New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-09

Plates Mans ca Octave. EOs-
ton: Little. Brown e. Co
A curious. not altogether iustihahle, Yet some
what attractive idea Is carried out in this book.
The reader who wishes 10 obtain really salts
factory working knowledge Of the conflicts on
this continent from the dawn a. the sixteenth
century 70 the middle Of the eighteenth must
read the brilliant volumes OF Parkman in their
entirety. To condense the historian is, indeed
10 deprive him OF half his strength. IN depriving
him Of the atmosphere possible only when he
has space enough TO move around I'm, painting
not only the particular incident, with its i'm
mediate background, but the far horizon. Pro
lessor Edgar is, we assume a scholar. We
wonder how he has managed 70 reconcile the
loyalty 20 a dead man OF letters which a
scholar should possess with the compilation Of
this book afair Of the paste pot and scis-
sors. II ever there was one. YET We have found
ourselves turning has pages with interest. II
- a book Of fragments but after all, the
fragments are Parkman's While for consecu-
tive reading We cannot recommend the book
oespite the cornpier's statement that he has en-
oeavored 10 present In il "a succinct and con-
tinuOUs narrative OF early American history"
we are bound TO admit that IL is a good book
anto which 10 dip with or without the con-
teXt. an incident OF Parkman's Is worth read
sng. These pages are fuu or vivid portraits
good specimen OF the latter may be drawn from
the account Of the grim manner in which
Menendez sought 10 serve Philip H. his Spanish
master, on the shores OF the New World. IL is
10 the treatment meted out 10 the men in a
French vessel wrecked on the coast that the
story relates;
The starving French saw no resource but 10
yield themselves 10 ms mercy. The boat was
again sent across the river. II returned laden
vii Ia
helmets. The Adelantado ordered twenty SOL
diers 10 bring over The prisoners ten at a time.
He then took the French officers aside behind
a ridge OF sand, two gunshots from the hank
Here with courtesy on his lips ana murder al
his heart he said.
Gentlemen. ] have hut few men. and you are
many that, II YOU were free, il would he easy
for you 10 take your satisfaction on us for the
people we killed when we took your fort. There
fore II is necessary that you should go TO my
camp, four leagues from this place, with your
hands tied"
Accordingly, as each party landed, they were
led out OF sight behind the sand hill. ana their
hands tied behind their backs with the match
cords OF the arquebuses though not before
each had been supplied with food The whole
DAY passed before all were brought together,
hound and helpless. under the eye OF the IN
eNorable Adelantado. But now Mendoza IN
ferposed. i priest he says. and had
the bowels Of a man He asked that il there
were Christians-that il 10 say, Catholics
among me prisoners tley slou5o pe So alai :, :,
Twelve Breton sailors professed themselves 10
he such and these, together with four car
Ienters and CaulEerS, "of whom writes Menen-
5ez Il was IN great need" were put board
The boat and sent 20 ST Augustine. ] 4le rest
were ordered 20 march thither by land.
The Adelantado walked in advance TIL he
same 10 a lonely spot not Tar distant, deep
among the bush covered hills Here he stopped
Rnd with his cane drew line in the sand
The sun was set when the captive huguenots,
with their escort reached the fatal goal thus
marked out. And now let the curtain drop
Tor here, in the name Of heaven, the hounds
Of hell were turned loose. and the savage sol
dierv like wolves I'm q sheepfold, rioted IN
slaughter OF all that wretched company isoi
one was left alive.
Il had their hands tied behind their backs,
writes the Chief criminal land themselves pu
10 the knife II appeared 20 me that, by thus
rhsstising them. God our Lord and your majesty
were served: whereby in future this evil seci
will leave more free 20 plant the gospel II
these parts"