The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-02-16
Books on New England.
Their Author at Work on "The Evolution
of The Pilgrim
From the Boston Hera


The success with which Mr. H. NJ
Sylvester's recent elaborate work, On
dian Wars of New England" in three
volumes CIV. B. Clarke & Co., } has met
makes the following brief biogra phical
data both timely and interesting. Mr..
Sylvester was born in Lowell, Mass, on
February 20, 1S49. In early boyhood his
parents moved to Otisfeld, Me. He
graduated from Norway Liberal Insti-
tute and prepared for college in Bridg
ton Academy. Subsequently he moved
to Portland and read law in the Office
of William Pitt Fessenden, United
States senator for Maine. In 1872 he
was admitted to the Cumberland bar.
In 1885 he came to live in Boston, and
during the following year he was adj
mitted to the Suffolk bar. Some 10
years afterward he retired and gave his
attention to literary and historical pur
suits. Two of his earlier works were
"Prose Pastorals," which appeared in
1887, and Homestead Highways pub
lished in 1888. Both volumes are now
out of print. An excellent preparation
for the 'Indian Wars" was his "Pioneer
Settlements of Maine" which appeared
in five volumes, and which have elected
much favorable attention both from the
press and the public. These volumes
group together many historical incidents
associated with certain localities in
Maine, and are not only we'll written but
have true poetic fancy. We do not
wonder that they have been much in de-
mand.
/. His later work, "Indian Wars of New
England" has already taken its place
among the standard works of its class
We have already pointed out that the
initial volume treats of the topography
of the Indian tribes, the relations of the
early settler and the Indian, and the
wars which ensued from the new colon
lists failure to understand their red-skin-
the Abenake and carries the narrative
Philips war and that of ST. Castin.
Volume III, is occupied with the wars of
Queen Anne, Lovewell Gov. Shirley and
the French and Indian.
On the whole, the treatment is very
satisfactory. 1t is apparent at once
that the author is eminently qualified to
write on the subject. He is familiar
with every part of the territory he de-
scribes. The subject has been close
study of his for more than generation.
He has read almost everything available
upon it, and has evidently rare faculty
of selection and elimination. His book,
however, is not series of quotations,
by any means. He has apparently d-
gested his material, arranged it in Or
>derly and chronological sequence, and
has given expression to it in excellent
English and in well rounded periods. In
deed, Mr.. Sylvester's style is wholly
praiseworthy. 1t is a rare gift to be
able to combine a true historical sense
with happy expression. More frequently
we find the one disassociated from the
other None will have this complaint to
make in this case. The narrative is
fresh in spite of the fact that it is con-
cerned with subject which has been ex-
plotted by many more or less extensively,
and the readers interest is easily won
and sustained
The author nowhere claims originality.
| What writer on a subject like this, who
aims at historical accuracy, can give Us
anything new? He does not even enter
into the chronological phases of his sub
ject; it was no purpose of his to write a
scientific treatise. His object apparently
was to write an accurate account of an
interesting period in the history of New
England; to recast as wildly as possible
the earlier tragedies that ensued from
the clash of the white and red races
on American soil, the causes which led to
them, and their result; and to present il
in such literary form that it would appea
to the general reader. This he has adj
mirably accomplished, succeeding, we
think, even beyond his own expectations.
We are creditably informed that the
author is at present engaged on q new
work, entitled 1.-THE Evolution of the
Pilgrim" which will appear in two vol.
umes sometime during the current year.
These volumes will be of uniform size
with ''The Pioneer Settlements of Maine
and the "Indian Wars of New England, -
and will be published by w. B. Clarke OF
Boston.