The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-01-11
WRITER'S OF HISTORY,
American Authors Who Have Done
Good Work in This Line.

| Good Work In This Line.
History writing as illustrated in
| American literature began in Massachu-
| sets, and of the more important works
| to which it has since given birth the
majority are OF Massachusetts, origin.
| For many years when the mind re-
CURED to the great historians who had
written in this nation, that remarkable
trio, Bancroft, Prescott and Motley,
We're the first to come into considera-
ton. Hildreth, also of Massachusetts
residence, had written painstaking
and reliable history of portion of the
national life. Later Parkman was add
ed to their number, and in the present
day Fiske has been eminent, having
been preceded for some years by Schou-
Ter, both to be joined later by Rhodes,
the latter of whom. though originally
the product of the west had been at
tracted to Massachusetts,, and had be-
come permanently established here as
one of her citizens. Henry Adams, OF
the Adams family, had covered the field
of Jefferson's and Madfson's administra-
tions in a credtable Work. OF the men
who have engaged in ambitious and
comprehensive historical writing Nc
Master almost alone is outside our state,
though the excellent work Of Bancroft
of the Pacific coast. should not be left
out of consideration in this summary.
The work of the hiographer, which Is
also often historical should not be
omitted consideration III this connection
Some of the best biographies in our lit
erature have, contemporaneously with
this historical writing. been produced
by Massachusetts men, OF these, the
biography Of Josiah quincy, by his son,
Edward Quincy; Of William II, Pres
colt, by George Ticknor; of Daniel Web
ster, by Henry Cabot Lodge, and Of
Richard II. Dana, by Charles Francis
Adams, are of rare value, and the most
of them cover an important field in his
tory. The American Statesman series,
indeed, of Messrs. Houghton, Miffiin &
Co., which is now nearly completed, is
a genuine addition to history, and, read
in connection with history is of rare
value to the historical student. One BIZ
Carl Schurz-is very nearly model
book in its method of treating its sub
ject Several Massachusetts authors
have contributed to this, and all Of them
have done it worthily.
The palm Of being the pioneer in
American historical writing must be
assigned, we think, to George Bancroft |
He began his work a half century be-
fore he completed it, and he lived life
of remarkable prominence while it was
in progress. A country schoolmaster
when he first conceived the idea of
writing the history of his country, he 4
passed from that occupation into pub
lie prominence, and became successive /
ly cabinet minister and representative +
of his nation in foreign countries. He |
was an ora tor, as well as a scholar, and /
in the civil war he exerted an impor- |
tant influence with his countrymen by /
the earnestness and ability with which /
he engaged on the loyal side His vol
umes constitute one of the most thor
hugh and careful contributions to histo-
ry made in his general ton, or, indeed,
in any other. They stood alone up to
the time when John Fiske began his
ed, and they are unique in American
production in the elaboration with
which they We're written.
The present generation in American
literature is generally regarded as not
equal to that which had Immediately
preceded it in the eminence of it's rep
resentative men; get we doubt il this is
true of the department of history.
John Fiske, who has at last begun to
write the full history of his country, to
our mind is the peer of any of his pre-
decessors who have engaged in hstori-
,al writing of any kind. McMaster's
history of the nation since it came out
IF the war of the revolution is a thor
1ughly able and valuable work, COM
prehensive and well considered in its
general view, and clear and attractive
n it's narrative. James Ford Rhodes
history Of the period since 1850 is a
work to which we have accorded very
ligh praise rs its successive volumes
nave appeared 1t has only to be
Known to be admired. We think it has
never had reader who is intelligent
With regard to the era of which it treats
Who has failed to be enthusiastic in its
raise. Mr.. Rhodes has a theory that
history may be adequately and impair
tally written by one who has lived in, :
n very near, the time of its occur
ence, and he has triumphantly vindica-
ed it in this work With three such
historians as Fiske, McMaster and
Rhodes, the field of American history is
kelly to be fully covered by writers of
ur day, and in a manner which need ! +
of CHI |
orical work that has preceded it
;oston Herald r