New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-11-20
HISTORY AND ms WRITER'S,

RedectlFe people are not surprised at the
quantity nor.disapp with the quality Of
the books published in relation to the Late
American war. Good books were never plen.
tiful, good Histories and biographies being
among the Ealest. A century which witnesses
I,a half dozen of really memorable, reliable,
truthful, monumental works Of historical and
narrative literature is rich nation that
.gives birth,to a single true historian once in
a hundred years is fortunate beyond the com
mon lot. The worlds experience is that gen
erations Of men are born and perish, that
are overthrown and national land
marks tornldown, that vast wars with enor-
Emous spillings Of blood occur, that revolutions
oYsrwhelm monumental institutions, that
red-handed oonquerors seize and wear crowns
made venerable by long lines. Of lawful kings
that crimson war blasts all the haryests of
peace, that the labors Of the good and wise
are brought to nought by the crimes Of the
bad and tie blunders Of the foolish, that the
vineyards Of the diligent are spoiled by the
wicked and slothful, that the homes of the
frugal become IL prey to the luxury of spend
thrifts, thatyice crowns innocence with thorns
and pays fidelity with stripes ana chains and
racks and halters. and all this without such
chEaaicles asnnay be trusted as trtle and cher
,ishel as faithful and useful
We cannot expect our own age to be more
fortunate than tle past or our country to be
more prolific in historical talent than others.
By good luck some "a the youngest of South
ern children Of the present may live long
enough to read a. good and true history Of The
greRtiWar Waged against their fathers a full,
yital.and graphic story of the struggle with its
causessand results. Time may bring us some
man Of genius, Of strong will, of passionate
love Of truth, Of thorough and absolute
honestEof purpose, of exhaust less patience,
subtle in analysis, cold ia philos ophy, calm in
reason, methodic in investigation, vivid in
delineation energetic in oondens cd narrative,
seeing with painters eye, describing with
poets pen, feeling with apatriot's heart, and
studying with scholars zeal. Than might
we have history indeed, worthy OF the pat
riots who sleep on fields of battle, worthy of
noble race and noble cause. Yet it would
y history which all thinIdllg men of all
shades of feeling would read and praise 1t
book to soldiers, model to writers, treasure
o scholars, an honor to the language, an
to literature, monument to the
American race. We cannot hasten the advent
if such writer and such book, nor need
We long for the day when historic genius
hall embalm the blessed memory of our
lead while doing justice to their motives and
al.
But before the one real history of,this war is
tTitten, there will be many books published
t Little merit. Without being inyidious
awards the writer's engaged on partial or
eneral historical sketches and biographical
ssays relating to the war or its prominent
etors, we cannot promise them any valuable
ssults Or lasting reputation from works Like
1ose which have already appeared. They
III IN many cases, perhaps, multiply records
essential facts, and thus aid in preserving
le materials for a good history. If written
ith that purpose, and without the pretense
completeness, they would be sll the more
unable. A very deep interest wall always
J taken in the events Of the war. Neither
orthern nor Southern authors need be afraid
forestallment Let them take time to ma
e and polish what they write The worst {
books on the war will be those which are
81 brought forth. The stillborn products Of j
thorahip are usually such us have not IN
rgene the full period Of CESSATION.
-----s- Ss-----
Anew shaksperean deReator, Mr.. II. Talbot
) appeared atthe Dfary Lane, London, as Mac
sh. Hissuccess has been unequivoeal.
Commander r. Townsend, Of the Quilted States
aine4 Waehpsetts, died at ChiuRiang, China !,
d sInstroke, about three months ago. ~