Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-06-16
Spoke Today on OOiugs Of New
Scientific School Of History
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
Says Reports Thereof Were Written
by spies Under Pay OF the Govern
ment -Other Lectures.

"What has been done by the new
scientific school Of history" was the
subject OF a lecture delivered at the
University OF Utah by Prof II Morse
Stephens OF Cornell university, during
the noon hour today. In former times
the historian fitted himself for his work
in the study Of style and the reading OF
popular fiction, the latter for the pur'
pose OF acquiring the ability to interest
his readers. Some teachers In historical
science. OF whom the professor gave an
example, Insisted upon eliminating
from their WORN any sentiment whlch
might seem to Impress the writer ~
interesting. Their idea IL 10 be strictly
documentary In the narrative OF events
and they have been known to advise the
student Of history TO avoid the seduc-
tlyeness of interest for fear Of diversion
FROM the rigid legend OF the time unueF
treatment.
prof Stephens devoted himself this
morning 10 the French Revolution, as
serting that the most mlnutely accurate
narrative OF expression OF public opin-
ion and action at that time was found
ia the reports written BY the spies un-
der pay OF the government. These spies
were designated as observers of public.
oplrion," the term sounding better than
the other name. A most elaborate sys.
TEN OF public espionage was in vogue
at that time. In fact, the government
OF France was largely, If not princi-
p1lly based upon the spy system. These
observers of public opinion were de-
tailed TO frequent saloons, restaurants,
cafes, and even private families. and II
was their duty 70 hear and report upon
expressions OF opinion among the pub
lie. The history OF the French Reyolli-
tion has therefore be very largely de-
rived from personal memoirs Of indi-
vldual citizens, T0day's viewpoint of
the revolution, however, Is somewhat
different from that OF yesterday, for
study of the motives OF the leaders OF
that great struggle has brought out to
historians the fact that the sole object
In life of these men Was not TO sever
noble heads from aristocratic neeks,
The reality Is not discovered In the
supposltlOn that bodies Of men met In
dark cellars for the purpose OF devisng
the most effective method Of putting
Paris to the torch, Their deliberations
We're those OF men seeking protection
for and preservation of the fatherland
There is one thing In the Reign of
Terror that has excited the historical
readers sensational Imagination, and
that Is the fact that during this period
France was shaken by disbelief In
Deity and wildly devoted It's enthusl-
astlc self to the worship Of reason"
TO such an extremity did this wave Of
sentiment rise that reason was rep
resented in the image of ballet girl
mounted upon float and paraded
through the streets of Paris, the aftaIr
eyentuatlng In q seml-ribald oelebra-
tion In the cathedral Of Notre Dame.
Prof. Stephens considered tlNt the
best representative of the modern scien-
tlhc historian. 80 far as the French
Revolution is concerned, is found in the
person and work Of Prof Aulard, whose
faithful adherence TO documentary mar
rative and facts Of history as
related In official papers In
government archives gives to his work
stability OF fact and interest that
may not be found In the writings OF
other historians who have dealt with
events Of the Revolution. OF course
Prof. Aulard was a son Of revolutionary
fathers, and naturally his writings evil
denced his leaning in that direction
but on the whole his narrative is to be
admired for its accuracy,
Reference was made by Prof. Steph-
ems TO some heroic sentiments and
legends that have found their way into
histories OF the French Revolution and
(which have later been discovered to
have no foundation In fact. With the
~ A.Iu "A Il. ~. Ill
out OF the history of the French Revolu- |
ton, This investigator has considered |
II his duty 10 search out the truth and |
as result the truth alone has made |
its appearance In his work Many idols |
erected upon pedest9ls OF idealism have |
been smitten and destroyed In the inter |
est OF truth However beautiful Of |
contemplation these may have seemed |
whatever Of attraction may have been |
found In them. the modern scientific |
historian has been obliged to discard
them
In history Prof Stephens is not an
advocate Of pen pictures wrought from |
ideallstlc or heroic Imagination |
The story Of the singing Of the
Marseilles, the French revolutionary
war song, by the sailors Of French
ship sunk by Lord Howe's fleet was
among the narratives that should have
had no place In Neracious history In
stead Of the ship having gone down with |
this heroic song upon the lips Of the
man-o' -warsmen the fact Is that most
Of the French fighters on the doomed
vessel were saved By boats Of the Brit.
ish iieet and besides. official dispatches
belonging TO either government make no
allusion whatever to the brave singing |
OF the FrcnchmeB. however beautiful |
the Idea may SEEN. Modern scientific
history deals with the truth and the
truth must appear.
ANOTHER LECTURE TOMORROW. |
Another lecture win be given by Prof.
stephens tomorrow at noon and the
great interest already created insures
a good audience
Tonight at $50 o'clock the students OF
the summer school win give the pro-
fessor a reception at the university
THE FIRST LECTURE.
The first Of the series OF lectures on
the French Revolution by Prof. II. NJ.
Stephens was given yesterday noon. be-
fore the state university students. The
speaker showed himself to be a brilliant
scholar and his lecture was intenty
listened to and enjoyed He said that
history had shifted from the domain
Of bellies lettres to that OF science. For
merly the best historian was the man
with Tho most graceful style. who
wrote the best book, now the best his.
toflaE Is b. who can get the most facts
and present them most impartlaly.
Histories written 10 uphold some po-
lit'cal, religious Of patriotic purpose
are no longer seriously regarded by
scientific students Among the French
writer's werV those who lived aud wrote
at the time the Revolution was IN prog
ress. These could not be true historians.
They gave the atmosphere rather than
the facts Of their day. they did not
have access to the primary sources OF
history, nor did they have the per-
speCtive % necessary TO a truthful es-
tnlhtion OF various events The writ
ars wh) wrote during the time OF Ma
noloDn N..p,fgfhfzpd NTH tina rovpiu- |