Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-01


nv indexed as though it was single
book and every book, manuscript and
newspaper has been indexed SO completely
that on any subject everything pertaining
to it can be brought to his table by boy.
His plan is original in its application, but
if adopted in the public libraries would be
found of incalculable benefit One feature
of his plan is that the index is equally
available in connection with any other IL
brary where copies of his material exist.
Although its cost was S35, 600, its value is
not to be measured by money. In all these
wears that his library has been growing,
Mr.. Bancroft had been steadily developing
his purpose of utilizing this material and Of
gratifying his intellectual tastes. His plan
has been slowly forming, and his ambition
prompted MIN to become the historian OF
this vast seaboard-an aim doubly COM
mendable in one possessing means that al.
lure to 80 many frivolous epJoyments OPP
posed to the habits of student.
But the mere collecting OF the material
indicates his bent; ard there lay the field,
for its history is practically uuwritten.
Concerning the Central Anerican States
scarce anything exists beyond fragmsntary
narratives or monographs. Ga Mexico GER
tain periods alone are covered with any
completeness, and this is the case with
most of the northern States as far IS
Alaska. All this territory Mr. Bancroft
has comprised in the term Pacific States,
from Panama to the Arctic Ocean, bounded
on the east by the Rocky Mountains as far
as New Mexico and Texas, when the seas
on both sides become the limit.
| THE FIELD OF LABOR.
The field strikes one as anomalous, but
it is explained with good reason that the
history of the California region, which
forms the center, is intimately con-
nected VITA the Hispano- Amer
lean States, the whole parallel, as
far as Texas, being for centuries
colonies of Mexico. The latter, again, is
for certain periods in close relationship
with central America, and the history of
either cannot be properly told without
treating of the Antilles. the starting point
for early conquests. Thus series of links
carry the history back to the Columbian
era, and consequently to Spain, as the
mother land Of all. This plan was one
which, to execute with thoroughness, far
exceeded the limits of one human life. Il
was now that Mr.. Bancroft again displayed
an iginality OF design in his practical APP
plication of business plans to literary work.
| When Mycerinus was told by the gods
| that he had but six years to live, he feasted
| from nightfall to morning that he might
| double the period with Mr.. Bancroft,
ouadrupling his allotted time would not
suffice, and necessity developed the utili-
cation of assistants. He has employed for
| wears past, as he does to-day, on an average
| twelve secretaries, each of whom is faIni-
liar with several languages. These have
reduced the mass of matter to available
shape indexing, making references. trans
| latiDg and relieving the historian
of that mechanical labor in ar
ranging authorities, for which no
life would be long. enough or strength
sufficient. The New York Independent
says "that in fifteen years SO much has
been gathered, studied, and reduced to
working order, achieving the results OF
fifty years Of ordinary research, will re-
main one of the most remarkable literary
feats on record" The skill with which
the component parts of this great historical
work were being subjected to the handling
of the author, elected from Henry Ward
Beecher, while in California, a letter of ad-
miration, comparing his working library
and materials to the studio Of the artist,
and saying that Mr.. Bancroft, sculptor.
like, had nobly increased the magnitude of
his powers by receiving into his own hands
the work to mold and breathe into it life
after the purely mechanical labor had been
performed by others. Mr.. Bancroft, once
retired from mercantile life, threw his
whole soul into this new sphere of action.
His first plan was to open the history Of
the Pacific States with the Conquest of
Darien, and for this purpose he entered into
thorough study of the discovery Of Ameri-
ca and of authorities pertaining to his sub.
iect. Ever steadfast in his purpose, he was
often obliged to change his plans. He
completed the first volume, wrote fully the
conouests OF Darien and Peru, and rewrote
the first volume, as he was not satisfied
with the result. Before he had progressed
far with the work he saw the necessity for
treating the aborigines by themselves. It
was subject not particularly pleasing TO
him. for he was not an archeologist nor
ethnologist, nor ambitious TO become SUCH
The subject was not popularity considered
interesting either. Two volumes were to
be devoted to this section of the work (;
but the difficulty at last was to contine the
ever. swelling subjects within the rigidly
prescribed limits of five volumes. Il
proved work of great scientific value, en-
bracing, az it does, in one comprehensive
whole the scattered and conflicting &C.
counts of the most cultivated aborigines in
America, and rescuing from fast encroach-
ing oblivion a vast mass of chronological
material, while throwing new light on
many obscure points. In the first volume
he treats of the manners and customs of
the wild tribes; in the second is the story
of the civilized nations of Mexico and Cen
trail America in the third are described
the mythology and languages of the whole
territory in the fourth the antiquities,
and in volume fifth, the abol iginal history
and migrations OF the Az!ecs, Mayas and
Qaichis.
RECEPTION OF BANCRoFTS WORK.
The book, when published, excited gen.
eral surprise and widespread commenda-
ton. The author unknown, the work,
unheralded, rested wholly on its merits
And when strongest praise welcomed the
advent from the most learned and exactipg
scholars in Europe and America, with as
surances that it's value would increase with
the century, the author must have felt well
repaid. When such men as Herbert Spen-
Ger, Huxley, Sir Arthur Helps, Lowell,
Parkman, Whittier, the Presidents of our
colleges, and Wendell Holmes sent warm
COM liments and congratulations, popular
taste eagerly followed. "The Native
Races" was an assured success, and this
recognition was great stimulus to Mr..
Bancroft in the continuance of shis stupen.
dous undertaking. Frequent references
have been made to his work by Herbert
Spencer, Darwin and other specialists,
showing their estimation of his authority
The aborigines disposed Of, Mr.. Bancroft
turned his attention again to the history
proper. The work on the various volumes
has steadily progressed for years, until now
ne is able to assure us that ne will publish
them at the rate of one volume every three
or four months.
The history begins with Central Ameri.