The Washington times., 1895-03-24

over the Alps on the back OF a mule He
was eternally suing for peace. but they
wouldn't let him have it-he must be up
and doing or step down and out This
OF affairs l have tried 70 show IN my book,
and ] think most historians VIII agree that
it is an accurate statement OF the difficulties
in his path
Your book, then, is an embroidery OF
romance on 4 texture Of reality?"
II am not aware that have violated q
single fact in history in the preparation
OF nv book. There is some speculation in
the book, one or two bits OF imagination,
but on the whole / do not think my history
is any more imaginative than that OF any
other historian. My dates approximate
correctness. have taken them from the
best authorities. and where the authorities
have differed have split the difference.
For instance, IL LOCkhart says that such
and such thing happened on the 10th OF
May, while BOrTienne puts il down as having
taken place Oh the 18th, with the EnCyClo-
pedia Britannica putting it back 20 the Sth,
have simply added ten, eighteen, and eight
together, divided the amount by three, and
set the occurrence down as having transpired
on the 18th. Nothing can be fairer than
that, and it's really only a narrow minded,
opinioDated historian who viii not admit
the views OF others in kindly spirit OF
compromise"
us the book humorous?"
We'll. some people may find it so.
really cannot give you an opinion on that
point. What with the drudgery OF writing
it and the correction OF the proofs, I have
found il trifle tiresOme, but / can quite
understand how some people VIII see an
occasional glimmer Of humOr in It, paTtiCu-
larly yinthe illustrations, which Y ere madeby
Mr.. II. W. McVickar. Mr.. AfcFickar has
done much interesting work, but / think
even his most ardent admirers VIII be sur
prised when they see what he has. done in
this connection. / have no hesitation in
saying that there has been nothing better
than his v ork in this book produced in this
country, and that is saying a good deal
From the first chapter 10 the last there is
a deliCaCy OF farce and an Intellectually
humorous quality in his pictures which viii
be found most satisfying to all sorts and
conditions of readers. He has developed
a new vein. " hich few, even those who have
watched his career from the time when he
drew for the Columbia Spectator. to the
present day, have hardly suspected he
possessed. He makes me tremble, really,
for the efforts of my own work in the book,
and l shouldn't be at all surprised il in
the catalogues Of the future the book would
be referred to as McVickar's Napoleon,
and not mine."
II should have thought, assuming that
you have made your book humorous in in
tent at least, YOU would have found some
difficulty in handling the days at st. Hell
ena; and surely the death Of Napoleon
could not present humorous aspect
You are exactly right There is no ma
terial for humor in the idea of death. I
have no patience with funny men who try
to make you laugh in the presence OF DEATH
and l have avoided the situation entirely.
The Napoleon of my book is an Immortal.
| and he does not die, but-weu, I'm not
going to let you into the secret OF that last
chapter. / viii merely say that in my book
Napoleon does not die, but escapes, and
am not at all sure that the short narrative
OF what follows is beyond the possibilities.
Granting the escape and the manner Of it,
| it is indeed in its essential features highly
| probable. 1t is entirely in accord with the
| previous career OF the fallen Emperor,
but its value as contribution TO historical
| literature will depend wholly upon the
/ point OF view of the reader
Have you found any new material in
the way of aneCdotes?"
| Plenty of it. The book is full of them,
and not one OF them has ever appeared
| elsewhere" !"
| And do you mind acquainting the public
with the sources OF your infOTmation2"
'NO-but l don't think it is necessary.
am willing to be held responsible for
every word in the book, and If anybody
| / am fully prepared to meet their obJec-
| tions-but they won't As they read they
Will be impressed by the air Of truth which
! pervades my whole narrative, an air so all
/ pervading. indeed, that it VIII carry con-
| viCtiOn with it,"
| got away as gracefully as | could.
| ARTHUR STEDMAN