The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-24
A VALUABLE BOOK.
stf life end Letters of an Educator, c
 Philosopher and Pastor.

Life end Letters of an Educator, c Philosopher and Pastor.
 The Life and Letters of Robert Lewis Dabney by Thomas Cary Johnson, re- gently published by the Presbyterian Con- rnittee of Publication, Richmond. Va. is one of those rare books which Is inter- esting not only to the general reader, but to the special student. As pastor, edu- cator. philosopher and soldier, pr. Dab- ney touched Southern life at all points. Ho was a man of affairs. practical and efficient, as well as scholar. he thought and wrote wisely and sanely on politics, on society and on theology and the story of his life illumines the history of Vlr- Kinia and of the entire Southland during the past seventy-nve years,s ,s~FIis quick in sight enabled him to grasp conditions and problems in their entirety and his keen observation made him invaluable as ichronicler. 'ire
 The book is largely antobiOgraphica for Robert Lewis Dabney was great letter writer of the old school and 1t Is this per- sonaf element which gives color and tone ous student but he had fine sense of humor and told an anecdote well. His letters to his mother and brothers and later to his wife often sparkle with fun and good stories. To former students of Hampden-Sidney and of the University of Virginia The Life and Letters will be Of especial interest for its pictures of the student body. of the professors and men
 
 In the midst of his more serious reflections young Dabney finds time to sketch pen portraits. He writes to his brother of the President of Hampden-Sidney, "a nice, active man, q little below middle size. a great hand to run after the students when they get into mischief. He wears small whiskers and combs his hair in a very classical manner, is quite handsome and has a line eye think that he has rather too large q portion of outside, but he is nevertheless 6 wise man and well qualified for his of11ce." He had a keen hatred for shaEas and false standards, and writes to his mother with keen sarcasm of the "dandies' of the University of Vir- ginia who wore prunella hootees. straw colored pantalOons. striped pink and blue slIk vest and crimson merlno cravat; who spent from $1,500 to 5000 a session and learned about cents worth of useful learning and enough rascality to ruin them forever. The students at the great University spend less and study more nOw-a-days.
 The life of the South as shown in his own home and in the letters of his more mature age is simple and charming; he painted with fidelity the hardshtps and disadvantages as well as the pleasures and attractions of the planters life and throws real light on the social. ooIitical and industrial organization of the South and on the homes, employments. culture and religion Of the people. Students of fian who is endeavoring to reconstruct a society which disc ppeared with the clvll war will find the book invaluable.
 The hne account of the structure and functions of tine old Virginia Court, the pictures of eminent Jurtsts and statesmen Will be of treat interest to lawyers while his personal "reminiscences of Stonewall Jackson. whose distinguished chief-of- stan he was, his narrative of camp life, and hls understanding of Jackson's cam