The Washington herald., 1906-11-09
NOTABLE BOOKS BY
WASHINGTON WOMEN.

A warm note Of patriotic sentiment Is
sounded in the small volume of verses
entitled The Heroine Of the Hudson and
Other Poems" by Lillian Rozell Messen-
ger, and edited by the Heritage Press,
Incorporated, Richmond. Va.
The book is dedicated to the National
Society, Daughters Of the American Rev
olution, Of which organization the author
is an active member. and to which - per
cent Of the sales will be donated for the
Memorial Hall fund.
In her previous publications Mrs. Mes
senger has proved herself a master Of
poetic expression and thought She is
versatile In metaphor and imagination.
and in her latest book a directncss of
historical association leads to the happiest
poetic achievement. The writer has caught
the spirit and atmosphere Of America :
strOngholds of scenery. animated them
with historical reference, and set them to
the music Of exquisite verse.
The longer pOems-notably the one that
lends its title 10 the volume-and another
called Mount of the Holy Cross: Colo
rado." are I'm narrative form. The former
is family suggestive of Aurora Leigh IN
style. Other poems are brief and lyric.
Mrs. Messenger knows her country inti-
mately, and is at home upon the shores
of the Hudson River and Niagara.
She has selected, from history, gems Of
incident that mt with exquisite nicely
into the beauties of nature She has also
ap0strophised in verse heroes like Fitz-
hugh Lee, and thus brought fact and
fancy into q balance Of rhythm as inspir-
ing as il is descriptively accurate.
The final poem in the book. entitled
silence" is one of the choicest of the
collection It's name does not fully con-
vey its sentiment-that the best OF all
things is carried alone 10 God The first
stanza concludes:
And yet bow glovs the canvas great. and fair.
The vision highest. best. is never there.
And AZ the end Of the second verse.
Bat IN our sweetest song. our saddest tone
The secret gTandest. best is never known.
And finally.
So in earhs sweet light and JOY. where others tTod
The gloomy heights; OF wales Of woe
And past the tmbs dim night, we mgtely 80,
hike phaut0ma of silence 60 and fr0i
And carry, alone, our best 90 God.
THE Heroine of the Hudson and Other
Poems is bound daintily In the colors
Of the National Society. The half-tOne
frontsplece is a view Of the Hudson
River from West Point
A noteworthy addition to the historical
library is the STORY Of the Records
Daughters Of the American Revolution
the joint work Of Mary 5. Lockwood and
Emily Lee Sherwood CMrs. ". H. Ra-
gam. George Z. Howard, Washington,
D. c., publisher.
The work, which is the first complete
history Of the D. A. R. ever offered to
the public is divided into two parts The
hrst contains sketches and photographs
Of the six presidents general, under
whose guidance the membership has in
creased from IS signeTs on October H.
1880. to nearly 5000 in 1906; "reminiscences
and Incidents. following organization.
drawn from thee society's archives; a
chapter on Insignia" the work OF the
board Of management and that of the
various executive departments; enlight-
enment as to Application Papers" and
the patriotic achievements of the society
especially during the Spanish-American
war and the s0cietys connection with
the celebration Of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition "a St Louis
The second section Of the book records
chapter history in all the States. and
chronicles the progress of the war of the
Revolution in the thirteen colonies. from
The battle Of Lexington in Massachusetts
20 the surrender at Yorktown, Va.
Along this road Of events are set forth
the incidents with which women were
connected showing what our fore
mothers" did for the cause of liberty.
There is also chapter devoted to the
luXiliary-the Children of the American
Revolution"
As d reference work. Invaluable TO fu-
ture historians of the society, this vol
-me-nOund also in the eoIors Of the Ma
-ioaal S0ciety-will appeal to every lover
)t American history It is DELIGHTFULLY."-
compiled and illustrated and the edition
&c luxe. printed on special paper and
richly bound. viii have a limited sale at
'5oc. The lesser prices are: In cloth.
;L50: half leather, SEQ: fun leather. g. 50.
Few women could be selected as well
lifted 10 compile such work as Mrs.
Lockwood and Mrs Ragan.
The former Is honorary vice president
general for life She was the first histori-
an general OF the society. and has been
warded a special service medal" Mrs.
liasan. known in literary circles OF WASH