The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-16
POPULAR MYTHS.

VI OdlIb Ill L nDp f.
The New York Times has the following
truthful, but ieonoclastic, remarks upon a
habit, even more prevalent Id this country
than In the Old World, OF accepting and per-
petuating unauthentic and unfounded Incl
dents and sayings aseribed to eminent men,
which happen to capture the popular fancy
and embody the popular epigrams. These
myths eventually work their way into history
and thus become consecrated as popular deu-
slons, which succeeding ages Inherit, and are
quite unwilling to surrender to the most con
elusive evidences OF their falsity. The skep-
tics, like NIebuhr, who essay the task of their
refutation, die unhonored and unsung, while
tho more credulous and imaginative repro
ducers OF such fables are always held In great
esteem and veneration. Says the Tines
The spgncity Of the French Kings famous
saying, "IeNe est PHistojre" Is being provt.i to
Us every day BY the curious conflict Of asser-
Mons Mons touching past events real or fictitious.
look more to the telling qualities of the anec-
dote they are relating than to the historical &C.
e,nracy q the story There Is class Of hIeto-
ping from our memories al Of the epigrams
and maxims that ages have created and youth
pave SO eagarly seized upon. Even grave pro-.
among these historians. It is not so very long
ago since one Of these New Haven educators
lar historical sayings aud stories which have
boon handed down 10 us from time immemo-
rial: and nowadal the schooboy Of not many
years back ts required to rid bis mind OF many
He unjust no longer cherish the story Of Rom
illus and Remns. the incident OF King Canute
shepherd's Int aud the apple shooting. 81 vii
liam Tell. He must give up the episode of
Columbus and the egg. because 1t js claimed
that tho same Illustration was. long before the
birth OF tho great discoverer. employed by
another man. Nor Is II ct all probable that the
be Destroyed because Of Mark Twains anecdote
Of the Genoa guide. They. were standing be-
side q certain monument which the guide said
and Mr.; Clemens quite nonplussed the fellow
by stating that he had Just arrived from the
country mentioned, and that was the first he
mad heard OF such q discovery.
Then the Times recapitulates various other
OF these popular decisions relative to tho
dying utterances of great men, or memorable
sayings and Incidents on occasions of great
historic interest, such as the imputed last
words Of Goethe, Light Light! More llght!"
when In truth his request was to bring the
candle nearer; or of Nelson's famous signal
at Trafalgar, which, instead OF expressing
man should do his duty, tho authentic record
as given in the log-book Of the flagship, was
the sensible inquiry, "if the men had had
their breakfast or that jocular and familiar
telegram of King William to Admiral
CodrIpgton, "Go it, Ned !" which brought on
the battle OF Navarlno. II the old sailor
king had been familiar with the style Of
this age and country, he would have couched
his message In the much more expressive
phrase, 'Wade In, Edward" But accepting
tho popular version we lament to record the
fact that distinguished member OF Parlia-
ment, Sir William Vernon Harcourt deemed
1t due to the dignity of the sovereign to rise
in the House, and on the authority of Sir
William Codrlngton, to deny that any such
or other dispatch had been sent by the King
to his old messmate. Ned. The Times. In Its
enumeration of the dying utterances of
great men. relates one OF the great
Pitt, which is frlghtfuly ieonoclastic to wit:
that instead Of the pathetic ejaculation, sob,
my country! how l love my countryH his
real observation was to express great de-
sire "for ono of Ballamy's pork PIES" This
Is even more violent assault upon popular
tradition than the real version OF the last
directions Of President Harrison, who, doubt
ing the efficacy OF certain medicine prescribed
by his doctor, feebly and plaintvely ejacu-
lated. ooh DOCTOR consult my constitution"
or that libelous ascription to the dying John
Randolph, who glancing at a card which had
been left on his table by Q Col. r. E. Morse,
was overheard repeating the name OF his WIS.,
ttor, and striving to recall him to memory.
From this the bitter enemies and malgners
OF the great orator and statesman eoncocte d
the defamatory story that the dauntless old
Virglnian died In the full consciousness and
agony OF remorse, while, In truth, he depart
ed with the proud consciousness Of having
and periodically served his beloved
Old Dominion.
Among other false or fictitious memorable
sayings of great men, the writer Ia the Times
ascribes to Gen. Rpbt Il Lee the sin (of which
no man who ever lived was more incapable) Of
the idle boast OF "dying In the last DITCH"
and charges that it was plagiarism from
William Of Orange. No such Wanting ever
was uttered by the Virginia patriot and chief
tain. This was the favorlte utterance OF
class of Confederate heroes who found
a safe refuge In the first convenient ditch and
emerged from 1t at the end OF the war with
whole skins and lnvlgorated Vitality.
Among these fictitious sayings Of great
mon, OF universal popular acceptance and
historical perversion, were those ascribed to
Gen. Zachary Taylor, when by his exploits In
the Mexican war he became the popular hero.
We happen to be familiar with the origin of
them. In fact we have an intimate acquaint-
ance with their author, for long time en-
gagged in journalism inthls city. just before
the battle Of Buena Vista Gen. Santa Anna
imagined that he had surrounded Gen. Tay-
lor's small army with an overwhelming force,
and thought he would try to bluff him into
capitulation. He accordingly dispatched
flag of truce and staff-officer bearing a
letter to Gen. Taylor, In which he communi-