The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-13
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TENNYSON.

TENNYsoN.
BY G. w. PASCHAL, in Wake Forest
Student.
Sweet Tennyson, it was thy work to show
What music dwells in common English
speech
.Atuuned to English thoughts and deeds;
to preach
The hopeful, quiet English faith, whence
grow
Strong English men; to mark the brooks
that flow
Through English scenes; to linn the
wolds, the beach,
The tuneful lanes, the ancestral oak, the
reach
OF park and pale, and England's sunset
glow.
And other needs are thine, for thou
dids't bring,
AS chief, the richest thoughts of Greece
and Rome
To flow in English verse; and thou did'st
sing
The loves and jousts OF Arthur's Table
Round; -
Forever hence that story lives at home
In England, where thy name shall e'er
resound.
''The most striking volume of social
and political criticism that has reached
us for many a day is the Nations COM
ment on Mr.. William CARROT Browns
rev volume of essays, "The Foe of CoIn-
promise
Late this month the Scrihners will put
out The Story of a Soldiers Life" By
Field Marshal Viscount Wolseley. 1t will
appear In two volumes, with photogra-
vure portraits and plans. This soldiers
life story, told by himself, is not only
work OF much historic value, but
stirring tale as well, a piece of martial
autobiography of very genuine interest.
1t is the sort of book, in a word, that
interests a man because he is man,
wholly apart from whether he is. also, a
student or lover of history.
In the Atlantic Monthly for December
Charles NJ. Harvey, the brilliant st. Louis
editor. makes a careful and vigorous
study of Some Second-Term Precedents,
a question which is probably more inter
esting the present year than ever before.
Mr. Harvey, in surveying the records of
presidential action in second terms, points
out that a president after reelection has
never failed to display a more energetic
initiative and a more vigorous indepen-
dence than during his first four years
of office. The bearing of this upon
American politics from 1894 to 1908 is
peculiarly suggestive.
Ainslee's for January opens with 4
novelette, by Francis Provost, who made
his first appearance in October. 1t is
called 1.-THE Siege of Sar," and marks
departure from what has hitherto been
chiefly characteristic of Ainslee's move
lettes. 1t is an intensely interesting
story, however with a delightful love IN
terest, robust dramatic action. and strong
portugal of character o. Henry has a
story, and that announcement is really
all that need be said to stimulate in
terest, though it may he added that its
title is 'The Hypothesis of Failure
THE CHRISTMAS CENTURY'S COVER.
The green, ivory and black of The
Century's new cover make an effective
background for the special design mark
ing the Christmas issue. The coronation
of Charlemagne by Pope Leo Ill IN the
basilica OF st. Peters, Christmas Day,
500 A. D., is the subject; and the rich
browns, reds and blues OF the figures
and robes are frightened by liberal
use of gold The whole cover gives the
artistic effect of multi-toned picture
framed in ivory and black against a soft
green ground.
TREVELYAN'S AMERICAN REVOLT
TION. The American Revolution. Part
II, by the right Hon. Sir George Otto
Trevelyan. Bart. volumes Long
mans, Green & Co., New York, London
and Bombey. 1908. Price $500 net.
1t will be remembered that the first
volume of Trevelyan's American Revo7
luton" opened WITH an account OF the
private affairs of Charles James Fox and
that it ended with the battle OF Bunker
Hill. Part II begins with a review, or
the state of public opinion in England
after the news of American events had
been publsed abroad and ends so tar
as the war is concerned with Washing
toms bold stroke at the rear OF Corn
wallis army at Princeton in the early
winter of 1777, i. e. the two volumes
relate the events of little more than
one year. The author does not preface
his work with any statement of his gen.
eraI plan and hence one is left in the
dark as to how many volumes to expect
in the future. Judging from what we
have already, there will probably be in all
cot less than eight or ten volumes re-
quiring at least ten years more for their
completion.
But the public will not quarrel with
Sir George Trevelyan for going thus into
details in writing an account OF such
an important epoch in English and uni
versal history, certainly not Americans
since there is no up-to date and COM
plete history of the Revolution now avail
able. And to Americans it is further
gratifying to have such work from the
pen of an Englishman thoroughly CONVEX
SAINT with the politics and policies OF
his country since the reformation. Be
sides this, the pleasing, almost gossipy,
and yet scholarly style of presentation
makes the book to take rank with our
indispensable works on American his
tory.
AS to point of view the author belongs