The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-11
Early American History.

lean historian viii be seen in q proper set
ting. Nothing more attractive in the way
of illustration and Typography can be
found among this seasons books.
The work is in two volumes. and there
are forty five photogravure plates. There
are portraits of all the most prominent
figures in great historical drama. fac
SMILES OF important documents. reproduc-
tons Of old maps. and engrayings OF old
paintings and sketches. The covers are
duh blue, ornamented with a clever design
formed Of the French fleur-d e-lis and the
English rose.
As those familiar with the work Of Park
man are aware. the history of the Seven
Years War is told by him in these two
volumes with an accuracy. a thoroughness.
and a picturesqueness and force of de-
scription which make the book as fasci
mating as a novel. even TO those who arc
not history lovers. parkmans peculiar
talent as q historian is that Of making his
narratives vivid. imaginative. impressive.
without sacrificing truth or becoming at
ali discursive. He makes one see the peo-
pie and the country with which he deals;
he brings out the value OF every charac-
ter; yet he is not rreJudiced and is never
wasteful of words. The secret OF this
wonderful realism in his style is proha-
bly, his interchangeable industry and care
in making sure of every detail and bit OF
Information which had TO do with the
story. He has delved into records which
the ordinary historian does not even
touch; he is acquainted with sources OF
information OF which most Of his contem-
poraries do not know: he seems TO have
a true passion for research and. stub
born determination TO be impartial and
thorough One cannot read Parkman with
out seeing. almost at every step, how
much valuable material for historical ro-
mances lies untouched in American his
tory.
Mrs. Mary Hartwell Catherwood drew
from his work suggestions for at least two
or three of her most interesting stories;
and for anyone else who desires TO deal
with the life Of Canada and the Northwest
there is vast opportunity in Parkman. III
he had turned his attention TO the South
ern or Middle States he would doubtless
have made them as fascinating hunting
grounds for the novelist; but no his
torian of these sections has produced
works which approach The Oregon Trail,
"Montcalm and Wolfe. The Conspiracy
Of Pontiac" "A Half Century of Conflict"
The Jesuits In North America" and the
and her influence in the New World. This |
magnificent series. designed by Parkman (,
when a boy at college, and completed by /
fifty years of unremitting toll VIII endure |
as long as there is any American history. |
Few men have contributed to the literature /
OF America work so valuable in itself and !
so perfectly done.
The book begins with q slight preimi- |
nary sketch Of England and France in the |
md %hn
of international affairs in Europe. The |
characteristics and condition Of the various !
American colonies are then discussed-all |
this in the first chapter. In the second we |
are brought fairly into the midst oil the |
conflict. by an account OF Celoron de Bien- |
Vile. Then. as in some great historical ,
drama, the scene changes from Canada. |
western New York, and Acadia. TO Penn
sylvania, and that famous campaign in
which Washington won his spurs and Brad
dock met defeat. Then the scene moves
back again to Acadia: TO Crown Point and
Quebec Montcalm appears on the scene,
and there is a brief explanation OF the con-
dition OF French politics which caused his
coming. One OF the remarkable things
about Parkman's way Of telling story is
that he contrives TO give, as in an aside.
all necessary information as TO causes and
consequences, without interrupting or de-
laying the main narrative. The first vol
time ends with the opening Of Montcalm' s
campaign and the capture Of Fort William
Henry.
In the second volume we find, first.
picture of Canadian society In the middle
Of the last century. Then come chapters
dealing with events; Louisbourg. Tioonde
rogs, Fort Frontenac, Fort Duquesne;
Wolfe comes to America, and leads his
mixed army OF English, Scotch, and New
Englanders against Quebec. The last half
of this volume is mainly occupied with
the story of the siege of Quebec: then
comes chapter on the Peace OF Paris and
international relations in Europe; and, f.
nally. summing UP OF the results OF the
war. Nothing is omitted which can throw
light on any detail OF the great struggle
between France and England for the pos
session OF Canada: nothing introduced
which is Irrelevant or wearisome.
The book is like an immense and compli-
Gated engine With every cog wheel in place
and working smoothly; or. rather. like one
OF those magnificent elms which line the
streets where Parkman walked in his life
time; a natural growth, yet absolutely ar
tistic in the relation of every twig and
leaf to the main design.
Perhaps. next to this completeness OF
detail. the most striking feature OF Park
mans work is his impartiality. He never
thing or exaggerates another. He has the I
air Of q disinterested spectator, a judge
taking evidence and summing up with
strict attention to Justice an important
case to be submitted TO the jury. He in
dulges in no panegyrics over one race, no
condemnation OF the other, no sarcasms
at the expense of anybody. The moral
condemnation tone is never 20 be found in
his work, and that is the more remarka-
Bile because of its general picturesqueness
and strong individuality. His is the ideal
historical method and there have been few
historians who have been able TO see
events from his point OF view, or, seeing
them thus. have been equal to the task
OF making their material interesting. IL
is SO much more entertaining-and also SO
much easier-to write glowing eulogy OF
q hero. or paint a black and blue picture
Of villain, than TO weigh all evidence dis
and give each mans quail ,
ties just as they really were,
Perhaps as good an example OF this
quality in Parhman's work as can be found
is his account of the massacre at Fort
William Henry. This was one of the most
horrible occurrences of the war, and ex-
cited the hatred Of the English colonies
against the French and Indians as per-
haps nothing else could. II Will be re-
membered that at this time the 0ttawas.
Nipissings, Micmacs. kbenakis. and other
Indians, some of them mission :
Indians from the Jesuit settlements. were
fighting on the French side, and that, aft
er the taking of the fort they fell upon ,
English-sHd American prison
ers and held carnival of plumber, out
rage. and murder, despite. the alleged ef-
forts Of the French. Naturally enough, it |.
was reported in England and New England