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The Green Bag

in cultivating an irresistible literary charm and distinction, so in making the

substance which is the reproach of some of our literary magazines. Among the essays are estimates of

acquaintance of this work we experienced a sense of refreshment altogether un

Gardiner, Lecky, Green, Sir Spencer Walpole, Godkin, and others, while those

usual.

on “The Presidential Ofﬁce" and “Presi

on legal and social science rarely succeed

But as we read on, this pleasant

sensation was succeeded by a feeling of

writing on the subjects most worth

dent Hayes' Administration" have spe cial interest for the American lawyer. Throughout are exhibited a ripeness and candor of critical judgment and a

while should be so closely wedded to

mastery of literary expression which

prosiness and banality. With the mortifying admission that few of us have leisure for the study of

will make the volume a dearly prized

poignant regret and even of shame not unmixed with envy that contemporary

acquisition of imperishable worth. terest" Another is the workcollection of great of“human addresses, in

history, it must be acknowledged that

vividness of literary style is to be ac quired only by that ripeness of knowledge which is ever ready with apt illustra tions to support every matter-of-fact statement. Mr. Rhodes’ talent for illustration is extraordinary.

As his

largely of an occasional nature, de livered by Judge Emory Speer, a federal judge who is well known to readers of the Green Bag, and who yields to no one.

unless to his friend Mr. Justice Lamar,

in the esteem in which he is held by

eighteen essays cover not simply a

the bar of Georgia. The subjects of the

historical ﬁeld, but the ﬁeld of literary

biographies are “Abraham Lincoln,"

criticismand political discussion as well, his style has an amplitude and a fullness

“Robert E. Lee," “Ulysses S. Grant," “James Edward Oglethorpe,” “Alex

instructive not for the historical special

ander Hamilton," “John Marshall."

ist alone, but for every writer on social

“Thomas Lord Erskine," and "Joseph Emerson Brown.” As the papers were written for oral delivery, they are not to be approached purely as literary

institutions.

By making use of the

accessories of rhetorical skill, wit and the facility of a raconteur, a writer may

no doubt do much to “popularize'I the treatment of a heavy subject, but this is not easily accomplished in a digniﬁed manner, and an unbecoming mere triciousness is so apt to be the result that scientiﬁc writers shrink from these artiﬁces and are commonly content with a dry-as-dust exposition. Mr. Rhodes, on the other hand, has pointed out the path to literary distinction.

There is hardly a subject within the lawyer’s horizon which may not be reviviﬁed by drawing upon a plentiful

fund of historical and biographical knowledge, and a writer may thus win the attention of cultivated lay readers without striving for the vacuity of

essays, but can best be appreciated by having in mind the occasion whi¢h called

them

forth.

They are well

calculated to appeal to the feelings of an audience, and are eloquent of the patriotic spirit of the newer South With the utmost deference to Judge

Speer, we must confess that we ﬁnd his diction sometimes a bit too ﬂorid to be pleasing, but there can be no questioning

the vividness with which he unfolds the inner history of the lives of great men,

or of the fascination with which a generous heart and ready pen endue the noble qualities of those of whom he speaks. We have found the book thoroughly readable.