HISTORICAL ROMANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 36, 1 February 1908, Page 4

HISTORICAL ROMANCE.

BROTHER FKIIITIMi HIiOTUKU. The American Civil ..nr i- responsible for a vast number of muck but vury few aiming them arc likely to belong i,o the permanent literature of tin- country. The temptation to write injudicially is a strong one, to exploit some particular phase, or to be the mouthpiece of some particular grievance or of some special hero. The novels that will live are those that have the rotundity of perspective and in which, the personality and the prejudices are out of sight. To this meritorious category belongs ••The Welding," by Lafayette Ale Laws. It is a Southern story, but its picture ol a great tragedy is undivided uy sectional lmcs. David Hamilton is the

■hero, and we are introduced to him i.s 11 barefooted youngster in which the hunger for education is just awakening, lie asks his lather if " po' man's sons" are ever educated, and when lie is told that others such as lie have succeeded in the quest for knowledge, lie sets to work heart and soul, and, ol course, gets the I'iilliliueni ol a desire that is never denied when the asking has been right. David grows up in the midst of the lierce agitation that preceded the war. lie knows that slavery is not right, but that alt other i|iiestious must be subsidiary to me supreme cause Ot the South. We have a vivid description of the turmoils that followed the Fugitive Slave law. John Brown's rising at Harper's Ferry, the South Carolina Convention, the election of Jell'erson Davis, the inauguration of Lincoln, the fall of Fort Sumter, the battles of Bulls Run, Oettysburg, and the fall of Richmond. And through it all runs a love story of real power. David as a barefooted boy has fallen in love with little Annie Laurie, the supposed daughter of Nathaniel Derrick, who comes to the bouth ostensibly as a school teacher, but actually to assist in the escape of slaves. History and romance run smoothly hand in hand all the way through, and al-

though the final pages record the death | of the grearPresideut, they terminate the love story in the ancient ami accepted way. Some of the historical sketches are drawn with unusual power. The Cabinet Council at which President Lincoln read his proclamation of emancipation had a strange beginning and one curious illustrative of the President s character and methods.

September twenty-second, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-two, at the very moment that -Miss Dorothy Clinton stopped at Hie door of her father's stuuy and announced the fact that she had returned home, President Lincoln in the White House, just across Lafayette Square, took his seat at the southern end of tlie'ioiig table that occupied the centre of tltat rather dark chamber im-

mediately over the Green l\oom. Kvcry member of his Cabinet was present. When they had all taken their places, and after a few words of general conversation, the President, with mirth lurking in the corners of his eyes, produced a book. " Here is a present which was sent me the other day,' said he. " Artemus Ward complimented ine with a copy .if his latest production. 1 don't know when 1 have laughed so much as I did over one of the chapters—' High Handed Outrage in L'tica.' 1 will read it to you and see if you don't agree with ine." He wiped his glasses, put them comfortably on his nose, and began to read. "In the l'aiil of lSSti, I showed my sho in Utiky, a trooly grate siuy in the State ot New \ork.'' Here the President with a quizzical smile glanced over the tops of lus glasses at his Secretary of State, then went on, " 1 Jay as 1 'was givin a descripshun of my beests and Suaiks in my usual Howry stile what was my skorn and disgust to sec a big burly feller walk up to the cage toiitainin my wax liggers of the Lord's Last Supper, and cease Judaa Iscarrot by the feet and drag him out on the ground, lie then commenced fur to pound mm as hard as he cood. 'What under the sun are you abowt?' cried 1. Sez he, 'What did you bring this pussylanermus euss here fur?' and he hit the wax ngger another trcmenjis blow on the lied. Sen J, ' \ou egrejus ass, that air's a wax ligger—a representation of the false ''l'ostle.' • Sez he, ' That's all very well for you to say, out I tell you, old man, tnat Judas Iscarrot can't show hissclf in L'tiky with impunity by a darn site.' with which observation he kaved in Judnssis lied. I sood litui. and the Joory brawt in a verdick uf Arson in the 3rd degree." Everybody laughed—laughed as heart-1 ily as the President himself—except the second gentleman at his right. The face of Secretary Stanton was immovable; he did not smile. After the iiifit burst of merriment President Lincoln's expression became exceedingly grave. Gentlemen, said lie, " I h.ave; as you are aware, lhou,gl\t a' great deal about the. relation of this war with slavery; and you all remember that several weeks ago 1 read to you an order which I had prepared on the subject. The rebel army is now driven out of Maryland, ;uid 1 am going to fulfil the promise which I. made to myself, and," he hesitated slightly, " to my God, to issue that proclamation emancipating the slaves. 1 have got you together to hear what I have Written down. I da not wish your advice, about the main matter, for that 1 have determined for myself.-'

There was a short discusison about the terms, but none at all about the principle. Ipon that they were all agreed, and the momentous proclamation passed into history. The battle ol Gettysburg is the last great event with which the story deals at length. The events of that terrible struggle are well told, but there is, perhaps, nothing more dramatic in history than, the incident of the day before, when both armies, within sound of one another, sang the old song, "Annie Laurie," Wed may General Lee have said: "This is a terrible war. Speaking the same tongue, singing the same songs, with the same blood in their veins."

" They have oeeii reinforced, (jcucral," .lack told them. Job Smart's cavalry nas arrived." •"Wliat makes you think so!" both Hancock and Uibboii uuestioned. "Do you hear that singing;" Jack pointed toward the left. The two generals drew in their horses and listened. tin their right iroin across the hills, and softened by the distance, there came the boom of a bursting shell; nearer, tile occasional explosion ot a musket mingled with the noises of the camp..' From their leu came the sounds of camp, but through and above there floated across the valley the voices of half a score of men singing, galloping as they sang. If you want to have a good time, jine the cavalry. "Hear that "tenor leading?" Jack "That's my cousin, Captain Twiggs Beverley, of Jcb Stcuart's stall'." "Are you sure'/" Hancock questioned. "Quite sure," the young officer answered, wishing that he were not. "He has a beautiful voice," Gibbon said.

They had nil spoken in subdued voices, as though fearing to disturb the singers. The rollicking song ended, the voices of the singers died away. With an unconscious sigh the trio of Union officers moved on. General Hancock jerked liis horse to its haunches. "Listen," Ik exclaimed, throwing his arm out to tlie left. That tenor is going it alone." Like the call of a silver bugle Twiggs' voice lloateil to tlicm in the moonlight. Maxwelton's braes are bonny, Where early falls the dew, And it's there that Annie Laurie Gic'tl me hei promise Oruc. . Thousands of voices had joined anil were singing with all the hungry pathos of men longing for home. Which ne'er forgot will be: And for boiuiic Annie Laurie I'd lav me doon and die.

Ten thousands swelled Hie chorus, from Wolf Hill. Seminary Ridge, Round Top, Devils Den, the I'each Orchard-all before another sunset to receive their baptism of blood—and from thousands of camp lives between, the words rolled hack:

And for bonnie Annie Laurie I'd lay me doon and. dec And Pickett's division, marching from Chainbersburg, heard and took up the refrain. "My Cod," Hancock muttered. "They me siioon"'" lo"ethcr." And he turned his h,„se and "rode slowly back to his tent. The slorv is a long one and aiming [the best of its kind that has yet appeared. There is. indeed, no better description nf the temper and spirits oi I the participants ill the great national drama,