New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-24
WASHTNGTON'S ITINERARY.
HIS MOVEMENTS DAY BY DAY THROUGHOUT
THE REVOLUTION.

ITINERARY OF GhNFRAL WAsHlNGrQN' whom, IRON
June Is, 1878, 10 December %, 1888. BY NlHlam
;. Baker PIP 334. }. i. nppincott COMPANY
one OF the most interesting Of the many entries
in this volume casts light on the feeling OF
Washington and Thomas Psine toward each other
than whole volume Of biography could DO win
such a paragraph leit ont Paine bad written 10
General Washington, who was at Nerphnchs POINT
stating the Intention of presenting TO tho General
fifty COPIES Of a pamphlet which he had just pub
nshed in reply TO the Able Raynals account OF the
American Revolution. some Of the phrases IN MS
letter are notable by way of comparison with the
corresponding phrases in Washngtol's reply. Inc
fifty pamphlets he writes. are for the use OF te
army Then he predicts the rapid decline Of the
esprit Of the war on the part Of the English not
merely because Of the difficulties surrounding the
British Cabinet IN 1889, hut because OF the eHect
which the common superstition about the NUMBER
seven must have The minds OF the people
"The British he wrote, "have accustomed 'h'M-
selves TO think of seven years In manner ulHel'N'
70 other portions of time. They acquire inns pII"N
By habit by religion, and by superstition Ihey
serve seven years aprenticeship-they elect their
Parliament for seven years--they punish by seven
Years transportation, the duplicate or ulplca'e
OF that term-thcy let their leases IN ID" same
manner and they read that Jacob served seven years
for one wife, and after that seven years FOR ano'hef'
and this particular period ot time, by variety oi
cOncurrcnccS, mas ODtdlHtu III lHH"V'''' ~ '-
mind They have now had seven years Of war, ana
are no further on the Continent than when they
began The superstitlous and popular part VIII
therefore conclude that IL IS not TO be, and the
national part OF them viii think hey have tfled an
unsuccessful and expensive project long enough ana
by these two Joining issue in the same eventual
opinion. the obstinate par, among them VIII be
beaten ont: unless, consistent with their former
sacacitv thev should ct the mhiier by an
act OF Parliament TO bind Time in all cases what
sOever,' or declare him rebel
Few nvpothcses were ever more shliully elab-
GRATED In a brief statement than this. The lnasiA-
ton pictures the OF genius ponderlng Win
delight over Tie lines he had written ana gradually
working himself up TO the conviction that he had
put the solution Of grand problem In politics and
war into form capable OF logical demonstration
On the other hand try 70 imagine how hard
headed soldier trained in school that expected 70
solve the problems Of only by hard knocks on
the field Of battle. used 70 fighting TO FABIAN delay
10 processes for wearing out the enemy and making
even his victories costly and useless 10 him
imagine what he would think Of tits splderweb the
gifted dreamer hat spun. The literary skin 81 the
thing might 10 him, but It would seem
matter of trfing import and he woud most certainly
mutter TO himself something about the ecconir1city
u n nan-even his friend-vho could find ume for
such fances. One may almost read such thoughts
between the lines IN WashnTon's reply. 1t Is the
reply Of the great Of action 70 the lively md
erratic man Of letters. Paine had offered Ma
pam hets for the o. the army" Washington
inteprets this into i "proposal To present me with
fifty copies Of your last publication for the amuse
rncnl Of the army And then he seems % come rs
near smiling as a great. much-burdcned man conld
Will, adding: Your observations the period Of
seven years, It applies TO British minds are
ingenious and wish It may not fail Of It. effects
in this instance Ingenious, iorsooth Here was
the ancient, the interminable play Of crosspurposes
between the of action and the man Of iiAaglna
ton In his own time. the former has rather the
best OF It, But time brings It's revongcs. The man
Of Imagination gets his due, more or less, from the
fancy Of a later generation.
Day after day, throughout this volume. some move
ment OF Washington Is noted. Sometimes the record Is
a paragraph from his own journal, from his orderly
book, from his letters the letters Of others. from
Ms personal accounts OF expenses from the
memoirs Of who had 4 share I'm the Revolution.
The main entries, IN large type under each date
followed 10y explanatory matter In smaller type
usually quotation from some contemporary source
but sometimes apparently from the cdltor's
hand. 1t IS admirable Oultnc Of personal
history. The reader but agree with the editor
when he says: As day by day follow Wash
ington through the pages Of the Itinerary We
become more and more impressed with The earnest
ness stcadfGstness and trthiuness Of his character
and feed Issured that 10 his high Of duty, and
almost slecp.css vigilance, we are mainly indebted
for the successful issue Of The battle for freedom"
The book Is Handsomely printed good paper, with
delightfully."- broad margins and is neatly bound.