Book Reviews
323
Godolphin (ed.), The Greek Historians (Random House,
1942), and in numerous inexpensive editions. The Classical
Weekly, Vol. 45, pp. 116-19 (January 21, 1952), provided an
up-to-date list of inexpensive books for teaching the classics.
The inclusion of short selections from the ancient historians,
biographers, dramatists, poets, and orators may well stimulate
the reader’s desire to read the entire work ; but if the teacher
were to require the student to read a t least one complete book
of Herodotus and Thucydides, some biographies of Plutarch,
and selected Greek plays and dialogues of Plato in full, this
end would be served even better. It is probable, however, that
the present volume will actually reach a wider group than if
the literary passages had been eliminated.
Nevertheless, the usefulness of the book would have been
enhanced if some of the following items had been included :
Selections from the Athenian Tribute Lists and other inscriptions dealing with Athenian democracy and imperialism ; some
papyri of the Hellenistic period, in whole or in part, such as
the Revenue Laws of Ptolemy Philadelphus, and P . Teb. 703 ;
a few samples of inscriptions and papyri of the Roman period,
instructive for provincial and local administration, cults, et.
al.; possibly some short literary works of special historical
importance in full, such as Aristotle and Pseud-Xenophon on
the Constitution of the Athenians, of which the authors already provide extensive portions.
Unquestionably this is by f a r the best collection of readings of source material for ancient history yet available in any
single volume. The value of the items included f a r outweighs
any shortcomings due to omissions. If used as intended in connection with a good text, it will help the teacher enrich his
course by giving the student a keener insight into the character and importance of the sources for ancient history. For
teachers in small colleges or schools with inadequate library
facilities, and especially for those unacquainted with the languages involved, this book fills a real need.
Indiana University
Prescott W. Townsend
Johnny Appleseed and Shorter Poems. By Ernest C . Leverenz.
(New York: Exposition Press, 1951, pp. 88. Appendix,
biographical note, historical notes, and bibliography.
$2.60.)
324
Indiana Magazine of History
Part One of this collection is a long narrative poem commemorating the one hundredth anniversary of the death of
Johnny Appleseed (real name was John Chapman). The stanzas are sestet in form; the rhyme arrangement is a-b-a-b-cc;
and iambic tetrameter is the classification of the feet and
meter.
The reader follows the life of this frontiersman (17741845) from Leominster, Massachusetts, the birthplace of
Chapman, to the vicinity of Fort Wayne, Indiana, the place of
his death. References are made to Johnny’s early education,
his brief role as an itinerant missionary in some of the eastern
states, and his sojourn in Pennsylvania and New York. John
and a friend bought a horse. The horse, Prince, during a moment of frolic “let fly his heels.” The result: “John lay
dazed.” While in his stupor John had had a dream. He had
talked with the angels and then walked with them past “rows
of blooming apple trees.” Frolicsome Prince was sold, and the
friends later went their separate ways; yet the impact of the
horse’s heels, according to the poet, must have had its influence
upon Johnny because that “vision” had helped to crystallize
his purpose in life. Johnny Appleseed would “leave behind
him more beauty and peace than he had found. He would
mitigate the hardships of those pioneers moving into Ohio,
Indiana, and Illinois by planting herb, flower, and fruit seeds
-especially apple seeds. He drifts down the Ohio River with
his precious cargo of seeds, pioneering in Ohio, and adventuring in southern Indiana. The last phase of this pioneer nurseryman’s life centered around present-day Fort Wayne, Indiana, which is also the poet’s home territory.
Unlike many modern writers who stress character and
personality, the poet, instead, has emphasized the plot-a task
which, even to approach exactness of detail, is in itself exceedingly difficult because the documentary evidence is fragmentary ;while on the other hand, there is an abundance of legends
and traditions. It would, therefore, be an injustice for this
reviewer to even attempt to review this poem in the light of
historical accuracy.
Those critics who belong to the historical-sociological
school of literary criticism will probably wish that the poet had
placed more emphasis upon the age, environment, and society
in which Jahnny Appleseed lived ; whereas those critics who
belong to the biographical-psychological school will perhaps
desire a greater reflection of personality and psychology in
Book Reviews
325
this “story in verse.” The present reviewer suggests, since
historical accuracy cannot be absolutely attained, that the poet
might have been a little more imaginative a t times and that he
might have used certain literary devices to enliven the story.
A sense of immediacy is possible through the idiom of the
character, gradual accumulation of impressions, or the stripped
language technique. Various other devices might have been
used to present Johnny Appleseed-for example, having part
of the story told in first person, the use of dialogue, or the
technique known as the stream of consciousness.
Part Two of this collection presents ten shorter poems,
with varied stanza forms and rhyme patterns. The titles of
these shorter poems run the gamut from “Columbus” to “Indiana.” They are primarily patriotic and nationalistic in
theme ;and many, in addition, have a deep religious undertone
to them.
There is some redundancy in these shorter poems (for
example, p. 63 and p. 65) ; and although some of the “eternal
verities” are expressed in them, there seems to be nothing new
or refreshing as one starts with the first poem in this section
of the book and reads through to the last poem. Perhaps the
general effect of these shorter poems would be better if the
reader limited himself to one or two poems for each reading
period.
There is some doubt in this reviewer’s mind with respect
to the poem entitled “Washington.” “Urged him [Washington] at Cambridge to accept command” is the verse in question. Does this infer that Washington was a t Cambridge instead of Philadelphia when he received his appointment?
Undoubtedly this work will not be of great interest to the
professional historian. It should, however, find its place upon
the bookshelves of those who are interested in the legendary
life of Johnny Appleseed and who have a need for short patriotic poems. For example, the poem, “Our Flag,” seems to be
very appropriate for a schoolboy to recite on Flag Day. An
appendix which contains a biography of John Chapman, historical notes, and bibliography is very useful to the reader and
adds to the value of the book. The poet has added to the everincreasing literature of the Midwest, and he has made a contribution to “Hoosieriana.”
Indiana University
Southeastern Center
Gerald 0. Haffner