Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-05

convention held in Charlotte, Mecklenburg
county, n. C., has been the subject of the
most mooted question and acrimonious con-
troversy OF the history of the American
revolution Evidences dating from 1TTJ
ard onward of a document of this nature,
copies OF doubtful origin of the document
in question copy written from memory
In 1902. testimony of reliable persons who
stated between 1919 and 1880 that they had
been spectators and participants at meet
ing which adopted Ii. and traditions are
cited to prove the genuineness and anthem
ITCHY of the Mecklenburg declaration OF
independence. In fs30. after the publication
of trenchant letter of Thomas Jefferson
expressing his belief that the paper was a
fabrication. the Legislature of North Caro-
lima took up the matter and affirmed the
and authentic. Today, in North Carolina,
II Is engrafted upon the statute books,
the date 1t bears Is emilia zoned upon the
great seal of the state, and the anniversary
of its alleged PRONUNCIATION is observed by
legislative enactment. - The consensus OF
opinion of critical students of American his
tory is opposed to its authenticity; but
from the beginning of the controversy
there have been two hostile camps, each
fortified by what are regarded as un-
answerable arguments If this verdict be
reversed. we must conclude, contrary to
lorg-acCeDted views. and with the Older
British historians, chat before May, 1775
there a conscious movement in the
colonies having independence as its aim
and we must admit that some of the most
striking expressions OF Jeffersons immor-
tai document of thirteen months later were
borrowed from the MscklCnburg man feSto. :
Mr. Hoyt. volume is q careful and in
: terestng piece Of Work. He says: In
spirei with a special love for the history
of tie old North State and with pro-
found vaneration for the Mecklenburg
patriots of ,775. I came TO my subject
with t.le intention of writing defense
of tie auttent'ci: of the Mecklenourg
Geclai aticn. hut the irresistible logic of
facts drove me- TO MY present position. :
The resolves lie considers Cue entirely to
rough notes written from memory as late
1903.
THE GOLDEN HAWK. BY Edith Rickert.
author of Folly Illustrated New
York: The Baker and Taylor Com
pany. Washington: Ballantyne.
Young Triilon adopted tie lawk for his
emblem. The reader who is so fortunate
as to read Of his flights about the sun
drenched corner of Provence where Made
loun lived must decide whether he was
justified or merely arrogant. However that
may be. there can be no DOUBT as to the
charm of the story written about them.
The fortunes of tie unique pair of lovers are
of compelling interest. TIE atmosphere is
fun Of an indefnable charm. There are
both pathoS and humor and dizziness In
characterize ton. But Trfllon and Made
individual. passionate. very man and very
woman. Miss ,Rickert has written a not
able romance.
FANSHAWE OF THE FIFTH. Eeing Me-
moirs OF a Person of Quality By Ash
ton Killers. New York: Mcclure. Phil
lips & Co. Washington: Woodward &
Lothrop.
romance of quite unusual quality is
this record of the adventures of George
Fanshawe. the son of the Earl of Blaken-
ham. 1t has the leisurely, unhurried charm
of the early noyelists: there is, in the chroni-
Gle of Inn and high-road happenings. some
what of the flavor of more righteous
Tom Jones' George Fanshawe, when a
mere lad. by a conspiracy of most unfortu-
nate circumstances. becomes a wanderer
and a fellow Of loutish, farm laborers.
Through painful years he obtains a knowl-
edge of lower-class and middle-class e,gh-
teenth century life which makes him. when
he comes into his own again, a sympathetic
and wise landlord and magnate. But the
great virtue of the book lies In the setting
of English life Of century ago. which is so
convincing that the reader can hardly be
persuaded that he has not stumbled upon
some contemporary, hitherto unknown, pic
ture by a genius of the past. The men and
women not twentieth century folk mas
Querading in eighteenth century costumes
and with eighteenth century airs and oaths.
They belong to their own time: they are
moved by the influences, interested In the