The age-herald., 1901-12-22

bany 17S3 lost at sea in January 1S13- between the two dates fill in such joy, brilliant promise, beauty, accomplish ments, intense sorrow, and tragic fate. as never woman knew before, and one has the history of this remarkable lady in epitome."
 Mrs. Blennerhassett was, like Mrs. Aston, a remarkably intellectual though less brilliant and charming woman. But the author of this novel pictures her in fiat, colorless fashion and fails utter ly to enlist our interest in her destiny.
 Kate Embleton, an ex-servant, Is in- troduced into the plot on that memora7 ble morning of July il. 1894. with per- feet naturalness but her after career is an anomaly. It is asking much of our credulity, in face of the aristocratic pre- judices of the time. to believe that such a person, however good, amiable and comedy, could have been treated as an equal by Colonel Burr and his daughter or received upon terms of social equal ity into a family like the Blennerhas- sett.
 No matter what or how many the inn perfections of style, the great purpose of MT. Pidgins work challenges our ad- miration and enlists our sympathy Among a multitude of historians there is apt to be safety. We can winnow fact from fiction, if before reading this novel we glance at the testimony of such books as Pickett's History of Ala bama, Davis Memoirs of Aaron Burr. |" Hubbard's Little Journeys into the Homes of American Statesmen Todd s History of the Burr Family" and Roosevelts Winning the Vest" Such a task is most conducive to a proper judgment, for histories and novels based upon them should be labeled like some medicines: Shake we'll before taking" It is a mistaken idea that all historians, either of his own or of later day fail to give both sides of the Aaron Burr question. As MT. Pigdin writes in the Boston Transcript of recent date: ''1f my reviews would rely more upon the history of their country and less upon oral tradition their statements would have more value" In answer to the com ment upon his severe treatment of the characters of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson in his recently issued novel "Blennerhassett." the author has sent to the press the following letter:
 'tJuding from the opinions expressed by some of the reviewers of my book the reader would naturally think that l was the first one to say anything derogatory concerning Thomas Jefferson. Allow me to call your attention to an extract from part G. pages 236-23S, of Winning the w est, WTllIeH Dy HeOuUEe ItOOStNeil+ Thus ended ingloriously the widest, most spectacular. and least dangerous of all the intrigues for Western disunion. It never contained within itself the least hope of success. It was never a serious menace to the National government. It was not by any means even good eX- ample of Western particularistic feel ing. It was simply a sporadic illustra- ton of the looseness of national senti- .A hra rhn1r fC country; but of no great significance, be- cause it was in no sense a popular move ment, and had its origin in the fantas- tic imagination of a single man.
 Tt left scarcely a ripply in the West. When the danger was over Wilkinson appeared in New Orleans, where he strut ted to the front for little while, playing the part of a fussy dictator and arrest ing, among others, Adair of Kentucky. As the panic subsided, they were re- leased. No Louisianian suffered in per son or property form any retaliatory action of the government; but lasting good was done by the abject failure of the plot and by the exhibition Of unused strength by the American people The Creoles ceased to mutter discontent, and all thought of sedition died away in the province.
 .As to Burr, he was put on trial for high treason, with Wilkinson as States
 
 evidence. Jefferson made himself the especial champion of Wilkinson; never theless the general cut a contemptible figure at the trial, for no explanation could make his course square with hon. orable dealing. Burr acquitted on a technicality. Wilkinson, the double-trai- ter, the b-ibetaker, the corrupt servant of foreign government remained at the head of the --merican army"
 Other reviewers seem to think that am the first one to say anything ill of Alexander Hamilton. In reading the ex- tract below, from the pen of Hon. Jere Clemens, 1t should be remembered that he had exceptional opportunities to study the life of Alexander Hamilton. Senator Clemens wrote:
 of Alexander Hamilton have written nothing of which 1 do not believe he was capable. after the fullest examina-