Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-01-24

The rsmorselessoess with which modern
criticism is sweeping away some Of the most
popular historical traditions finds fresh IL
iustsation in the famous story Of Pocahontss
saving the life Of Capt. John Smith, which
for two hundred years has excited the won.
der and elimination Of The world. A Maaes
chusetts antiquarian, M. Charles Deane, 10
some recently Published works. Of which
the North american Resier for January
gives . summary, comes TO Tie conclusion
that no such occurrence took place, and that
the whole story YES invented BY Capt.
Smith himself The incident is alleged to
have taken place in December, 16e7,-yst
in history written BY Smith and published
h Loodoo 10 1908, called The 1fse Rslo>
tisa, theseh the account Of his captivity and
release By Powhatan 10 given, not word 10
said Of Poeahontas nor In oil the histories
Of the colonies published afterwsrd-oos
writtso By WiagAeld, ehs dsposed governor,
in 1908. another written by Or. Sioone,
10 accompany . map Of Virginia, BY Smith
himself. and publishsd in 1919; nor third
by Thomas Strschey, in 1915; fourth BY
Kaphe Ha0os. cnes secretary Of the colony.
10 1915. and 6Nh BY Purchas, derived
from Smith himself, 10 1917. 10 there the
slightest mention Of The celebrated incident
10 question. Both lIanor and Purchas give
full accounts Of Pocahontas herself, Of her
capture and dstA ntion - hostage BY the
colonisls, Of her conversion 10 the Christian
faith, her 0arsisgs to Capt. Rolfe, her visit
10 England, aud the interest she excited
there but not word Of her having inter-
posed to save the life Of Capt. John Smith.
The fret hint Of that story seems to have
bsen eivsa in . paaphlss Published BY
Smith himself In $50. in which, speaking
Of HE captivity, be says. God made Po-
cahsntas the kings daughter, the means TO
deliver me !" and the full account, % il hes
ever since been received, 10 found in anoth>
CT publication made BY Smith in 1924, sis>
teen years after the alleged occurrence, emit
tied General Historic" In both these
last works Mr. Deane detects eundry in.
stances Of szaggssation and msndaci'y.-
They sssn to have been written by Smith
maisly 10 enlist public sentiment and sym.
pathy in bic claims to reinstatement in the
csloay frem which he bad been deposed
and il = suggested that shis fiction was in.
vented = likely greatly to enhance bic own
impostaacs, ellss the romantic visit, recsp>
ton end death q Pocahoatas in Eegiand. :
To those who know Of the Indian maiden
only through The poetry, paiating and
sculpture d which she has bsso made the
subject, this picture Of her, when child 10
or II years Old, given BY Stsaehsy, may be
curious. "Pscahootas," b. says, - we'll
featured but wsnton yosng girl, PowtAtan's
daughter. so0stimss ssssrling 70 or lsst, Of
the 49, then Of II or - ysars, would get
the boys forth int the market place, and
make then whssl, ialliag "a their hands,
turning their hssls upward, whom she
would follow and uheel . hssself, naked -
shs was, on The fsst over" This 10 not the
attitude which hes generally been selected
By the artists Who have employed their
genius in illustrating her history and chat
aoter.