New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-08

trated Emo. PIP. 2f6. d. Appleton q %
ANTHONY WAYNE, SOMETIMES y s., CALLED G. 4I;E.o
trated Emo DID. 249- d. Appleton & Co
The twentieth century biographer Of the
founder OF New-France can hope TO achieVs
little in the way OF casting new sideliShts upon
the history OF the fearless navigator from
Brouage. He must resort to the fount OF In
formation already freely drawn upon oy
Parkuan. Ffske and other predecessors-ths
narrative written by Champlain himself and
published In his own day-and the result Is
that however his work may differ IN form. X
can differ little In substance from that which
has hitherto appeared. the only variations
being in respect to details that earlier investi-
gators have disregarded as superfuous- The
best OF Charnplain's historians was, OF course,
ParkInan and every new book on the subject
is bound to follow closely the trail blazsd by
him. IT. however. Mr.. Dix has not aPpreclaoly
increased our knowledge OF ChampIains person.
ality and career, he has at any rate presented
both in a lucid attractive manner. and his Is
certainly one OF the best books yet contributed
to Appleton's series Of Historic Lives
From the time that he introduces the pioneer
OF the New World. playing about the docks and
the sands OF his native village the shores
OF France. he makes the reader intimately
acquainted with the forces that moulded him
II he occasionally draws upon his fancy to
embellish the narrative he does not allow mag
inatiOn to run riot through fact Nor does he
depart from his main theme further than Is
needful to bring his heros characteristics out in
bold relief. His is actually biography. not
history Of events. Thus find well subor-
dinated the details of the cruise with the Span
ish fleet of the formation OF the trading COM
pany that first took Champlain to the Canadian
wids. OF the horrors OF the Acadian winter. of
fhS. vain afTO find
England coast. and OF the founding Of the
Gibraltar OF North America There In far
more concerning the relations between Cham
plain and the Indians. undoubtedly the most
important phase OF his career IN the New
World, for by 1t he on the one hand sowed the
seeds Of the future domination OF France in
Canada. and on the other implanted the germ
OF her greatest weakness
The first ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS battle In which
Champlain participated as On ally of the former
was indeed fraught with momentous conse-
quences to the successors OF the pioneer from
Brouage- 1T was as MIR. Dix writes but
a holiday skirmish for the French But il was
the cause Of a bitter and bloody hatred on thu
part or the lroquOiS-a hatred which never af-
terward slept The long standing enmity cher
ished by that nation toward the AIgonquins
extended thencefOrth to the French also
Champlains own description OF the victory at
Ticonderoga is here rendered available to read
ers Of the series. as are his accounts OF later
conflicts, the work of translation being SO deftIy
done that We lose nothing OF the unconscious
biographical qualities OF the original
In Mr.. Spears's Anthony Wayne we find
interest in the subject himself subordinated TO
interest in the stirring events in which Wayne
played SO prominent part during the Revolu-
uonary War and the campaigns against the
Indians OF the Western frontiers. Always there
is more of the times than OF the man. The
drawing Of a clear cut picture is stiu further
precluded by the attitude indicated by the au-
thor's pious exclamation: THE American peopis
are hero worshippers. every one thank God, for
only heroes can appreciate n hero" No one
could accuse MIR. Spears of not being a hero
worshipper. His pages reek with fuIsome adu-
Iation- Wayne was Il brave and gallant COM
mander but our admiration for him is not in
creased by filings at his more prudent associates
and those who obtained promotion more rapidly
than he Nor does the author inspire confidence
IN his Judgment when ne INDUCES in unfair
statements concerning not only the British. buzz