The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-21
A NOTABLE BOOK.


ward Eggleston. Educators are familiar with
DIR. Eggleston's school history of the United
STATES. a singularly attractive endcandid text
book, which, in language acceptable to the
young student, furnishes a most careful,
scholarly and accurate compendium OF the
developments Of mo nation stripped OF all
fancies. romances and traditions. except as
these may bear tle..tost.of Investigation or are
TO be quoted as illuminating the life and
times of their origin.
"The Beginners OF a Nation" is a "history
of the source and rise of the earliest English
settlements in America, with special refer
ence to the life and character of the people.
1t is the product of many years OF labor re-
search and assimilation, and is brought forth
at this time, complete in itself. as the first
section Of the larger enterprise, "A History
of Life in the United States" begun as far
back as 1880, of which this is the first pub
lished evidence, put forth, MS the author ex-
presses it, ITO redeem from such mishap--i. a.,
the possibility of age or death interrupting the
work of greater magnitude-a portion of my
work by completing this most difficult part of
the task i'm order that when, early or late, the
inevitable night shall fall, the results of my
labor. such as they are, may not be wholly
covered over by the darkness
The general style Of the book is stately and
significant CT its character. II is printed on
heavy paper in good sized "old style" type.
with maps and marginal references TO exten-
sive notes and references supplied at the end
of each chapter, a copious index completing tho
work. The arrangement is most commend
able, following chronology only SO far rs may
happen in grouping the several distinct move
fal I'm. Hon, ha
English OF tho coast country from Maine TO
North Carolina The first English settlement
to tho permanent establishing of the Virginia
colony makes one book of three chapters.
The Puritan migration Is the subject CT sec
ond book and Centrifugal Forces in
Colony Planting" covering the Catholic mi
grafton. the prophet of religious freedom
Roger williams) and New England disper-
sions is the title of the third and last book.
The chapters are again subdivided into Sec
tions, most of them OF not over a page in
length, the harmony of the arrangement and
the effectiveness of the grouping contributing
vastly to the value of the work for the reader
and the student.
With brief reference TO Columbus and the
early discoverers. the author takes us imme-
diately into the social, political and religious
atmosphere of England in the days leading up
to the first migration, the initial attempt at
colony planting on American soil, and contin-
ues to furnish his recital of the several move
ments with a comprehensive idea of the condi-
tions as they existed simultaneously on both
sides Of the Atlantic to the middle Of the 18th
century, by which time the English colonies
in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
Maryland and Virginia were established as
they remained in general form for many
years after, the purpose being 10 give the his
tory OF such colonies they were founded
by direct immigration from England, rather
than by dispersion to other sections from the
landing points. The authors style is most
lucid and readable. The calculations" or
notes and references at the end of each chap
ter rifurnish suggestion of the tremen lous
amount of material that has been made use
Of for the compilation Of the condensed
whole. DIR. Eggleston pictures a scene, a time,
an event, character-with vivid pen The
complete grasp that he has secured upon every
topic Is plainly evidenced. There IL no waste
of words, neither is.there any lack OF clearness
in single line. He Is often picturesque and
does not fail to appreciate the inherent ro.
nance. His wit is as delightful as his SINGER
ity is impressive. DIR. Eggleston never fails TO
remind Us that it is history that we are read
ing and not fairly tales. but the felicity of
his way of serving up history surpasses the
romancist, os IT repudiates the doctrine that
only the dull is realistic. The impressions of
his years Of study and research, proved,
weighed and checked back, are i'm this
splendid work available to the reader with a
few hours of mighty entertaining reading.
Taking US back two more centuries and n half
he seems to ask, "Do you not catch the lea
Are not these things so just as have set them
down % and the answer Is bound to be an
that the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but tho truth, has been set
forth, our hazy ideas are concentrated, and
while some of our long familiar pictures seem
faded and bedraggled by the process, yet
others of them have become more intense
and convincing and all of them are, we are
confident, hung in the right light.
Indeed this capacity for proportion is one of
the marvellous attributes of Dr. Egglcston's
work. He neither underestimate nor over
estimates and never allows the cart to get be-
fore the horse. His analysis is thorough with
out becoming bore, and his discrimination is
free from hair splitting. His briefs and his
demurrers leave no question OF the vcracity
and the faithfulness of his summings up. If
our vision Is cleared, on the whole our won
der and admiration for the factors the forces
and the indivdualities that contributed TO
the beginnings Of our nation are vastly ex-
panded.
OF especial interest TO us here in Rhode
Island is the study that DR.. Eggleston makes
Of Roger Williams The demands Of space
nowhere seem to limit the authors freedom
in dealing with his subjects. which makes more
marvellous the condensation. And in the pro-
cess of proportioning Williams naturally fills
the center of the stage for considerable time
and no devoted Rhode Island scholar dealing
with this great figure alone has ever presented
n picture of him more 10 be admired, teloved
and reverenced DIR. Eggleston considers that
Williams was not only far ahead Of his age,
but far ahead Of our pres mt age. He measures
him closely, and.whilc finding him not beyond
the pale of the influences OF his time, and
carrying his Independence Of spirit TO the
farthest extremity in trvialitics. he was, never.
theless, by the extraordinary novelty Of his
views of soul liberty and the uncompromising
pertinacity of its championships the weight
lest matter Of the law lifted above all others
who paid tithes OF their little garden herbs. "