Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-14
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF HENRY ADAMS
The Discriminating You'd
Rather Have Written IL Than
Haze Been President

America has produced no more re-
markable family than that founded by
John Adams, who succeeded Washington
in the presidency. John Quincy, the son
OF John, also occupied the executive
mansion IN Washington. Charles
Francis, the son OF John Quincy, served
as minister to England during and after
the Civil War and made a reputation
as diplomatist second to none in the
history of the country. The sons Of
Charles Francis have all been distin-
guished for originality and brilliance of
intellect. They have not sought political
office and they could not have obtained
1t II they had sought II, for they lacked
the ability to win popular support.
When the autobiography of Charles
Francis Adams. Jr., was published last
year. after his death, it was welcomed
az one of the most remarkable books Of
the season. and unique among autobiog-
raphics for Its calm dissection and anal
ysis OF the writer's character and at
tainments. Henry Adams, the brother
of Charles Francis, Jr, wrote an auto
biography which he had privately
printed before his death. Only few
persons were privileged to she it, be-
cause the edition was limited. The book
has been published this season and can
now be obtained by any one who has
the price. Every educated man or
woman who can raise the money ought
to own It, for It is one Of the greatest
books that has appeared in genera
tion. Many a discriminating man after
reading 1t will remark that he would
rather have written It than have been
President
But there are more persons familiar
with the name of Connie Mack than
with that of Henry Adams and many
others who know that Henry was the
grandson Of one President and the great
grandson of another know little more
about him. They will be interested to
learn that he was born in 1893, was
graduated from Harvard College in 1858,
spent a year in Europe, and when he
returned to America was taken back to
London by his father to serve as his
secretary In the American embassy. He
remained In London until 1868, when he
returned home and spent a season as a
Washington correspondent for the Nation
and one or two other papers became
an assistant professor Of history at Har-
ward in 1871 and editor Of the North
sitions for six or seven years, and then
resigning to devote himself to his own
devices. He published book on Anglo
Saxon courts Of law. He wrote a nine
volume history of the United States, cov-
ering tho period from 1901 to 1917, in
which he has produced careful study
of Jefferson and Madison. He wrote a
life of Albert Gallatin and edited his
works, and wrote the lives Of John Ran
do,ph and Henry Cabot Lodge and pub
lished a volume of political and economic
essays. None Of these works Is popular
in style or treatment. Indeed. Adams
confesses that, so far as he knew the
only serious readers Of his study OF
rofr"rsor and Madison were Abram s.
Hewitt, Wayne MacVeagh and John Hay,
II small reward. as he says. for ten years
of hard work.
At first thought one would say that a
man whose achievement in matters OF
general interest was so slight would have
nothing to say in his autobiography
which could be of Importance. But who