The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-14

The above remark. made by 'Marse
Tom.' as Uncle Bob begins one Of his
recitals, describes very happily, the
form in which Mrs. Preston has put
her inimitable. stories and sketches Of
Southern life ana character. Uncle
Bob spins yarn after yarn. ranging
from some of the funniest negro stories
ever written to pathetic and even tragic
episodes in the history Of the old vir-
ginia family which he has so faithfully
served for nearly a century.
Uncle Bob Is real character and q
| famous parsonage In his section of the
country, having reached the advanced
age. he says. of one hundred and four"
1t is certain, anyhow. that he has been
a member Of he family" further back
| than anyone can remember. at the close
| OF three generations--that of Miss Lucy
and 'Marse Tom;" their mother, who
] threw the rose that hit the Prince OF
Wales on his nose; and their grand
| mother,--and truly loved them all. In
return he has been held in that effec-
tionate regard so often given as a mat
| ter OF course in the South to old SER
wants. to the surprise OF households
who change cooks every two weeks.
In short. Uncle Bob Is one of the last
Of the "old time darkies," who have
| always been distinctly aristocratic in
4 thCtA NaStCSs do luli VI SoututTu FpTlu6
| as any of their masters and inclined to
take rather contemptuous view Of
| reformers of their race; a curious phase
of the negro character, but one that
| undeniably exists.
| A number of the sketches in the book
| were made by Outcault the creator or
Pore LII Mose." and Buster Brown"
| made famous by The New York Her.
aid. A.s
The volume will undoubtedly have a
large sale everywhere on account Of
Uncle Bob's abundant fun, keen wit,
shrewd philosophy and common sense
yet pathetic faith in religion.
Uncle Bob" by Mrs. Laura Fitz-
hugh Preston.
Forestfield. Story of the Old South
Mr.. Thomson Bentley has written a sim
cere and truthful picture of the home
| OF the old house. Rightly he states
that the building OF these old mansions
was an almost herculean task. The
slave labor had to be. trained In the
making of brick. then In the building.
The carpenters were slave labor trained
by the master to their task The clay
was home ground. the wood work that
FORMED the home, Forestfield, grew on
the acres of the master. The frontis-
piece, picture of Forestfeld, shows
what those mighty men of old accom-
pIished In home-building.
Mr. Bentley gives a memorable pic
| ture of the master and mistress OF
that home. of type fast passing from
US We quote: Alas! for the fading
type of the stately matronage of the
old South, whose pride was without
haughtiness. whose dignity was unre-
| strained. and whose gentleness- was as
the falling of the dews"
The sketches OF early days In Ala.
oama when the new homes were not
safe from Indian attack. make us re.
alize how young Is our State,
The story of the two old people who
wandered unknown to the wedding Of
their own kin, and out again unrecog-
nized and unrecognizing is very touch
ing
We will not tell the story for the
reader, but leave him to follow for him
self through the relations of happy
and prosperous days and through the
| always heart-rending story to us of
| the sixties.
Mr.. Bentley is an Albanian. For
estheld Is, ( fancy. one of the many
handsome and notable historic homes
near Huntsville
These books OF the eye-witnesses of
the building up OF our State. of TIA
overthrow by war. of its rebuilding nv
ITS courageous sons, will be food for
| the future historian.