Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-23
A BOOK THAT WAS NEEDED

city. As most people remember this,
 1t was merely a big celebration, on
 July 4, 5, and 6, in 1909.
 But the book. In compiling the events at that celebra tion period, Mir. Gilman has done much more than a mere reporters task. He has brought to the work wonderful dfscrimina : ton in selecting from what niglE. have proved great mass of dull and ordinary statistics those facts of per manent value which merit permanent preservation, as affecting the town and city,s history, present and to come.
 He has put into the covers of this attractive volume, a splendid example of the ok-maker's art, patient labor, the fruits of research to establish and verify important facts, an intelligent summary of events since the H1fRra- tory spirits from Saybrook decided to here make their abiding haoitation; in a word, he has built up such a work as shall prove the dependence of future historians, the inspiration of the statistician, the pride Of each Norwich born citizen, who through it's pages surveys what old Norwich has done to make itself illustrious along many lines.
 Very nnodestIy does the writer ex- plain the motives of his b0ok in it's brief foreword.
 Several public spirited citizens of Norwich, he writes, who felt that an event so important and interc@cing as the celebration in 1909, of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary & the settlement of the town ought to be comnemorated in t pernanen form, invited him, in the Fall of 1911, to undertake the work, which during December, 1911, he accomplished, purely as a labor of love.
 He adds: This endeavor to show what Norwich celebrated, why it eel ebrated. and how it celebrated an6 to set forth it's prosperity in each decade of it's long history, justifies a large of pride in the Town as it is today. and of confidence that coming generations. inspired by the example of those who are now building on the laid by their forefathers will continue the good work In antic- ipation of still more illustrious fu- ture.
 esting story, MT. Gilman says early in his text that the history Of Norwich for the two hundred years following the foundation under the rocks on the uptown green. in 1859: has been fully set forth by Frances Manwaring Caui- <ins, whose history says a discrim- mating writer, "is one of the fulleeS and best of those volumes of focal lore that afflict American historical writers with an excess of authentic material" The fruits of her research es, Mir. Gilman declares. as household words. and by them she will be held n everlasting remembrance.
 He also pays tribute to that pre- sious book of Miss Mary F. Perkins, -J, of the Antient Town of Norwich" which gives an account of all the ui-dines on the main roads from Mill Lane (Lafayette Street. to the meet ng-housc on the uptown green, and of their owners and occupants from 1he settlement to 1900. Miss Perkins suhsta ntial volume contains in ad- 1ition to 132 Illustrations. maps and portraits, invaluable historic and senealgic records.r the result of he and exhaustive investiga- ions.
 These two works. Mir. Gilman states. with the historical discourses # the Bi-centennial celebration of S59, by Daniel Colt Gilman John Arnold Rockwell. Rt Rev Alfred Lee Lnd Donald Grant Mitchell, all of them ons of Norwich-published in John Y. Stedn1ans Report of the Celebra- ion" with numerous magazine arti- res anu the transactions or historical have completed the town | History for two hundred years as far i s it can be completed. unless unsus- 'ected treasures that have hitherto l aped the closest scrutiny shall be l discovered in family archives or pub | ic records. |
 He refers to the pleasure and in- | crest it would be, to re-write the | istory of the old town, in the light | f all these publication to combine | hem, as it were. in one composite | ,icture- manifestly an impossibility | rithin the limits of such a work as | is was meant to be.
 ''It is well,'' he adds, "to give heed | 9 the words of Judge Nathaniel Ship | Norwich ancestors: No living man | an do justice to the town of Nor rich: Few living men wifi ever un- ertake it. and if they do they will be | pt to fail-and it is inexpedient for S to attempt to do anything more l nan simply to say we loved the town 'hen we were boys, we love 1t now then we are men, and we want to ay SOL
 The history of the town for the last alf century. however, has not been i -ritten; and while declaring that it annot be written in just proportion l II a future date. when time shall | ave given atmosphere And perspec- we to events that seemed to the men nd women in them as of supreme 1 importance. but have faded from lemory like a dream. Mir Gilman ith cheerfuIness takes up his. alfot- d task of reviewing that half cen Try, in connection with the historical noted by the big celebra- on during 1909
 How well and how thoroughly he as performed that task, it will be a easant duty to narrate in q later ference to his fine and com prehen- ve book.
 THE DICTAGRAPH
 l