New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Studies in History, 4necdote and
Folklore.

f,,,rno,,vl He draws an Introductory bach-
ground of historical conditions from Nicolay ana
I5ay and John Fiske, and for thc details or ms
subject proper relies largely upon the lives by
Webb and Ridpath. The many letters by Johh
Brown himself and the sons who shared mis- en-
terprises would relieve any account from oul-
ness. and they are here freely used Mt New
ION aclles the story from the start as that
oF 2 destined hero and martyr. Perhaps even
al this time 1t is somewhat early 10 expect a
significant estimate Of this extraordinary career
that makes such a strangely mixed appear oy
is combination OF erratic folly and single
minded elevation. But contribution to the
subject as an avoved attempt to set Brown
career in proper perspective 20 the moral ana
political movements Of the time. this book is
e4issnroin7inE It is more nearly animated by
the surviving spirit OF abolitionist oratory imam
b, the balanced judgment OF the historian In
The account Of Browns part IN the kansas
border fighting al a time when, as has been
said one marty was doing deeds Of violence In
the name Of law and order and the other was
committing crimes in the name OF liberty. the
reprisal assassinaticns At PouawatoTnle are
DISPOSED If n a single sentence: The following
night these rIfians were taken out or their
l7,7,,ses tried hE- lynch and put 10 death on
fire srot So Some examination follows OF the eVl-
dence as 10 Browns immediate responslpiiltS'
and much attention IS given previously to the
threats and the general enmity which led up TO
these midnight executions
or course one would not ju ige Brown TOO
literally; 10 him the death Of his pro-slavery
enemies appears to have been heaven directed
AM Ny Newton passes over the savage butchery
~ me Doylee Wilkinson and Sherman in a
manner that recalls thu expressed opinion OF the
slavery Society upon Browns execution, in
which pages were devoted to clarifying the old
,-ovenan+e- and three sentences to disapproVal
Of his chosen methods Indeed. Mr.. Newton IN
summing III. quotes from The Antl-olaNerS
s.a-4s-d- - one Of the most lucid and calmly
reasoned reviews Of thu situation" One may be
rsrrritted also 10 question the statements that
the raid rrecipitated the war and made LIN
coins election certain It does not appear that
-be eriso5e gained the Republicans any votes
- sneak Of in 1860 and Lincoln would have
been elected and the experiment made OF the
long debated theory Of the right Of secession II
Brown had never lived Mr.. Newton is frank in
not protesting 10 write 'Tn the spirit of colo'
frleid inpartiality.' But his horizon Of facts Is
not wide enough and his temper IS at once 100
near the original controversy IN sympathy ana
100 far removed in time for his book TO be sig
1ffcanr either as an historical estimate or as a
PARTISAN plea. Given his enthusiasm ana MS
interest in the subject. he might have done
r~eciative character study with the formal work
Of the annalist left to others.
John Brown turns UP again IN the book Mrs
Harriet F Monroe has made out Of her lec'-
eres Washington: Its Sights and lnsights
dunk & Wagnalls Company, in quotation
from the poem on the lofty old lawhreaker ny
HE present Commissioner Of Pensions. Inc
ro4fn We read. satisfies Mrs. Monroe oe-
s5ribes somewhat formally the things that IN
.a-.s+ siz,tseer= The management of the vari-
Gus governmental departments, with an &C
casiona1 pause upon some picturesque episode Of
history. such as Mrs. Madisons flight before the
British troops under Ross: or she gives we'll
established anc, 5ote. such as General Sherldans
criticism Of the Pension Office that it had one
fa.lt being nreproof Photographs Of build
ings interiors and various curosities are repro
duoed in halftone. unfortunately on cream col
ored paper that contrasts unpleasantly with
the cheaper quality used for the text.
II one shouId happen to ne stirring early in
thu morning on the first Monday Of one Of the
four quarters Of the year, and should observe
the smoke from nearby chimney going against
the wind one may take it for settled beyond
all doubt that the inhabitant Of that house is
e witch. This. at any rate, is the method &C
credited in certain Gaelic communities, as John
Gregorson Campbell notes in his interesting
con7pilarion .'Witchcraft and Second Sight in the
Highlands and Islands OF Scotland" CThe Mac
milan Company. Nj. Campbell as IL his vol
urne on Superstitions IN the same region, has
collected these tales and traditions from oral
sources They are assembled without any I'M
necessary comment. and form a decidedly al
rrsctive collection Of folklore. There are two
sorts OF witches IN the Highlands. as in other
parts OF the world. though the distinction be
tween Hhite and black witches is not the &C
cepted classification. Witches proper are those
VINO DO harm. They can make no end of trouble
Tor their neighbors. can raise storms alid grown
those who offend them. spread wasting diseases,
vs.vlar travellers and suck the milk from COWS
The other sort are more properly known, 1t
seems as wise people who by rhymes and IN
carnations can cure strange complaints and work
against the evil designs Of me devil and ms
rainions Iuvocations 10 the saints a-e frequent
in the charms used which the compiler notes
are more difficult 10 collect than the sup9rsti-
rions Of unsolicited harm He gives many Of the
;n-antation in literal translation. among which
his old wife's charm Tor her may serve as
as example. When uttered ana accompanied by
the tying Of q stone 20 he cows tail. it would
result in securing the animal safely in the same
spot till morning
set the watch tonight.
Against horns Of he-goat
The reice Of the dead
and each horned fierce.
Large cared. large buttocked COW:
The Evil Ones milestone