It is emphatically a Southern book, designed for Southern youth, and made of selections from Southern authors. And yet the charge that it is so sectional as to keep alive the bitter memories of the war, and sow seed which may ripen into a future "rebellion," is utterly false, as any candid man may see by reference to the book itself. It does teach that the men who fought for Southern independence were not "rebels" or "traitors," but as pure patriots as the world ever saw. Yet on the other hand, it teaches a full "acceptance of the situation" and of all the "logical results" of the war, and that henceforth the people of the South must meet all of their obligations as citizens of our common country. Mr. Blaine interprets "loyalty to the Union" to mean obediencs to the behests of the ultra wing of the Republican party. The whole spirit of the selections of this book teaches obedience to the constitution and laws of the land.
If we find here and there a selection which a more rigid standard of excellence would have excluded, and miss some which we would have expected to find, yet it is due to Colonel James to say that he has performed his delicate task with sound judgment, rare discretion and fine literary taste, and has produced a book which deserves, as it will no doubt have, a wide circulation.
The type, paper, binding and general make up are in the usual good style of the great publishing house of A. S. Barnes & Co.
This is a charming book, designed for children and admirably fulfilling its design, but of deep interest to grown people as well. We learn through a private channel that Colonel Cooke wrote this book originally for his own children, and read to them each chapter as it was completed; and thus interesting his own children he has prepared a book which will make many other little eyes all over the land sparkle with delight, while it will at the same time impart, in the most pleasant manner, important historic information.
We are inclined to regard this as in many respects the very best book which Colonel Cooke's facile and prolific pen has produced. It is beautifully gotten up by the publishers.
Annals of the Army of Tennessee.
The first volume of this magazine can be had on application to the editor, Dr. E. L. Drake, Nashville, Tennessee.
It is a very valuable publication, containing most important "material for the use of the future historian." Dr. Drake has conducted the magazine with marked ability, and we sincerely hope that his enterprise may be liberally sustained. Send for a circular and secure a full set of the numbers.
The Mining Record, published by Colonel A. R. Chisolm, No. 61 Broadway, New York, is a very valuable publication, and none the less acceptable to us because all connected with it were gallant Confederates.
