The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-06-11


developing the mind-or it may not.
But history, as collection of fables,
as an endless drama is that of which
I have here some concern, as Maurice
Hewlett might say. This is history in
the old style by the old-schsol historian,
before these pernicious modernists be.
gan to meddle with it, and to introduce
their ideas of constitutional history, a
phrase which is "mere sound and fury,
signifying nothing" worth while. Who
cares whether the income tax in an
cient Egypt was constructed on slid
ing scale or not? Who but q pedant
feels deep interest in the first rude
germs of Parliament, which have Oc-
casioned so much debate?
The historian of the old school
started out with beautifully irrational
motive, to make his chronicle square
with the justice of the Almighty. He
had no passion for absolute truth; If
facts did not confirm his case as they
stood, he moulded them, put in an
imaginative touch here and there, un-
til the finished product represented, as
nearly as possible, what he considered
the facts ought DO be, approximatedy
his ideal of the truth. Furthermore.
being simple soul and ever senti-
mentalist, he concentrated his atten.
tion on the doings Of the "great."
Courts and the pageantry which Scott
loved meant more to him than the do
ings of what, with careless aristocratic
grace, he termed the mob. OF course
he overdid his part. There are times
when the intricacies of heraldry pail,
to say the least of it, and times when
1t would be pleasant to catch whiff
of democracy in the hot-house air of
intrigue and counter-intrigue.
. But, in the main, he had the best of
1t. "The short and simple scandals OF
the poor" as wit called them, do not
while away the lonely hour nor even
arouse active thought as do the in
trigues of Agrippina, or the council.
iors of Mary, Queen of Scots or OF
<'bonny Prince Charlie" 1t is inter
esting to observe, too, how his point OF
view colors our conception of ancient
times. In making our futile contrast
between this peerless age and all 9th
ers, we think of them as ages of Ger
tain definite men, the age of Pericles
the age of Savonarola, and forget tha
our own epoch may be spoken of
little later az the age of Edison o.
<perish the thought) the age of Rocke
feller.
- History was thus drama. Even il
democratic America, dramatic heroe
like Washington and Lincoln take tn
center of the stage and all the evils o
the star-system flourish accordingly
The minor characters, scarcely less i'm
portant separately and infinitely NOR
so when taken together, are carelessl
drawn, become mere feeders of tn
hero. On the other hand, there ar
evident advantages. Where there
no star, it is hard to fix the drama
the memory, and it is far better
conceive one character than none at al
So much for the hero. But what {
that other character of equal impo
! tance in all welkcOnstructed dram
the heroine? Here Is the stumbling
block of the American historian.
is. not possible to make Boadicea
Molly Pitcher, an Elizabeth of Martt
Washington, or a. Helen of Troy {
Harriet Beecher Stowe, tho these tv
latter did both set the world in arm
The Frenchman can celebrate Jeanl
Dare or Marie Antoinette or even E
genie, according to his temperameT
The Spaniard has Isabella, who
transactions with the pawnbrok
were, until recently, regarded as
more importance than the result tn
they helped to bring about. The Its
Q ian has his great tragic figures, L
cretia Befgis, Beatrice di sCenci, al
can 90 back to- Shakespeare's Lucre'
IT he wish. The names of Catheri
of Russia, of Maria Theresa, even
Caroline, George Tvs queen, instant
occur % suitable leading ladies.
That the heroine adds sintefest tot
eitustion is evident. How about t