The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-04

in Mr.. Howison's own works Cp So
Writing of the first slaye-Ship that
touched American shores in 1870, me
SAYS: This importation was made 80
quietly and was so entirely accordant
with the state of thought then prevalent
i'm Europe, that il caused 10 tremOr III
the hands that first recorded 1t.
One may well ask whether Columbus
would not have chosen TO remain qWeuy
in his grave. "unHept, unhonored ana
unsung,' rather than suffer the Bullets
Of an iconOclastic age III its so-called el-
forts to honor him.
CAVALIERS COME TO vINoINIA.
On another point Mr.. Howison has fol
lowed in more beaten track, when he
writes with regret that so many of the
first settlers in Virginia were OF the class
called gentlemen. I'VE find among them
fifty cavaliers who are reckoned on the
shipping list as gentlemen. in the
whole band we note only eleven prOiessed
labOrers, four carpenters, one blacksmith,
one brichlayer and one mason; but we
find barber and a tailor who would GER
taiNly be needed by So miny gentle
men.
Notwithstanding these deprecatory re-
marks, and in some places they are even
less complimentary. the South has reason
TO thank God that her early colonlsts
were so largely composed of gentlemen.
Broken in fortunes and restless III temper
they may have been. but they brought
with them some valuable thing, of which
the tradition and inheritance IS quite as
important TO their descendants rs the i'm
pie arts of building ships and houses and
of working IN, fields The presence of
that barber and tailor 30 far from being
"A subject of ccnsure, should be mentioned
90 their credit rs being a very small 81
lOwance for Il company OF hfty persons
accustomed TO the d"ccncies and refine
mcnjs of life. 1t is recorded. mOrcOv ~,
10y the same writer that under Captain
Smiths wise and energetic leadership
these cavaliers and gentlemen were set
to work in the forest with axes. to fell
the trees and prepare boards for build
ing. They soon began 10 relish their
work and took delight in hearing the
thunder of the falling trees.
THE RARBER AND THE 1AILoR.
Mr.. Howison is 10y no means alone in
this view Of the first emigrants; other his
t0rians have taken the same. NcYcrtEe-
lessS. the manners and habits of cult
waited social life are Of no small import
ance to men who have children to rear
and States TO found. Their lives may not
have been stainless. and yet for proof
that they brought with them the princi-
pies and theories OF gentlemen, and trans
mitted the same To their descendants, the
history of Virginia is brought IN evidence
NATHANIEL BACON.
One OF these descendants is Nathaniel
Bacon, hero who, but for John Estea
Cooke, has received very inadequate at
tentiOn from our later historians; some
have omitted him altogether and others
have passed him with mere mention
for the reason. perhaps. that his move
ment was in one sense unsuccessful. To
him Mr.. Howison has devoted satisfac-
tory chapter, realizing that "Bacon's Re-
bellion" is an incident more significant
of the spirit and temper of the colonies
than any record of Indian or French
wars, a germ of the Revolution tlat was
to come, and that it offers. moreover, an
element of romance that Americans can
Ill afford to lose.
THE REVOLUTION.
The second division of The subject. in.
Guiding the French and Indian wars,
the history of the colonies eliminating
in the war of the Revolution is vivid
| presentation Of familiar story emily
ened by whatever of picturesque Incl
dents our history contains, by quotations
from the inspiring speeches OF Revolu-
tlonary heroes and orators.
In the 30 pages allotted to the history
Of the States prior to 1860, the historian
has done the best part of his work.
The graded development Of our country $
civilization is admirably described, and
the problems which agtated the best
thinkers of America, and with which
We are still wrestling despite the stern
arbitrament Of war, are fairly discussed
aud copiously illustrated by the quoted
words of statesmen on both sides of the
Questions.
The long and brave fight made by the
South to maintain the rights of a min
ority has been fought in the halls of Con-
gress, on the flooIs of every State Lesie-
lature and In every scene Of public de-
bate in the country. 1t Is wei to show
to this generation that actual war was
but terrible episode Ia that struggle,
and that is what few of our young peo-
pie understand.
SECESSION.
The war Of secession certainly occupied
the position of an episode In the mind
Of Mr.. Howison. for be has devoted to
1t only AZ pages, about one-twenteth OF
the whole volume. and this is the least
satisfactory part OF his work. We can
not expect that Lee Camp. for example,,
viii be satisfied with thi1 cursory mem
ton Of hs@Gnllant dssds IN which they