The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-11-12
HOW HISTORY is MAZE.
Historical Theories and Beliefs That
Are Not Well Founded.

"What is history but universally ac-
cepted fable?" said learned Smithsonian
professor to n writer for The Washington
Star. II quote the great Napoleon For
example, consider Plymouth Rock. In the
town of Plymouth Rock is a rock with
fence around Il. 1t is a sort OF local
fetch. ON Forefatlprs' Day every year
exercises are held there commemorative
TIM alleged fact that on this rock the pill
Grims landed. AS a matter of fact. there
Is no evidence that such was the fact. Pro-
fessor Claiming. the historical expert OF
Harvard. has traced the story back, and
believes it 10 have been started by an old
man named Faunce, who many years ago
pointed olt the rock 10 some children, say
ing, Here they landed
History states that the pilgrims arrived
on Sunday, but Tcfraned from landing I'm
til Monday, lest they should break the
Sabbath. That is pure nonsense. As a
matter of fact, the women and children
stayed on the ship all winter, because it
was more comfortable.
The gorgeousncss and high civilization
OF the ancient Mexicans ut the time OF the
Spanish conquest have been permanently
embalmed in history. The whole story is
a misrepresentation. Cortez naturally
wished 10 give an impression at home that
ne had conquered great and rich nation.
IL reality is was only half-civlized and
untutorcd people. The mode of living was
patriarchal. whole families of 100 or more
persons living in one house. The communal
dwelling was OF one story ana necessarily
OF large size. These structures were de-
scrbed by the Spaniards as palaces The
people ate only one cooked meal each cay,
Tor th" rest ui their iOuu I,P-u,las cy i
grub diet picked up anyhow. The aim rs
partakcn OF by 50 many individuals, are
reported IN history as 'banqueta.
The schoolboy learns that Columbus was
the man who first conceived tn" idea that
the world round. Nothing could pe
NOR" nonacnsicai. The truth is Jhat he
21e.ely ptei notion or this subject,
which mad been banded down from classic
times by scholarly meE. Strapo, the Latin
author. WAS one Of these. The conception
.sas Tor many centuries as a FAINT light
eIimmer1S IN darkness.
Let M can your attention 10 an in
stance ot the making OF fictitious history.
There arc excellent reasons for believing
that the Norsemen reached The shores of
Not.h America before Columbus. The
records oi their segas, however give no
notion OF the locality where they banded.
only q Few suca nun-descripuye facts are
stated rs that they found grapes growing.
Ye- an enthusiast named Ho:ato"i, a ttCs-
ice OF Harvard. a tcW years ago oGIiJ on
the Charles river tower between " ait
ham ana Newton 10 commemorate the land
iu9 cf the Morse yoyaseIs AZ tha- point.
The .a"as te., cc going AN "a river and
fiorsIord chose 10 assume that the charles
river was the river referred 20. Very ~
The notion mus recorded bN monument
VIII cain -auc.al credit soma day. though
tier. IS no ,13re reason g. suppose that
tie river was thc Charles tnaE mat L was
The Delaware or the Hudson, or aiJ one
a. dozens OF other rivers.
Il quoted Napoleon " moment ago. Nou
pro.aDiy know that 40 battle was ever
fought a.; Waterloo. Naienoo was g post
dfeoat,a station some miles distant Dis
matches were sent thence 10 ENGLAND, and
hence the name piven 40 the hattie.
.sheyidan's r.je to Winchester was not
twenty miles-nou over ten miles. think.
There never was any foundation in fact
fa.. the story a. Barbara Freitrhie. The
same IS true OF the yam abo2t Pocanontas
ana John Smith,"