The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-21
THE NEW BOOKS
"reminiscences Of a Long Life by Carl Schurz
Poems, by Will CarltOn-BOOkS for Juvenile
Readers and Other Reviews and Notes.

fJrtabiy seated, Lincoln slapped the soldier
On the knee, and said:
Young man, you don't think me such
a bad fellow as you made me out in
your letter, do your
During his early life in the country he
visited Washington. Among the great
men then in the Senate Stephen A.
Douglas made the greatest impression
though not a favorable one. Il thought |
recognized in him the very embodiment of
that INSCRIPTIONS. reckless demagog.
which, as my study of history had told
me, is so dangerous TO republics He
says.
He loved Charles Summer ON sight, and
was devoted to Longfellow from their first
meeting.
1t was necessary for Young Schurz- to
master English after his arrival in Amer
lea. Answering many inquiries. he states
that he learned the language without the
aid Of grammar. He knew Latin thorough
ly, of course. He tackled the language OF
his adopted country through the news
papers and from them took up the best
novels, He says that he was unconscious
regarding which language he thought in,
while preferring on different occasions
both his mother and adopted tongue for
speaking. When discussing German or
scientific subjects he liked the former; for
public speaking he preferred the latter,
mainly because of the lesser vocal strain.
It is impossible to epitomise, even briefly
his early career in America as narrated
in the second volume of the memoirs.
They include his campaigning, his unsuc-
cessful contest for the Lieutenant-Gov-
ernorship of Wisconsin. his appointment to
the Spanish Court as Ambassador, and his
early return to take up arms in defense
of the Union. Then he tells of the first
great battles of the war in which he took
part, giving his impressions of the great
generals whom he met, and closes with a
defense of the German brigade's part in
the battle OF Charlottesville. This latter
is of great historical value, as throwing
light ON one of the great questions of a
memorable conflict.
In the forthcoming volume, or volumes,
If such there be, will probably be narrated
the closing scenes of the Civil War, his
tour Of inspection through the shattered
South. his career as journalist, United
States Senator, Cabinet minister, and, dur
ing his latter days, as national free lance
in politics.
The volumes now out are well gotten
up, and illustrated with good pictures.
Not only will these "reminiscences be
found interesting, but instructive. They
cover a historic breadth that is barely APP
preached by any other American who has
left such a product to posterity. Scarcely
a great event of worlds history from
Napoleon to Grover Cleveland failed to
touch or affect the life of this remark
able man; and with the planets greatest
men for a period of more than a half CEN
fury, he was on terms of at least personal
acquaintance.
Besides the historical and literary value
is the incentive germ that permeates the
work. 1t is especially recommended to
young men, for, aside from fortuitous cir
cumstances, few lives represent more thor
oughly the value 5of high standards of
living and thinking and of the final recon-
pense that awaits those who strive for
ideals and persist in the furtherance of
right and justice.