Current Literature . HAWKERS AND WALKERS IN EARLY AMERICA. By
Richardson Wright. (Lippincott. 21s.)—This book, in so far as it deals with pedlars, may be described as a conglomeration of entertaining material throwing light upon the foundations of American commerce—a mine for future *historians to dig in. The early pedlars were "reckless fellows" with "abundant grit," ready to face "the trackless -way," "fearsome beasts" and "the insolent Indian." They had to make themselves pleasant to thrifty farmers' wives, out of whom it was not easy to get money for the pots and Pans and crockery they offered. They had to know how to be charming, but not too charming, to the farmer's -daughter, and how to cheat her father into paying dear for -a bit of cheap jewellery for her adornment. A prejudice against the clergy of all denominations acts as a serious drawback to the author in depicting the life of lonely places in a new country. The travelling preachers who counted for so much in the founding of American character are to him simply "Pedlars of the Word," i.e. of notions without essential value whose diffusion is calculated to restrict the pleasure of life. This somewhat inhuman attitude of mind -does not extend into the domain of art. Some of his best pages deal with itinerant portrait-painters, and artists who -declared themselves " prepared to paint in general," to whose gifts the wedding chests that they emblazoned and the signs that they swung still bear witness. The portrait-painters, among whom are some well-known names, painted fast, bringing with them canvases already supplied with back- grounds and other accessories. Reproductions of old prints, miniatures and early advertisements increase the attraction of this very readable if somewhat unequal piece of book- making.
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