Evening journal., 1897-03-24
MYTHS OF lll5T0RY.
THEY CUT A WIDE ewATH IN TIE
FAficV CT NcN-L.-Ts.

Revel In Schemes Undreamed of Now.
While it may not be quite true, it is
very nearly true that the historical novel !
s entertaining entirely On account of its
mprobabilities. We possess smatter-
ng of general information. At least We
% fiatter ourselves. History is for us
lot quite closed book. We know Caesar
md Hannibal and Napoleon and Oliver
cromwell and Henri QuatTe and Richie
leu and the Man in the Iron Mask,
perhaps even few others. And when
n company with the hero Of the his
orical novel we are ushered into the
oyal presence, we bow and snirk and
,rimace amazingly and knowingly.
Charles /? Certainly. Ills majesty and
We are old friends. We possess secrets
which his majesty would give his crown
md kingdom TO know. M. Posterity has
onfided to us stories that would cause
lis majesty's royal hairs TO stand on end
Ike quills upon the fretful porcupine-
Don't try to gull us with appearances.
We know all about what's coming. The
gracious smile which now illumines his
najesty's kingly lips is, oh, so drolll
How about Whitehall and the block and
he ak? Ha, hal We are delighted to see
lis majesty in such excellent spirits. "
1t is to this faculty of making the
,eader feel knowing, of impressiug upon
. iim his own superiority and the correct
less Of his own retrospective surmises
. md decisions, that the makers of his
4 orical romance owe in great part their
vogue and popularity. Then out at the
Z elbows soldiers Of fortune-nay, even
n he wine drawers, tho innkeepers and
he scullery maids whom we meet in the
& historical romance-somehow manage
S o plot and scheme and hobnob with tho
gery greatest personages of all times. If
mysterious figure is introduced, of
,ourse there is a great personality be
lind it. The exigencies of the trade
make this imperative From a muffied
,loak we will accept a great duke with
3 airly becoming grace. A disguised voice
md stealthy, overcautious demeanor de-
nand king or a hero who, in his
s ory's pages, looms up as mighty or
nightier than a king.
Wonder might justly be expressed
& hat simple soldier of fortune Of the
z quentin Durward, D'Artagnan ilk
hould be of such supreme Importance to
he welfare of nations and the safety Of
Kings. To deny either the Scot or the
4 5ascon would surely be outright heresy.
4 They embody old Caledonia and old
& Francois we see them. But the col
ective possibilities that are necessary TO
s give the historical romance fire and go,
make in the end it must be acknowl-
dyed, Il pretty strong chain Of improb-
abilities. To thoroughly appreciate this
me would have to read the historical
.omance that is to deal with our day
md to be written 10 score years hence.
This, alas, we cannot dol What a
screaming farce it will be when il
omes VIII it not read like the rawlings
If madman? How ludicrous will be
he complications What an extraordi-
nary age our own will scent But the
lrollest feature of all will be the sub
ime gravity, the supreme sincerity with
which the whole will be accepted by
.he reader Of that future day. How is
It that, in an age like our own, when
here are a publisher and a market for
Every literary conceit and absurdity, nc
me has thought to anticipate this, the
historical romance of the future Surely
it would not be all burlesque.
What marvellous things those scribes
will be telling Of our age and civiliza.
ionl What strange and darkling events
will be made to take place at our very
loorsl Tho mysteries that are to be
'leared up are as nothing to those which
ire to be invented. Our nights and days
will be given over to tragic intriguei
md fell deeds Murder Will stalk oui
streets Swords Will leap and cross
Knives will gleam, pistols will cracl
long Broadway, CT, if we prefer, Re
gent street, OF the Ringstrasse, or Unite,
len Linden, or the Boulevard DIES Capu
ines. The guet peur will be supreme
All this will come to pass when th'
;cribes of the twenty century 81
down to the task Of writing their his
torical novels And then-Other heroes
How mum they are keeping themselves
Why don't they come ont Of the dark
ness and mystery and shadow and anus
the age with the narrative of those thrill
ng and soul stirring adventures wit
E which the romancers of the future vii
,redit them! We know that when tn
arbitration question is settled and bot
The United States and England are free
from the possibilities of hideous an
devastating war, it is not her majesty
the queen Of Great Britain and empires
Of India, or the president, or the prim
minister, OF the secretary of state, VIII
brought it about. Oh, mol That migh
10 very well 60 gull and boguilc and e.
jole the poor, ignorant masses The res
power behind the throne is the impoN
erished soldier of fortune, of whom th
romance Of the historical novclists {
the future will tell us. What nets h
will spread What strange and unhol
influences he will bring to bear! Whs
ingenuity, cunning, yalor, patienc,
will he employ before the great schen
is ccnsunimatcd and history is mad,
What dangers he will encomterl VIII,
fearful odds he will overcomel We kno'