The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23
of Washington

~ q successful one is that which
DR.. ;. Weir Mitchell has made
N his book, THE Youth of Washing
ton" Fiction, / call ii. yet it is not
altogether fiction; autobiogra aphy-not
that; nor yet is il history. Rather
drsmatization. il the term may be
used. OF the boyhood and early youth
or the great commander. cast in the
phraseolosy OF the hero himself.
Drawing from fact and fancy alike. DR..
Mitchell has brought to our eyes a liv-
ing picture OF Washington. made more
realistic by the employment of the per-
sonal form in its telling.
COnceiving il TO be the desire of the
aged general 10 set down for his own
edihcatiOn the events of his early life
which had significant bearing upon the
course Of later activities, the author
opens his narrative upon Washington
in the retirement of Mt. Vernon, feel
ing the relief that comes with the sur
cease from political vexations and cast
ing back over the record of his young
manhood 10 draw therefrom pleasant
store of reIniniscence Il shall do this
for myself alone" writes the auto
biographe of DIR. AIitchell's conjuring.
I shall confine nly attention to re-
calling the events of my youth. and as
hate deception even where the imag-
ination only is concerned. 1 shall try
for my own satisfaction, to deal mere
ly with facts"
That Weir Mitchell is close and
sympathetic student of the life and
character Of the great Virginian is
manifested by the characteristic air of
reserve that he brings TO cover all of
the narrative put into the mouth of
that character. All the excessive
modesty and unselfishness of action
that is reflected throughout the pages
Of Washington's bona-fide diary and
his voluminous correspondence is re-
produced in this book with a fidelity
which adds to the charm OF deception.
Carefully selected phrases, the GER
tainty in every facts correctness ex-
pressed, the restraint exercised in all
judgments of other mems actions-all
these characteristics of the scrupulous-
ly correct and unswervingly just Wash
ingtcn Mitchell has caught and re-
nected in this imaginative memoir.
The illusion is complete.
By the grave communings Of an old
man with the memories of an hoQored
nfstime there are brought out delicate
Ghadings OF characters such as cannot
be reproduced IN the formal eulogies
ef historians. These we feel must be
very close 10 truth, very near what
Washington kept locked up under
guard OF his impenetrable reserve. For
example, as to this very character
tstic aloofness itself, Mitchell has his
Washington say:
1T has often happened to me to
learn that am thought to be a cold
man, but this / believe to be untrue;
for though ! am as concerns social in
tercourse and freedom OF speech a man
reserved by nature, I discover in my
self a great freedom to express my
self Gffectionately on paper-nor do 1
conceive that I am unlike others in
feeling the loss OF the many friends
whom distance or death have separated
from me"
The real George Washington was
known 20 be a man possessed, SEEM
ingiy. Of but one great fault and that
an occasional ungovernable temper. OF
this the imagined autobiographer
makes ready admission:
'.Dr. Franklin has wisely said that
no examples are SO useful TO a man
as those which his own conduct af-
fords and that he was right in his
opinion have reason to believe. This
have observed to be true OF anger,
70 which am. or was, subject. I fat
ter myself that have now learned to
al fe
stiu on rare occasions likely to become
mutinous. DO not observe that mere
abuse troubles me long, but in the
presence Of cowardice or ingratitude
I am subject to fits Of rage"
Thus are we able TO CLEAN from these
reconstructed pages Of the life Of
Washington intimate glimpses of the
great soul Of the man: glimpses which
strike into us more tellingly than the
rounded phrase of a panegyrist or the
sounding period Of historian This
clothing OF the spirit Of Washington
with the tangible form. Of his own
thoughts has about it something fas-
cinating.
All Of the time, too, We are in puz-
xie over the book What is true? What
is fancy? Letters there are In the text
bearing the names Of historical per-
s0nages and OF seeming verify: but
are they fiction? Details. likewise, Of
the campaign at Fort Necessity or OF
the terrible defeat OF Braddock are
here TO bring US pause; what are their
sources In history or are they sprung
from Mitchell's fine imagination?
One Of the very few good books Of
the year, this.
CThe Century Company. New York;
price 81 50.)