New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-03
Literary yNesvs and Criticism.

ore. told at the Savage Club by Lord AIverstone.
about postofice prosecution at Hartford AS
sizes:
A clever Irish harrister appeared for the defend
ant, who was poor letter carrier guilty of some
lrregularity. Among the witnesses was Anthony
What are you?" asked the irish barrister in a
severe and commanding tone, sonorous with rich
An official in the postofce," answered Trollope.
somewhat astonished by the Irish gentleman's
brusqueness.
Anything eIse?" demanded the counsel, with a
snap.
Yes; an author" This little proudly
what is the Of your last book?"
" Rarchcster Towers
Now. tell me. is there a word of truth in that
book"
Well it is what IS generally called work of
Fiction with a scornful curl of the lip 'Fic-
toni! The pronounced it F1cshion). THAT is to say
to end?''
II am afraid. il Won nut it that way, there
Isn't stammerod TrOliopc in an embarrassed way.
With a triumphant chuckle the counsel turned
10 the jury and exclaimed:
Gentlemen. how you possibly convict a man
the evidence nj witness like this who here
in this coult Of justice unbushinely confesses that
he has written a book in which there Is not a word
Of TRUTH"
Miss J. f. Davis of Hampton, Va, has writ
ten and has herself published, excellent little
volume called Round About Jamestown: His
lnsula.' 1t should prove OF service to visitors
al the exposition, for it embodies great deal of
just such information about the whole region
as the casual traveller wants. It is important
that one should know something about Vir-
enian history If he is to enjoy himself at James
town, not simply the salient events in the set
tcment Of the country but the ways of the
colonists and the character of the society that
was developed by them and their descendants.
Thus Miss Davis not only explains how James
town came to he founded. but diversifes her
narrative with as many simple human touches
as possible. She is brief, but she puts a good
deal into her book, packing her facts closely to-
gether. in the following passage from her
chapter on Elizabeth City:
Until the middle of the century there were but
Few black slaves compared with the number Of
WHITE servants. In 1872 the population had reached
$1,000. Of whom 5000 were indentured servants
while only one-third many slaves. A few
Indians We're enslaved but We're never so valuable
pounds OF tobacco. while an Indian was worth but
900 pounds Later the price for adult negro
save IN Elizabeth City County about f25.
Nails and hinges very scarce throughout
the colony, and gates were therefore not usual
drawbars. such still common in Virginia
being used where they We're needed in the rail
fences. Travel was done mostly on horseback
the roads heinl, often mere birdie mathis or whom
wider being so much worse than the provorbiaIlv
bad Virginia roads Of the present time as to be al
most impassahe for carriages. In 1862 an act Of
Assembly was passed ordering roads forty feet
woe 10 he maze. 'one to the church. one to the
courthouse at Jamestown and ono from county to
county. Ihere was n ferry across the mouth Of
the southampton River. the ferryrnan being grant
ed the privilege Of running II for life condition
that he charged but penny for the transporta-
ton Of each passenger
Miss Davis's illustrations are haftones from
photographs Of historic buildings. Those who
show us some Of the old homes OF the South.
dignifed manor houses, built Of brick in the
eighteenth century. are especially welcome Pre-
fixed to the volume is a good map
Messrs. F. warne &, Co. announce that during
the coming fall season they viii make certain
additions TO 'Newnes Art Library" These will
include volumes devoted TO Sir Thomas Law
renee and Sir Henry Raeburn.