Father Knickerbocker himself seems to come to life and tells of the people whom he knew and the incidents of which he was a part, with all the interest that comes of actual, personal participation. That is the feeling one gets in reading Mr. Todd's description of old days and old scenes in the city of New York and the surrounding region. The subjects of which he treats are as fragrant in their mere titles of the interest that dwells in those days as an old cupboard of lavender.