The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-09
Three Books OF Memoirs.

Three Books Of Memoirs.
Records Of the past are always interesting,
particularly when they do net deal with
history or matters of public importance.
Through the courtesy of the Adams family
a diary kept by John Quincy Adams while
he was studying law in the Office Of Theo-
philus Parsons at Newburyport is published
as Life in New England Town. l7s7-l7ss'
Little. Brown 4 Coz. A photogravure
Of the diarist is the frontispiece and elabo-
rate notes are provided by Radcliffe
graduate. That the Old Man Eloquent was
good deal of prig in his youth particularly
in the days Immediately after graduating
from college, goes without saying. The
cold bloodedness of the Adams family
has stood in its way from his day to this
in spite of the eminent services rendered
to the country There is little expansive
ness to be found in this young man. jot-
tings, plenty about his relatives and other
persons Of Importance. but he does give an
interesting picture of New England life
at the beginning of the Republic. One
extract may describe the future President,
though it is only fair to remember that
he was a very young man.
Mr.. Porter and lady are there upon a
visit from Rye with a child about six weeks
old, which, forsooth. Immediately after
dinner must be produced, and was hauled
about from one to another; and very shrewd
discoveries were made of its resemblance
to all the family by turns. whereas in fact
it did resemble nothing but chaos. How
much is the merciful Author of nature to be
adored for impanting in the heart Of man
tho,, Oh ~
which affords delight to the parent at the
sight Of his offspring even at time when
to every other person it must be disgusting
Yet it appears to me that parents would do
wisely in keeping their children out Of sight.
at least until they are year old, for cannot
see what satisfaction, either sensual or in
tellectual. can be derived from seeing a
misshapen, bawing, soldering infant,
unless to persons particularly interested"
Could the present Mr.. Charles Francis
Adams have described this better or with
less sacrifice to conventions?
Another interesting document is the
Letters and Diary of John Rowe,
Merchant of Boston," edited by his de-
scend ant, Mrs. Anne Rowe Cunningham
CW. B. Clarke Company. Boston,. The
letters from the letter-book run from 1859
to 1852. the diary, with gaps, covers the
period 1894 to l77s. The diary is OF the
driest kind, but Is full of names. dates and
incidents Of importance to Bostonians.
Politics we're OF less importance in John
Rowe's mind than fishing, and he jots
down with pride his catches in Flax Pond
and Jamaica Pond and elsewhere. 1t is
interesting to note that st. Patricks day
was observed before the Revolution: "17e7,
May II, St. Patrioks day. Dined at Capt.
Moses Bennet's with the Sons Of st. Pat
rick" The following day was anniversary
day, concentrating the repeal of the
Stamp act in Great Britain 1t was OBJ
served with great formality: -l7es We
had Genteel Dinner anr Entertainment.
After Dinner the follow .g Toasts were
drank" There were sixteen of them.l
After these the Company were very cheer
ful and Gay and broke up about Eight of
Clock" Some light on the human side of
John Rowe is cast by the entry. April 10.
l773 Il still continue in Great Pain. The
Doctor has made an Apothecary Shop in
my Stomach"
OF wholly different sort is Concerning
Our Forefathers," by Charlotte Reeve
Conover, printed. we suppose. privately,
but copyrighted by the National Cash
Register Company, Dayton, Ohio. 1t is
family history of which the late Mrs. j. j.
Patterson is the central figure, and which
is beautifully gotten up in print and paper.
The ~forefathers" are two worthy pioneers
of the Middle West, Col, Robert Patterson
and Col. John Johnston, and their story
with that Of many Of their descendants,
was well worth telling. The fulsome lauda-
ton Of the biographer, however, detracts
from the merit of story that was interesting
in itself. If the reader can overcome this