The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-15

GEORGE WASHINGTON. BY Norman
HapSood. The Macmillan Company,
New York. S1.775.
1t is with a peculiar impotence that a
EirEinian takes up a new biography OF
General Washington. The work of re-
cording the life Of this greatest Vir-
ginian has been done so thoroughly by
sympathetic historians that one is led
to suspect that the new book must be
another one OF those sensational compi-
Iations designed to exhibit as q true
George Washington some vulgar carica-
ture Of tho man. The conservative peo-
pie of Virginia are prepared to accept,
in good faith, a certain amount Of icono-
elastic revelations regarding any or all
of the demigods of history. but We are
particularly concerned lest the modern
writer. departing into the paths called
higher criticism, should attempt TO in
lure the fame and influence OF our great
est by assaults upon his character.
Especially DO we approach distrust-
fully the book before lis. for the reason
that the advance notices and critical
paragraphs abuus it that have come 70
our attention have nearly ri commented
most upon the revelation made by the
author that the General. on proper coca
sions, relieved his surcnarged feelings III
..vjeorous profanity For instance, at
ter no took commant. CO Cambridge he
found it necessary to damn the New
England troops up and down ana IN ara
out and all around for certain reasons
that Go not make good reading Tor those
people" And under the greatest provo
cation; ut Monmouth. he swore, as one
of his officers reported it, "swore till the
leaves shook from the trees, charming.
delightful
1t is with a singular qualification that
4 Virginan lays down Mr.. Hspgood.
roolz. 1t is a good. healthy, virile study
OF the man who was first IN war, first
in peace ard first in the hearts OF ms
countryinen" 1t should be widely read,
that certain false impressions may be
corrected It shows us mora OF the man
whom his mother and wife and neigh
bors and associates knew and loved and
were devoted to. His servants feared
hin. because he made them york. HIS
estate raid because he managed 1t nm
self. lie won his wey because he was
self-s;.f flcIent and ever largely and i'm
pressiGey right.
We are well aware that beyoaf the
borders of the OLD Domiricrs IN. father
OF his country is rot known as we snf.H
hin, here, at !loine- Abroad in Che United
states he mas bee., niche1 IN the Popular
5 inc sination rs figure OF NEUROLOGICAL
propsortions and virtues. Tho 'iioseted
historians Of tho Old school S..e resronsi-
BILE for this. fiistcry is nat made Eo"a-
6avs: nor written. as it ,isli to Ee. ever,
in massachusetts,. History Is j.is:
said Bismarck. ut MAJ TAX" icEs-th:r-
ty: or fortS years-6ltt 1t is 1uSf II mas
taken longer than .nlt l., sor7e SmriHS
Instances. The world IS in fair way
now to realize that st.e- ali, Washing
ton yus a substantial .:uTGan hciiIg-a
typical Virginia gentleman with the
s6oeI ,,r,,1slIal l. virtue and talent ard ener-
gy ard steadiness that made him the dls-
t!neals:,ed leader that he was. " rat
Mr. IIspsood has written is not EaWs 70
yirSin:uns, except n The attta5tivc mans:cr
IN which ne ras written it. Eltsthe
rest Of tie country has not LIE inttF1ate
axu,1ai ntancs -yyitls the nations hero which
vsefa1iJoy. Lis a startling reyelasios 20
millions that the you.s Washlngeil was
Dull about blocks. that he en1oyseisii horse
races ana lcock-fights. and dra:Ks Sood
liquor and lost and won at cards, ana
RODS hard to hounds and loved ara qs's-1-
relied AID lived. in snort like every young
l. gentleman OF his time. Il is terri
|. bic thing to some people to learn that
upon necessar y occas ionss he shaded INC
truth, ard thet Epon great crovoc:atioa
ho Used bad Language.
The story oe Washtngt toms boyhood. oi
his Youthful frontier adventures anGsIn.
dim lighting, his lore affairs. his Go.
#nnesttc relations ana the management o.
I his estate. his conduct In tho warfare
and politics and stntecraft Of the Revo
l,rtionary period. are ably. naturally an,
aGeauat.ly adjusted ard set fortt, b.
the experienced author. Tie most sur
apris:nF one thing in the book Is t,es
|zInartable franhness with Which Mr.. .I.ap
good showsEpp the lacE-cacga neroics AM
ncySnf t5as p.crle.sIity OF the tREyoii.