The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-24
BlNION REVIEWS
BROWNS HISTORY


DIR. S. A. Binion, the author and
scholar, who is spending the winter
in Key West, has written a review of
Jefferson B. Brownies History of Key
West and his opinion, which follow,
speaks well for Mr.. Brownies effort:
Among the multitude of workers to
enhance the inauguration of the East
Coast Railway, is the Hon. Jefferson
B. Browne, who is coming forward
with his History entitled Key West
The Old and the New" I met the
author. last summer, in the New York
Public Library where he was en-.
gagged in gathering certain historical
data for his forthcoming work. 1 was
not a little surprised to learn upon
my arrival that his book is finished
and ready for the press. The author
kindly permitted me to peruse a few
chapters of his ''magnum opus" q
style it magnum, but as a matter of
fact it is not a bulky volume, but it
is multum in parvo." Judging from
the heading of the chapters such as
''Wrecking; Indian Hostilities; Civil
War; Population: Women of Key
West; Monroe County; Florida East
Coast Railway, etc. did not expect
more than concise Sententious and la
conical descriptive matter, which are
and ought to be the sine quo nen'' of
writer's OF facts keeping clear of fie-
ton. But Mr.. Browne is one of those
masters whose motto is: "Dulce cum
utile," whilst bearing in mind to state
facts and avoid fiction, calling a spade
a spade, nevertheless he touches his
phrases in elegant and rhetorical fash
ion.
His anecdotes and wrecking cpl
sodes are we'll told and fascinating.
The chapter containing the History
of the East Coast Railway is a work
by itself. For instance, in describing
the stupendous work he says: Who
can describe the construction? Why
attempt it? The wonderful aqueduct
at Segovia, the Porto Maggiore, the
Aqua Claudia. the Port du Gard, were
mans first message in arch building.
Henry NJ. Flagler'- railroad in which
he enlarged, extended amplified that
lesson, is mans last message on this
marvellous lyle of contraction, and will
echo and re-echo through the age to
come. Where the Romans crossed
streams, he bridged the ocean; where
they went over valleys, he covered
surging waters: where they encoun-
tered hills he found channels; where
they met with barriers, he came tc
quick sands; where the precipic,
halted them, the quagmire threatened
him; they cut through rocks, he filled
chasms. ......" The bog, the quag
naire the quicksand. evaded, eluded
shifted, swallowed up tons Of concrete
with their capacious maws and raw
enous stomachs. ..."
His chapter on the population, past
and present, is of equal interest, re-
plete with anecdote and spicy char
acteristic sketches and short biolo-
gies Of prominent men and women.
The Chapter treating of Key West
Women is a splendid monograph by
itself. He prefaces the chapter 'Tr
writing Of the men Of a nation OF
city. conflicts or strife. personal Oh
political, must need I'LL a large part OF
the record, but to write Of the women
is to enter a more -delectable field
where love and beauty sing their rhap-
sodies, and where the miserere of the
afflicted in soul and body is changed
into a TIE Deum by her gentle minis
trations." For his paragon he cites
Mrs. Ellen Mallory. He extols hel
virtues as kind, gentle, charitable
sympathetic and considerable of the
wants Of the sick and the poor
With many opportunities to become
rich, she died comparatively poor
Space is inadequate to quote here
some Of the salient episodes in subse-
quent chapters, some Of which ara
brinful with witty and humorou mar
ratives. The hook promises to be the
wade nnecum" in every Key West
household. and a guide book to tbs
student Of history Of his native city.
SAMUEL A. BINION.