Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-09

nnents that are In the original OF greas
value to every student and In reproduc-
ton interest every reader Of history.
The style of the work Is we'll shown b,
it's opening paragraph: When the his
tory OF English settlement IN America be-
gins, the GREATNESS. ager stir OF the Eliz-
abethan age Is over and the sober. con-
tenttous seventeenth century has CONS
with its perpiexed politics. It's schisnatia
{creeds Its schening rivalrles In trade.
An age Of discovery and bold adventure
has given place to an age OF commerce.
and organization. More than 100 years
have elapsed since the discovery OF North
America. Spain has lost her great place
In the politics OF Europe and France and
England are pressing forward to take it.
While. parts changed and the stage was
reset, the century through. the great con-
tinent lay a yelled and virgin shore In
flaming desires that could not be graft
fed. stirring dreams that only ent1c3a
brave men to their death. exciting to en-
sterprfse and adventure. but never to sub
istantial or lasting achievement. The same
mistake that had led to its discovery had
prevented its profitable occupation. Co
lumbus had set out to seek. not new
continent and old Catfay. and died. be-
lieving that what he had found was. In
feet the eastern coast OF Asia. The ex-
plorers who followed him IN the next CEN
fury, had persisted in seeking. as he had
sought. not new but old lands. rich with
ancient Kingdoms and tabled stories OF
treasure, lying ready to hand OF conquer
or and buccaneer. Such ancient kingdoms
Cortez and Pisarro actually found IN
South America and upon the lsthmus: and
such every adventurer promised himself
he should find Just beyond the coasts OF
the northern continent also. Or else he
should find netting that would be quite
as valuable. and possibly no less roman
tea fountain OF youth. untouched mines
OF precious ores. or waters flooded with
priceless pearls
Certainly the style so well exenaplined
by the paragraph just quoted Is so clear.
vigorous. and withaI so ornate as to be
unusual in history. 1t causes the text to
appear as that of a romance and wins tbs
hearty approval for the general reader.
for whom the history Is particularly de.
signed and who, We may say, acquires SO
much interesting information Ii so de-
lightfully easy and enter tanning manner
that he does not seem to feel the need OF
other informal ton which Is vitality neces-
sary to the full understanding of the data
SO attractively presented by President
Wilson in "a History OF the American
People
Throughout the work the impress OF the
personality OF President Wilson is strong.
We note 1t in his characterizaticns OF
men. in HRS summaries Of events and In
the deductions and conclusions that every
where mark the book with the impress
siye originality OF the author. Indeed. IL
may be said that the originality. accentu-
ating as It does the opinions OF one OF
Americas most distinguished educators
blinds the reader to regrettabie inaccurs~
cies that now and then mar the corrects
ness Of the narrative. We lose sight o.
the necessity OF exactness In data in our
admiration for the strength OF tne pro.
sentation The general reader asks him
self, and not without some show OF rea-
son. II the weiItold and popular story
that is IN the main correct. h not OF mort
value 70 the great mass OF people 70 whon
the precise and accurate relation OF facts
is too often. by It's barrenness and dry.
ness. 40 far from interesting as to be IN,
read. or course, Il IS not TO be expected
that the general reader Will find his
thought endorsed by the scholarly world.
but. nevertheless, the thought IL worthy
o, consideration. for by such action stn
be reached that happy contamination
in which accuracy OF fact will DO united
TO deIightfulness OF style.
| The work OF President Wilson viii b.
welcomed by many readers. and TO thou-
sands It win afford pleasure and sinstrass
ton.