The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-30
LITERARY NOTES
FINE BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL
FORREST BY III. j. ECkENSODE

Life of Nathan 3. Forrest" by
H. J. Eckenrode, formerly associate
professor OF history in Richmond coll
lege. fresh from the presses of the
b. r. Johnson Publishing company.
of Richmond, is one Of the finest little
books of its kind of recent publica-
tion Within the small volume Mr.
Eckenrode aims to give an accurate
and intimate picture OF General
Nathan bedford Forrest. of the Con-
federate army, zone of the greatest
cavalry leaders of all history, and
succeeds admirably. The book, writ
ten principally for school children for
spppiementary historical reatsanTr, Is
of equal interest TO older readers.
The style used by Mr.. Eckenrode
in the writing OF the book is adj
mirably suited to its purpose. II is
simple, clear and strictly narrative.
so that the childs mind can easily
follow events and the definitions OF
the more difficult words at the close
of each chapter give the child reader
confidence. IL decidedly lacks the
dispensing, flavor of school books y
Mr.. Eckenrode says Forrest was hike
a hero in a story hook, constantly
having adventures. The author tf-et1
the story book" style in relating
these adventures-~adven dear to
1.-The hearts of all boys and girls. For
rest is delightfully."- introduced as a
small boy doing the wonderful pioneer
things of which every young person
reads with envy and delicious thrills.
With interest in the great chierain
{ thoroughly aroused in the first brisk
chapter, the course of adventure that
flashed through the life OF Forrest
are told in rapid. but well connected,
succession. Dates. so diSllked ny
Young folks. are inserted 50 as not to
give the least smack OF history to
the most eXacting young reader of
wild west and similar literature.
While satisfying the boys and girls OF
this adventure-loVinE age, the story
sticks closely to fact and though
taking the reader through ship ex-
plosion and fire in which Forrest res
cues the passengers; showing Forrest
bravely defending, single handed, a
prisoner about to be lynched by a
mob and describing the daring raids
, is the civil war there is nothing of
exaggeration, horror. or excess excite
ment. Young readers Will be stimu-
lated TO seek historical literature of
equal standard after reading the Life
of Nathan Il. Forrest.
One of the most delightful bits in
the book, and a chapter in which all
daughters and granddauEhterS of
the Confederacy will delight is that
in which the story of Emma Samson,
who rode on FORESTS horse and
showed him short cut to the
Federals. is related by the young
heroine herself There are many
choice bits in the book of particular
interest to older readers as well as to
The younger people.
The character OF General Forrest
is finely drawn. The novelist
method of letting the character de
velop himself is largely followed with
a summary Al the close.
Fine Illustrations reprinted by
permission Of Harper & Brothers. add
to the attractivencss of the volume.
The pictures are distinctly up to date
in keeping with the present craving
for action. Every picture depicts ac-
ton and in selecting a Christmas gift
for youth or age the buyer must at
least linger over the pages of the
Life of Nathan b. Forrest" by II. j.
Eckenrode.
A couple of beloved old southern
war poems---''A Ballad of Emma San
son" and the well-known Little
GifIin OF Tennessee the book.
Boys Life for December.
The December issue of Boys Life
has a cover in colors by Clyde For
sythe, who illustrates the new serial
by Joseph b. Ames, Curly of the
u ,,.t, y In tbts