New-York tribune., 1907-08-31

tor. by Justin II Smith. In TWO noluInes.
--.avo. pp. Gss NJ, 635 G. r Putnam
sors.
little more Of the art that conceals art
would have made better reading of Professor
Smiths book on The struggle for Canada dur
.ng the American Revolution. The profuse cita-
ZION Of authorities and the stress laid in the
preface on the number OF manuscripts. printed
histories and monographs consulted in the
preparation OF the work suggest almost too
maternity an effort after erldition and authori-
tativeness. while throughout there is
slant stra:ning after vivecity and picturesque
ness which defeats its own object and ends in
errifcialiry and :edium. Occasionally Professor
Smith drcrs into a natural and easy style and
gives the reader page which suf
acert 20 show that he might have written
quietly and seriously without being ponderous
The story 10 which Professor Smith devotes
his twelve hundred pages. in its main outlines.
IS familiar every American schoolboy- The
taking Of Ticonderoga and Montreal, the march
OF Arnold through the wilderness TO Quebec
ana the heroic efforts Of Mont tgonery and Ar
mold to take the Queen OF the St Lawrence
are recorded in every book on the Revolution.
ana until q couple Of years ago American WIS.,
itors to Quebec reminded of the heroic
deeds Of their countrynen by the inscription
marking the spot where Montgomery fell But
20 say thai the main lines Of the story are
familiar is not say that Professor Smith has
added nothing to this chapter OF American his
tory I-ndistracted by the many other events
and ACTIVITIES ot those momentous years. ne
gives Undivided attertion 10 the Canadian ex-
,editions. Even Congress and the Commander
;n Chief Of the American forces are only
mentioned when their doings or deioera-
tons affect Canada. British policies ana
the movement Of British and American armies
all far- n a-h 81
historians; while not single detail, not &
movement OF d single company OF even OF an
individual scout OF spy. is neglected, II II Is
sar-nane TO the attempt 10 incorporate Canada
as me fourteenth colony. The result is that
Professor Smith has reconstructed with eN-
traordinary completeness the history OF that
important. though unsuccessful ehor'' the
marches through the wilderness. the ATTACKS
and retreats. the sieges and the assaults be-
ing 1Infolded before the reader with minute
realism.
The first move in the game for the capture
Of Canada was played when the Green Noun
tain men set out 10 capture Ticonderoga- The
story Of the taking of this key TO the St Law
rence will serve as a good Illustration of Pro-
fessor Smiths method OF writing history, ana
IL is worth quotation account OF the vast
Importance Of the captured post through al
the campaigns which were still TO come;
Creeping swiftly but warfly round the curing
rrecipce. they path running down from t L11s
as an 80 II nded1at the vel Here lay the
weak point Of Ticonderoga, its back door, ~
nath which led down ia the water, leo UP 70 d
gate and covered way and through r mem tona 10
snail par GF iie fortress The gate
been closed but the wicket. large enough TO 5 aa5
mil Two side by side was open ou.sioe 500 &
g sentry. thinking Growsly OF ms sWeetiieait ttle
reAt paEoay, xei,cS sef his breakfast-heaver
knows what suddenly round the slope . al nus neI 1el
sons Men Tls . 5n0n him 1ii' But he knew his
ness LeveIling his piece at Allen. then almost aI
its rnuzzle. ne pulled the trigger ..-. Ala,
Slfk ,ba as -Ieke Ie aside with his sword But that
unnecessary. the damaged powder woe1q l IGs h
blade whirled hack TO descend on the fleeing sen
the covered way stopped the sweep OF H. ana Inc
next instant close under the s,ee @ ITe isFed
"a an6tber seiItTy-there were two-tried TO fire.
but he also failed Pricking an American ofrcer
y-i,h his hsvoner he found the same blaze hash-
,ns above his head only a quick softening OF
hsir saved his brains The rausket dropped. and
xo sisT.a gwen could be That Ths sa7 one
f4scr slept But not long ,DaTIns IKE R Iasl.o -
rirg" as Alien said. through the covered passage
D. i-31-alis+s 1ol5red on 10 the parade. formed
- "a - ia, -Ice;- -b-oa-s with horrible Ind
ian wells while of Ihern-a- Arnod's oroeTs,-
secured the barracks doors. II was 'erFloie
Borne along -he road of this pandemoniurn. the
leaders dashed UP the stars 10 ne ooin as-I "
Come ttis instant you darned oIa raI
OF III sacrifice the whole garrison. beIo%ea AZ
len. pounding On the door win IRE Iolnnel ~ ~
sword The door opened; there stood lhe captain
IN his shirt breeches in hand while the 1TigrI- 5I
ness Give I'D The instantly" was the salu-
tation that sTccted him
Without making an effort 10 rehabilitate Bene-
sict arnold and. indeed, without the slightest
mention of his later and Jess reputable career .
Professor Smith apparently takes pleasure IN
showing how much his country owed 70 Arnoid
In the early wears Of the Revolution and how
ba,-.y Re was reraid for his patriotic sacrlhces
srs s,Iffe-fres ArnCId-s energy. his foresight. .
his readiness 70 give Of his own, whether in
substance or in life. are plainly brought out in
the srst volume Of this work The author evi-
se-tly considers that Arnold was unfairly treat
.d by Congress from the very first when ne
made his arqpearance among the Green Noun F
tain BOYS with his commission from the Colony .
rf Mass achusetts constituting him a colonel II
his hard but without a soldier at MS back MS
ferrland 70 be placed in command of the expeoi-
Ton against Ticonderoga seemed sheer audaci'S
10 Ethan Allen and his comrades Nor can even
Professor Smith attribute the success or the eh
petition 10 Arnold, who in this, his frst atpehl'
70 t-- conclusions with the British. was almost
4 Eupernurrerarv II is TO Ethan Alien that the
ereet must still given for the first clearance
o. the road 10 Canada. Yet Arnolus superior
Intelligence was bound 20 make Itself 1eit De-
lore events progressed very far; and Arhoio' III
the end, made a greater impression In Americai'
kisro-v ,ban could have been made by man of
The temperament and character or Ethah Aheh-
s,in one feels that in his efforts 10 hefrfend
Ar.,od Professor Smith IS scarcely fair to Allen
whom he describes as "a big. rough man. with
r ti1 nah q q