New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-24

his enterprise the Accompaniment and prescn'"'io'
Of the truth Nor could il have been hoped 'ndv
q man Of less firm and resolute independence "oul'
in the circumstances, have escaped tne tenp"
ton to soften statements Of fact involving "i'
aqreea BILE "reminiscences TO persons still i'Vins anu
not infrequently 10 persons OF posuoh an" -"
fuence II was necessary for him TO ehcoui'
popular prejudices also: TO traverse ahuPa'pio'
none the less strong because founded III miooon
ception. and to reverse the hasty ana erroneous
judgments of his contemporaries upon men a"'
events All this demanded rare coUpihu"o'
of intrepidity and Judgment, but those VINO arc
most familiar with Mr.. Bancrofts historical wiz
ings- know best how loyal he has peen 10 h'H nis"
ideal throughout, and how frunKy ana ieaiIcs'N
be has recorded his judgments in every case
regardless of whatever hostile or mcnacine III
Auences might be arrayed for the support and
perpetuation Of fallacies and misrepresentation
In every instance Of doubt dispute his hrst
concern has been TO discover the actual num-
and that done he has proceeded to state it, leaving
the consequences to take care of themselves ihd'
is how history should he, but too seldom is, written,
and this quality of Mr.. Bancroft's work VIII
sssurdly keep it in the foreground and IN the
confidence and esteem Of men. II is. moreover
NOT 70 he overlooked that he always gives the
evidence for both sides Of every disputed case ~
that the reader can Judge for himself where 'he
truth lies He cannot he said TO have any o'her
prepossession than for the truth. IN snort anu
that is necessary and saving preposscssion.
Mr.. Bancroft's business faculty was destined 70
undergo crucial test when while resting IN Vac'-
ton AT San Diego, dispatch was pun lh'o HIS
hand one day announcing that the great Dah'ro''
Bnjldinr in Market San Francisco, was on
fire. with scarcely any hope OF saving anythinS'
The blow could not have come at more nnpro'
pitious time. Taking advantage OF low frcl9h's
his partners had Just filed up the stock unprc-
cedcntedy and at the same time the Insurance.
had been allowed to remain at low ngure IL
turned out thai nothing was saved from inc
wreck BEYOND the books OF the concern. Inc
Bancroft library was happily safely housed IN us
own building, in Nalcncia-st. and was intact
but all the stereotype plates, all the hound vol
umcs were destroyed, and 1t remained 10 ne seen
whether il would he possible TO so with the
library work or whether the whole enterprise
wouId have 70 he abandoned. Mr.. Bancrofts
occou,t of this catastrophe and Of the mental
state into which IT threw him is not only pro
toundlv interesting hut full Of real pathos. FOR
some DAYS he was stupeiied and bcnumhcd. lie
could not bring himself TO examine the situation
He could not even 90 and look at the ruins OF
his buildng He remained in bed. scarcely think
ing crushed and paralyzed. After the hrst shocR
had passed however he shook himself toscthcr'
nlunqed into a review OF the condition oi 'le
firm. saw some glimmerings of light. and instantly
pluckcd up courage: and in a few weeks. win true
American and Californian pluck and huoNancN' mao
made ARRANGEMENTS 70 rebuild had put the bu'i-
ness on a new footing. and had seen ms way ~
the prosecution Of his life.work without any inter-
ruption Since then Fortune has smiled upon thls
SINGULAR man who refused TO seek her, ana ne mas
had the reward Of accomplishing his port"n'ons
tasks and of seeing the treasure of his library
converted into those forty substantial volumes
which must ever constitute IN" chief authority
rnon the history Of the Pacific Coast States AMI
Territories from Central America 10 Alaska. 1t
is given 10 few men TO do 50 much IN lifetime.
and il must he added that n few men is given
the capacity 10 do SO much The life and Work
OF Hubert Howe Bancroft may however. no com
rnended 10 the study Of AL who ycarn for success
for they indicate the WAYS in which II i 7" no
had and they illustrate once more the priceless
value of regard for truth and integrity and 81
selfess devotion the general good, in the forma-
ton of such character and the accomplishment
Of such work as can alone insure lasting rcmenl-
brancp and regard