perpetuated. It has been several times reprinted, with more or less accuracy; but all the editions may be now classed among

the scarce books.

We have prefixed to this edition a somewhat fuller account of the author and his family than has heretofore been given, and added an Appendix of Illustrative Notes by Mr. William M. Darlington, of Pittsburgh, which will be found of considerable interest and value.

[From the Atlantic Monthly.]

"The narrative of Colonel Smith refers to the pioneer existence during a space of time when its perils, privations, and atrocities seemed an established condition of things. *** It is the story of a

man of clear, strong mind, with a vein of humor which has now and then a very witty expression-almost a modern expression; and though the style has few solicited graces, it is plain that this old Indian hunter had some good literary instincts. * ** Otherwise, the narrative of Colonel Smith is marked by few indulgences of sentiment, though always by good feeling, and a shrewd and sympathetic observation of nature as he saw it in the wilderness and the savages about him. * * * There has probably never been any study of Indian life and character more sincere and practical than his; and we know of none so interesting. On the whole, we believe the reader will think all the better of the savages for knowing them through him; though as for their unfitness to be guests at a small tea party, we suppose there never can be any doubt. We should like to repeat here some of the things Colonel Smith tells of them; but his context is precious, and we forbear, for the reader's own sake."

[From the Historical Magazine.]

"The narrative of such a man, concerning what he actually saw and endured, would be interesting under any circumstances, but in such a case as this, wherein his story extended over the history of what is now the third State of the Union, during a term of years, it necessarily possesses unusual interest to those who occupy that territory, and to all students of American history the world over. It is enriched with appropriate notes, sufficiently numerous and amply sustained by competent authorities, from the pen of our respected friend, Wm. M. Darlington, Esq., of Pittsburgh. A good index closes the volume."

k

[From the New England Historical and Genealogical Register.]

"James Smith, the author, was a native of Pennsylvania, but later in life settled in Kentucky. He was a captive among the Indians in his boyhood, 1755-9; a leader of the Blackboys' in 1763 and 1769;

an officer in Bouquet's expedition in 1764; made an exploring excursion into Southern Kentucky in 1766; received his title of colonel for services in the Revolutionary war; married and reared a family; was an active and influential member of the Presbyterian Church; wrote pamphlets against the Shakers in 1810; and, when too old to fight his ancient foe, wrote and published a treatise on Indian warfare, with a title page so long that if he could only have induced the Indians to stop fighting long enough to read it, there would have been, perhaps, some chance of a long peace.

"Colonel Smith was an eye-witness of all he narrates with evident truthfulness. As a picture of Indian life and habits, it deserves a place in every library pretending to be a collection of historical books relating to America. The former editions have long been among the scarce books. This edition is an accurate reprint, and is enriched by a very full account of the author and his family, and by illustrative notes from the pen of Mr. Wm. M. Darlington."

[From the Galaxy.]

"A remarkable, graphic picture of Indian life. Smith was adopted into a tribe and lived with the Indians for four years. His curious account is reproduced in all its piquant originality of expression, and makes one of the most faithful representations of savage existence of which we have any knowledge."

[From the Cincinnati Chronicle.]

"This simple personal narrative will possess to the lover of the curious in literature the value of historical romance. Reproduced in the original antique form, many singular phrases are preserved in all their purity and, we may add, oddity of expression. To a happy disposition the author seems to have united a keen observation and an evident determination, unfalteringly sustained throughout five years of captivity, to make the best of his surroundings. His is no doleful description of hardships and trials endured in captivity, no labored chronicle of hairbreadth escapes, but a simple narrative bearing the impress of truth on every page. The very quaintness of style interests and attracts; a style which leaves the reader impressed with no painful sense of griefs and labors, but rather with the captive's heroic endurance under trials, and cheerful submission to his fate; more versed in woodcraft than learned in books, he has given us a faithful record of Indian customs, discipline, mode of warfare, etc., and many of his suggestions as to plans of attack and defense may prove not unworthy the consideration of the present generation. * * * Plain and simple as is Colonel Smith's style, grotesque in vernacular, but modest as true heroism can make it, the fire of eloquence often lights his pages, and throws a warm glow upon his pictures. At times, too, we find a tender pathos, which is lost only to appear again in such cheerfulness and true spirit of heathful content,

that an effort is required, on the part of the reader, to recall the extraordinary circumstances under which this narrative was written."

[From the Nation.]

"The publication of this volume of the Ohio Valley Historical Series has been in a certain way timely. Frontier warfare between Indians and white settlers has been almost incessant from the day Colonel Smith first experienced it. * * * Colonel Smith undertook to teach his generation, both by theory and practice, how to oppose the Indians with their own tactics, remarking, with the good sense which characterizes all his writings, that the New Englanders had been trained by their Indian difficulties to resist in the most appropriate and successful way the discipline of the British troops. * ** In spite of its value as an account of Indian character, customs, and mode of warfare, this work is quite as much entitled to the numerous editions which it has enjoyed, by its unconscious portraiture of the author. He was a native of Southern Pennsylvania, in what is now the border; after his return from captivity he became a leading citizen of Franklin county; stood a trial for murder with great moral courage, dissuading an attempt to rescue him which would certainly have succeeded; was acquitted and afterward resided in Kentucky, of which he had been an early explorer. By descent he was a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian, who could speak Dutch' while still a youth, and he is very creditable representative of the stock. The regions noted in his journal as being the resorts of the Indians, or traversed by his tribe, have been carefully identified by Mr. Darlington in an appendix, which, with a good index and the excellent typography, makes this unquestionably the best edition of Smith's account."

[From the New York Evening Post.]

"To one who is inquisitive to understand the habits, social and natural, of the noble red men,' this work will be very acceptable. Colonel Smith was a religious enthusiast, and a literary man in his way. In Kentucky, he was a leader of the Stonites. He finally returned to his relations in the Presbyterian Church, and was licensed and ordained to the ministry. He was an effective missionary."

[From the Frankfort Commonwealth.]

"As a work of interest it is hardly surpassed by any production connected with the early history of the West. The immediate object of the account, as given by Smith himself, was to acquaint the pioneers with the Indian mode of warfare, and thus secure them against savage depredations and cruelties. The narrative is full of interest from beginning to end, declaring the customs, manners, theological sentiments, warfare, discipline, etc., of the savages with a minute and vivid eye."

PIONE

Number Six.

Dr. Drake's Pioneer Life in Kentucky.

IONEER LIFE IN KENTUCKY: A Series of REMINISCENTIAL LETTERS addressed to his Children. By Dr. DANIEL DRAKE. Edited with Notes and a Biographical Sketch by his son, HON. CHARLES D. DRAKE, of Missouri.

One volume, 8vo., pp. xlvi. and 263, finely printed on tinted paper, and neatly bound in cloth extra, gilt top, and uncut edges, or entirely uncut edges. Price, $3.00.

A few large-paper copies have been printed on heavy tinted paper. Portrait on India paper. Cloth, gilt top and uncut edges, or entirely uncut. Price, $6.00.

Much has been said and written of the warlike and adventurous aspects of Pioneer Life in the West; but these Letters are believed to be the only attempt at a detailed description of its more peaceful phases, and as such may be considered a valuable as well as peculiar contribution to American literature.

Pioneer life still follows our Western border; but going with the railroad and the telegraph, it is a pastime to what such life was in the last century. As the old-time period recedes from view, its interest increases. If its events were such as might be expected, substantially, to repeat themselves, they are historical guide-posts to succeeding generations; if, however, they belong to conditions, which, in the nature of things, may not be looked for again, they, at least, stimulate inquiry into, and aid in the study of, the character of the people among whom they occurred. In this view, if no other, these letters may be considered to have an appreciable value.

They portray with equal vividness the character of pioneer life, the character of the pioneer boy and the character of the "old man"-as in them he calls himself-who, in describing that life and that boy, unconsciously photographed himself as he was when he wrote: all done with a frankness which invites confidence, a freshness which arrests and rewards attention,

and a truthfulness which claims belief. This triple portraiture, not often found in such sharpness of outline and fidelity of detail as in these letters, can not fail to interest the reader.

They were not designed as a literary performance; they were merely the off-hand, familiar talk of a father to his children, and as such, while they may not claim exemption from criticism, their freedom from literary pretension may, at least, somewhat turn its edge.

Those who knew Dr. Drake will recognize in the portrait accompanying this volume an animated and faithful likeness.

[From the Atlantic Monthly.]

"Dr. Drake was a man who, while he lived, was a large part of all literary and scientific progress in the West, and who left behind him a repute for public usefulness and private worth which his own section may well cherish with pride, and which we may all gladly recognize. He was a very remarkable man in every way-for what he was and for what he did; and the story of his boyhood in the backwoods of Kentucky, as told here, is one of the best witnesses to the fact that, whatever refinement may be, fineness is as directly the gift of heaven as any positive ability. Civilization, you must own as you read, was born in this man; by nature he hated whatever was rude and cruel and impure, and loved justice and beauty. He was not a man of genius, it would seem, but of sensibility and conscience and modesty; not smart in the pitiable, bad way of many of our growths from the people,' but talented, tasteful, industrious, honest. * * The letters of Dr. Drake are not merely personal reminiscences, but faithful pictures of local manners and customs. We can not advise any to turn to them for the realization of romantic ideas of the pioneers; but they are very interesting reading and very instructive; they form part of our own history, which daily grows more remarkable and precious; and we most heartily commend the volume, not only to collectors of such material, but to the average reader, as something very apt for his entertainment and then for his use. The biographical sketch by Mr. Charles D. Drake is satisfactory, and the preface is a singularly sensible. piece of writing."

[From the Cincinnati Commercial.],

"The series of letters now published were written in the later years of his useful life, and offer graphic pictures of pioneer life in Kentucky and Ohio during the first quarter of the century. There is just enough personal incident to give the letters piquancy, and make them agreeable as well as profitable reading. A fine steel, live portrait accompanies the volume, which is printed in the best style of typographical art."