The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-04-15
THE NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SOME OF THE LATEST BOOKS OF
 THE SEASON.

The First Volume of "The History of
 the United states''" by Dr. EIrOy Me-
 Kendree Avery-"sIiss Billy" by
 Edith KeeIey StokeIy and Marian
 Kent Hurd-'sThe Human Touch" by
 Edith M. NichOII--"At the Fall of
 Port Arthur by Edward Stratemeyer
 Elisabeth F. Atwood's "A Practical
 Commercial SpeIIer."
 The Burrows Brothers Company of Cleveland, Ohio, have just brought out the first volume of 'The History of the United States It is a little over eigh- teen years ago that Mr. Charles w. Burrows of Burrows Brothers Compa- ny. engaged Dr. Elroy McKendree Avery to prepare such history, and since that time all the financial re- sources of the company, it's wide expe- rience in the making and handling of books in big way, and the accurate understanding of the popular needs that follow such practical experiences have been back of the monumental un- dertaking.
 Dr.. Elroy's labors have been most painstaking and thorough and a bril- liant historical work is the result. The history is not written in perfunctory manner. The authors heart was in the work. Its pages are full of life and spirit. The author illumines his sub- ject and makes history reading in this case a rare pleasure. The eighteen years of earnest labor show conspicu ously admirable results and author and publishers are to be warmly congratu- lated. The History of the United States should win instant and great flavor and enduring popularity also; for although the literary work is dignified and scholarly, of high quality, there is life and vividness in the authors style and the book is fascinating. The work is, moreover, one of great mechanical excellence. The publishers have spared neither time nor money to ac- complish this result and they have won. The book is notable for the beauty, leg ibility and general effectiveness of the type, which was cast from a set of punches discovered few years ago in France that had not been printed from for some two hundred years. Its artis-. tic qualities have been produced by the admirable presswork behind 1t.
 Maps, too, have been drawn, redrawn, enlarged dozen times only to be dis carded at the final printing for some thing more fitting; illustration have been sought from artists and galleries the world over to supplement the text in the best way.
 The value of maps has been properly recognized in this monumental work. They help wonderfully in clear un- derstanding of history. The publishers make the claim, and with full warrant, that no general historical work has ever been published in which are to be found maps in such numbers of so deli cate a quality of engraving, and so serichly printed. ....... a..s.. ..'. ....
 The ox-hide map of Juan de la Cosa which tops this page, is an evidence of this especial care. This is the oldest known map of the new world, and it has had a romantic history. It now belongs to the Spanish government, and is guarded with care in the Naval Museum at Madrid Alexander Won Humboldt, the great scientist, discov- .red 1t in Paris in 1882 in the library O. friend, Baron Charles Atanse Wal ekenaer, himself an eminent scientist and geographer. Where it had been all the previous years can only be conjec- tured. In"1S53 it passed into the muse um at Madrid from a Paris auction room.
 There will be twelve volumes to this Avery history, devoted as follows: Period of Discovery" "Colonies-1600- 16Ss,a 16SS-1754' "1754-1776," "1776- 17S9,'' "17S9-1S04'' ''1S04-1S17," "1S17- 1S37,. ''1s37-1S5O," '1s50-1ss1," "1s61- 1885, ''1Ss5-1S76' (Reconstruction), s.1s7s-19o2" and index.
 The first volume treats of the first Americans. The "neolithic Americans" and the Mortimer are more conpre hensively treated than in any single volume anywhere. Columbus is an im- posing figure in this initial installment, as he should properly be; and his part as the pioneer representative of the race beyond seas is given adequate prominence. The germination and car rying out of his great idea, and the voyages vicissitudes and discourage rnents of the dauntless navigator are eloquently portrayed This authors radical treatment of the Morse remains and legends will surprise many, for he does not hesitate to say, whether the shades of Cambridge like it or not, ex- actly what is his opinion after a care full study of the evidences"
 Of the author the Cleaveland Leader says:
 DT. Avery has been man of many energies. although the natural trend of his life has been for the pleasures and the profits of the library He was a good soldier and is a good citizen. In this latter capacity he has served his state in a legislative way. AS such he is, best known to the little world about us here But to those who keep tab on intellectual activities, pr, Avery is known as a writer of learning, skill and influence. His Physics scientific text book for schools, has been praised as. specimen of pure, strong, gram nautical Saxon-English comparable in literary quality Gas far as the subject will permiD to the writings of such au-