The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-03
ION Coronation Odes'
TWO wsrs-Mexicau, Confederate; an Au-
photography. By General Samuel G.
French. Published by The Confederate
Veteran, Nashville, Tenn. Sold by

photography. By General Samuel 6.
French. Published by The Confederate
Veteran, Nashville. Tenn. Sold by
subscription.
General Samuel G. French graduated
from the United States Military Acade-
my In 1913, as an o1cer In the armies OF
the United States; served In the war Win
Mexico, and as officer in the armies
OF the Confederate States: served In Inc
war with the United States. This book
relates most Interestingly and entertain
4ngly of his experience In both wars, and
contains his diary OF the reconstruction
and various "reminiscences and incidents.
It is book which should be put into the
hands OF the Southern people, young and
Old. and is on par with Maury's "Recoilec-
.iens OF a v!rginian:' Taylor's ''Destruc-
lion and Reconstruction" and sinil5r
works OF ell the forms OF history, as
the introduction Of Ellison Capers wei
says. a good autobiography is The most
pleasing and attractive. II the writer has
been a prominent and responsible paruei-
rant in great events, X high character
warrants his faithfulness to truth. and II
the events OF which he writes are in them
selves Of great historic value. his biog-
TEX hy will possess a peculiar charm and
Interest for every Intelligent reader.
The generation that recalls from mem
DRY the events OF our history connected
with the admission of the great State of
-reSas into the American Union and the
war with Mexico which followed has
nearly all gone Here and there a strong
nan survives whose memory is clear and
whose conscience is true. To hear him
talk of these events, or TO read after him
as he writes of the universal excitement
tn the country-the angry debates In Con-
gress, the opposition to the admission Of
TEXAS, and to the war with Mexico, ..ie
brilliant campaign of Taylor, the bat
ties of Palo Alto. Resaca de la Palma,
Monterey, and Buena Vista-is to enjoy
history in its most attractive form. The
historian who has been an active parbci-
pant in the events Of which he writes.
whose passions have been cooled by age,
and whose Judgment has been disciplined
Ivy long years OF experience and reflection
enjoys an immense advantage. However,
we may disagree with him in his criti-
SIN upon the conduct of men or upon
their motives. il he be a man Of iIign and
true character, we enjoy the greatest sat
isfaction in accepting his positive state
mcnts as to facts which represent has own
actions and experiences.
General French is such historian. The
clear natural. dispassionate style Of his
botk-its freedom from bitterness. the ten
derness with which he dwells upon the
history of his classmates at West Point
several of whom became distinguished
generals in the Federal army Grant
Franklin, Ingalls, and Quinby)-ali these
characteristics of his autobiography soon
win the confidence of the reader.
For the general reader Of to-day, and
especially for the survivors of the Confed
crate army, General Frenchs autobiog<
rapEy will possess peculiar interest but
as General French participated in the
campaign of General Hood up to Its pre-
destined disaster at Nashville. the au-
photography will be read with more than
usual interest by students of the ill-starr-
ed march into Tennessee and the battles
OF Franklin and Nashville.
The venerable author of Two Wars
has been an able and gallant soldier Of his
country. and the simple and graphic man
ner in which he writes OF his distinguish
ed services, and relates the great events
IN which he bore a faithful part, entities
his book to the confidence OF mis- country
men. 1t is a most valuable addition to
our country's history. and a book which
will be or permanent use in the study of
our great Confederate struggle
Drcwitt,s Dream, The Credit of the
County. A Welsh Witch. D. Apple
son & Co.. New York. Paper. 80 cts.
..Drewitts Dream" by w. L. Alden:
"a Welsh Witch" by Allen Raine. and
''The Credit of the County, by ". E.
Norris, are among the latest publica-
tons in the Town and Country Library
of D. Appleton & Co. They are typical
Of the standard quality of this series:
like the pleasures and joys OF life. their
interest is evanescent, but agreeable
while they last. The distinguishing u
culiarities of all this sort OF writing is
noticeable, even in their first few lines
"a solitary horseman," &c, &c.
For instance. in the first booklet We
are told that The midnight streets OF
the sleeping town were black and silent.
l.
Ing clouds shut out the stars. =
Sudde " the crash of the Turkish can
non Jared the dense air. -
Swept along with the other fugitives
was young Englishman on horseback.
Damned towards exclaim-
ed the Englishlnan scewling at the gun
ners, . Thank God! You are
Eng 'sh. Obi let me keep with you.
IT IS the voice OF a woman.
She vas young and beautiful.
AS cir eyes met the blood rushed into
his ,ce - s"-Noila.
''rAe Credit OF the Country starts
out: Denis Vale. emerging on a still
warm afternoon Of early summer, fro4a
the wayside railway station which was
hut a mile and a half distant from his
abode decided to walk home" Denis
Vale was q magnificent type OF the
healthy, well-to-do Englishman. and If
he had any nerves about him he had
never been made disagreeably conscious
Of their existence yet The sheiteredgrass-
plot, barred by the long. dark shadows
OF the yew-hedges which fenced it in;
Che moss grown sun-dial in the fore
ground: the glittering tea-table; the
graceful. girlish figure. arrayed all in
white whose waist was encircled by the
arm Of comely young loon, whose
golden head dropped upon his shoulder
well, she was Denis Wales wife and
Denis almost walked In upon the tab
leau. and after dinner he told her what
he had decided to do.
"a Welsh Witch" begins: THE lights
and shadows Of an April day, and the
solemn silence that sometimes falls on a
calm sea were brooding over a shell
tered bay on the Welsh coast as the
lark plowed her way through the green,
pellucid waters-and so they so.
49,