The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-15

BOSTON. MASS. Feb. ls.--If adj
vertising was what James Henry Stark
wanted when he wrote his book, The
Loyalists of Massachusetts, and the
Other Side of the American Revolu-
tion." in which he characteristics Sam
uel Adams and John Hancock as de-
faulters and thieves, Patrick Henry
as the most unreliable man that had
lived up to that time and bank
rupt at twenty-three. after having
failed as storekeeper, farmer ana
shopkeeper, and BENJAMIN Franklin
as a postoffice thief who was dismiss-
ed from his job as postmaster of Bos-
ton, he got all that he wished. He
mas stirred up discussion that prom
ises to be fully as enIivening as was
the recent boycott on meat and plac-
ing the blame for the high cost of
living.
Joke of Season.
Singularly enough, 1t is not the real
members of patriotic societies that are
most interested in the Stark book. For
the most part, they consider the hook
the joke of the season, and admit that
some of the structures cast by Stark
on the heroes OF 1776" are points
well taken, whether they assist in
clearing the reputation of his Tory
friends to any extent or not. They
read what Stark says and enjoy It.,
and admit that American history will
probably survive the assault even of
the Stark book.
Achieves Fame.
But Stark has attained more than
local fame. and that satisfies Boston.
anyhow Stark il well known in New
England, having lived here since his
parents brought him here from Lon
don at the age OF nine. His home is
IN dorchester. and he la president of
the British Charitable Society. vice.
president of the Victorian Club and a
member OF the New England Histori-
cal Genealogical Society
Terrible Mistake.
That the book Is accented as a sis.
tlhct acquisition to the literature of
New England is shown by the pub
hcauon or letter written by de.
scendant of James Otis, whose battle
cry, No taxation without represen-
tation," Was the railytnR cry of the
Revolutionary army. He dropped a
note to Historian Stark as follows:
sure. Put me down for book.
that upstart ancestor Of mine.
James Otis, had only been hung In
1850 we might all have been dukes
in the family by this time, instead of
miserable United States citizens. Ter
rible mistake, the revolution, as any
one who has lived in England must
appreciate. Ever yours
Down Trodden, Graft Governed
America"
Lowell Laughs.
President Abbott Lawrence Lowell
of Harvard, laughed heartily when
the matter was preached to him.
Why, of course, we at Harvard know
all about John Hancock and his con-
nection with the university. The COM
piete story of his connection with the
university as its treasurer may be
found in the History OF Harvard
written by Josiah Quincy. an early
president in 1870. ! guess the facts
as stated by Mr., Stark coincide with
those In that book And the noted
educated smiled again.
But every one does not take the
matter in a humorous light and they
severely criticise the author OF His
tory Up-to-Date as 1t Should Be"
One of these Is DIR. Samuel A. Green.
q former mayor of Boston and
historian of the Massachusetts His
torical Society. He said:
II am not at all in sympathy with
a man who casts reflections upon
any or all of our patriots. 1t
eheapens the heroic self-sacritee of
those who made the republic possible.
But the author Is a man of English
birth and ] suppose looks at things In
a little different light than perhaps
you and l do.