The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-26

o,a vo,ces by Howard weeden Miss weeden's poems and pictures or the Old South have a quality which mas already endeared them to thousands of readers all over the country. This new book of hers will reveal a new charm to her readers:
 The book Is illustrated with portraits bv the author, portraits of the old ..Ouality" negro so dear to the South ern heart.
 There are also elaborate borders and decorations by Cora Parker. It is hard to tell which of the de- licious little poems appeal most to the reader who understands, who knows; all are so truly true! So exactly the old negroes who do come to us daily to ask aid to give remembrances in prayer, to enjoy bit of remuner- ance of the dear days and old things that
 Long ago took wing" The happy go lucky. care free message of the husband who married Low" in "ole verginnie'' and who sends Low a ter many years of separation Is true to life.
 The old butler whose Butler wits made him pulpit wise;" the white child who Is "Mammy-raised:" the little nut brown maid out of Varsity Fair who wishes she could go to the cake walk and
 Stan in Sis Lou's shoes" All are to be seen on any Southern plantation. It Is this fixing in artistic from the realities of our everyday folk that makes Miss Weeden's work SO valuable, as we'll as so charming. The old black veteran Is so perfect hit that we give 1t entire:
 A Veteran. It's curious, when dere's sich lot Of nigger-pensions round, Dat mine in some strange sort of way Ain't never yit been found! Of course, sir, I was in de war. Me an my Master, too! We lit in at de fus' drum tap
 An stayed till lit was through. An kept always clost to him
 In camp--as clost could be, An in de field as clost. of course.
 As hit was safe for me. An bet yo' life we made things warm All up an down de line; For General was my Masters rank. And body-sergeant mine! But now. when I says pension" why, Dey laughs an says to me; You better go an die, an git
 Your pension frum ole Lee!
 Tn the little verses in this volume Miss Weeden has struck an even ten books, "Bandanna Ballads" and Songs of the Old South" By the way, the change of the title of the former from Shadows on the Wall" to "Bandanna Ballads" was hardly a happy one there was something so exquisitely suitable. so delicately fitting in the earlier title.
 Such changes of title often occur somewhere between the author and the public, sometimes they are marring to the book, sometimes making. It is much in chance and making the happy hit. Very touching are. the verses: "A Waif" and "Acer Spades" ~ How delicious is the Mystic" none but Southern born and bred can ever know.
 The Study" and "The Problem" are so new to published negro verse and so we'll worth while that we quote both entire.
 A Study. There on the wall hangs the sketch of
 a head,
 Unfinished and dim and crude; Its weak lines drowned in splendid Of shadows rich and rude. Black and calm as an alien face
 Blown from tropic seas; Caught in 0 pose of bland content, And rapture taking its ease. Large and massive and richly dark With shadows that shoulder and
 burn; Blank as a sphinx with its breeding Of placid unconcern. And whether the Artist will finish the No man. it seems, can know; He may give it a touch like some some
 day,
 Or leave it forever so!
 The Problem is a very happy solv- ing of a riddle whose answer all the world is striving to guess:
 The Problem. You've made me the Problem of the The Riddle-the Puzzle-the-Knot; !; And the natures stand frowning and
 gaping around.
 Trying to unravel the plot.
 
 thing
 Ever made in the image of fun, If you leave me alone with a cotton
 field
 And a hoe and plenty of sun:
 If there be any adeverse criticism on so pleasing d volume 1t is that the pictures of the various volumes sometimes repeat them selves, or so closely resemble in type that they seem often replicas of the same type of negro. So grace full are the verses of the several books which relate not at all to the negro that it seems pity that they could not be gathered into a little volume together rather than scattered through the pages with the more striking, be- cause more unique though not more lovely darkey pieces. This most ex- quisite volume is dedicated to the -