On Many Seas. By Frederick Benton Williams. (G. P. Putnam's
Sons.)—Mr. William Stone Booth, who edits this story of the "life and exploits of a Yankee sailor," assures us that it is "the plain story of a plain man told in his own words." There is no question as to the "plainness" of the story; it is full of reality. and here and there is realistic almost to a Smollettish extent. The writer does not profess to have been a saint ashore, and he does not mince his words in describing certain of the bar- barities which appear to be inextricably bound up with American as with British sailor life. The book deserves the title, On Many Seas, which its author has given to it, for the hero not only travels all over the world, but serves in the mercantile marine of a great number of countries in addition to his own, including those of Great Britain and Chili. Then he has all sorts of experiences, —shipwreck, mutiny, fighting with an enemy, imprisonment. Yet passages of unconscious poetry are to be found in the life of this sore-driven seaman. When he becomes second mate of a craft that he likes he breaks out into :—" The night was as bright and beautiful as ever shone on land or sea. There was no moon, but the stars twinkled like millions of diamonds. Not even a light, fleecy cloud was to be seen, and how she did swing along, as steady as a church and as fleet as a deer! She steered beauti- fully, and I could see her broad, white wake astern as straight as a line. Oh, how proud and how grand I felt !" When he becomes a captain—in the last page—his happiness is increased. Alto-
• gether this seems a most truthful narrative, and the experiences detailed in it are of the most varied character. They give us insight into a phase of American life which is often overlooked.
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