The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-01
Watson's "Life and Times Of
Thomas jefferson The Book
is, Not So Well Written as
His Story Of France, but
it is Very Read
able Book.
"a CANDLE OF UNDERSTANDING. Z

London and Oxford.
Magazines OF the
Month.-Llto-
rary Notes.
LIFE AND TIMES or THOMAS JET-
FERsoN. Written by Thomas E. Wat
son. Published by y. Appleton & Co.,
81 New.York.
q, Mr.. Walson,s STORY OF France is one
az the most fascinating books Of history
we have ever read. II IS not Regarded AZ
accurate In all respects. and some OF tho
critics are disposed to POKE fun at the
author, but 1t Is 8. charming book, and
US sp.cy as O romance. 1t was with no
little interest, therefore. that we read
his recent book on Thomas Jefferson, but
the Dook was laid down with sense ~
disappointment 1t Is an interesting book.
for Thomas Jefferson Is always Interests
Ing. but We find In 1t Lite tnat is' new.
and very little OF originality, either IN
the matter or the style.
The book Is more a running sketch OF
the stirring events OF Mr.. Jcnerson's tine
than a biography, although Mr.. Jeffe.so
IS. OF course. the central figure. aid
those events In VIII. Oh he took q conspic-
uous part are emphasized Dir. Watson
writes from Southern point OF view,
and makes special mention OF the part
which the Southern States took in TIE
War OF tho Revolution. resenung with 3
show or Indignation the statement Of
some OF the historians that the South
ern States did not give good account
OF themselves In that struggle. lie points
out that in South Carolina, 81 Southern
N,,t - ad a fOJXhf
and mentions by name the brilliant lead
ers and their achievements.
He devotes a special chapter to Paul.
Jones. who. in his opinion. has been too
much neglected by historians: another
cha pier to George Rogers Clark; another
To John Randolph OF ROANOKE, and an
other to Burr, Adams and Ham lion.
Speaking OF Mr.. Jenerson's writings.
lie ASKS Wight is that. "amld the re-
.urrection Of so many old publications..
no trump awakes to new life Jenerson's
ton, he sAys. strike from 1t the dry
statistics. Gull its choice passages, illus
trate 1t with scenery and portraits, pre-
face 1t with biographical chapter By
way OF introduction, and the result would
be a volume which would del Ght all
lovers OF literature. Some of Its pas
sages arc beautiful as descriptions Of
natural scenery: some are valuable as
studies Of political and economical prob
lens: the chapter on the customs, pceu-'
.liarities and race characteristics OF ire
ST. ut into the negro. as man and an
issue. is profound. The comments on
government on religious intolerance. on
militarism, finance. education. slavery
and kindred subjects are In all respects
worthy OF the author OF the Declaration
OF Independence
In conclusion. he refers to the religious
convictions OF Mr.. Jefferson and thus
sums up his creed: "He believed in God.
one. not three.
He believed In future life in which
we should know those whom we had
known here. He believed that religion
consisted In being good and dong good.
He. believed in benevolent design In
creation. II he can be classed with any
church at ALL he was Unitarian. He
was certainly not more orthodox than
that In one of his letters he calls him
self materialist, contrasting himself
with Christ VINO was a spiritual st. He re-
jeoted the Trinity, the divinity OF Christ.
and the Holy Ghost.
He classed Jesus with Socrates and
other great teachers. regretting that he
wrote nothing. and that we have to take
30 much OF his doctrine on hearsay.
He Gesusl had no one to write for
him as Socrates and Eplctetus, had, but,
on the contrary. the learned men OF Ills
country were all against him, for fear
that his teachings might undermine tkeir
power ard riches. His doctrines. ther,-
fore. fell to Ignorant men. who wrote
from memory long after the transactions
had passed.
MISUNDERSTANDING these dlsadvant-
n 90 rrn ctnve o1s
which II filled up In the spirit OF the
rich fragments he left us would be me
most perfect and sublime. that has ever
been taught by man. Whether Mr.. Jef.
ferson was acquainted with the system
OF morals taught among the Hindus long
before the time OF Jesus nowhere appears.
ut would seem that he compared the
system OF Jesus with the moral teach
ings OF the Jews. the Romans and the
Greeks-not with those OF ancient Egypt
or OF india.
The says. that Jesus. Ike other re-
formers who try to benefit mankind, fell
.. Avtctim to the Jealousy and combination
OF the altar and the throne. Hence he
did not reach the full maturity and ~
of his reasoning faculties and his doc
trines Were defective as q whole.
What he did say has come down to us
mutilated. misstated and often unintell!s-
tble.''
Another chapter is devoted to Mr..
Jefferson's political opinion and we arc
not surprised to note the fact emphasized
that Mr.. Jefferson was ''bimetallst,
believing In the full and equal use 81
both gold and silver" Mr.. Watson, doubt
less believes that Thomas Jefferson had
he lived In 1896, would have been In
favor OF the free and unlimited coinage
OF silver at the ratio OF 10 to /, but IL SO, no
arrives at his conclusion by strange de-
duction, for he mentions tho well.known
fact that In; 1906 Mr.. Jefferson ordered
the mint to cease coming tho silver dol