. not hoping to announce new dis
coveries or yenturing tentative opinion or
experimental revision of already well es-
tablished conclusions.
Indeed, in respect 10 the history OF fully
three-quarters of the last century the
writer's have wholly avoided the tempta-
tion 10 express judgment or opinion on
mooted questions but, presenting the
facts i'm good order as bearing upon one
another and contributing to final results
they have produced a capital work of ref
erence, unembarrassed with opinion with
which the reader might or might not
agree, and as to which the future histo-
rian might or might not take issue.
The writing OF the history Is accompan-
led by copious extracts from recognized
authorities who have. from time TO time
treated parts of the general subject and
from documents and records. Further
more the references. which are found at
the bottom OF the pages as they are call
ed for i'm the text. AFFORD complete bib
biography of the sources of information,
made available TO the reader should II be
desired to look still further into specific
matters that must. In such a work. be ac-
corded space only I'm proportion TO their
relation to the whole. Each volume Is sup
piled with an index and this department
is very full and elaborate. We have had
occasion TO test IL several times and have
found IL worthy Of the title. index.
Doubtless there is much that Is fresh
and new In the work. Only such persons
treated may speak accurately as to how
treated may speak accurately as to how
much. For the average possessor of the
work IL is sufficient to feel assured that
here I'm compact form. is available an en-
IN Iala a..1 hot to net
worthy I'm respect TO its statements, accu-
rate in the matter of it's references and
citations. and complete i'm It's assemblage
OF information, comprehensive without
being superficial. and exhaustive as TO es-
sentials Moreover. II Is record that is
vitalized by conscientious and readable
presentation.
The authority OF the work that has been
done by the several writers IL unquestion-
able The absence of self assertveness