The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-12
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 It is, however, surprising how long l it takes a man to overcome the habit of his youth in crediting everything he reads which bears the name of history without making any effort whatever to question the historians statement of facts or to challenge his conclusions. ]
 It is strange the power the printed page has over the average person. This is one reason why newspapers have such an influence. Frequently little lattention is given to current conversa- tion, but when it is written out and set up in type and sent broadcast it takes on different aspect and is often quoted as authority from the mere fact that it appeared in print.
 In spite of the fact that rather early in my college days I was cautioned not I to give credence to statements in his- tories unless had al least given some time to comparative study of the ac- credited historians bearing up the sub ! ject, I was yet pretty susceptible to believing any account which had the l authority of an eminent author be- hind it.
 It took years of close reading to be able to approximately estimate the value of the various schools in ancient, mediaeval and modern history, and even now, after giving much time to any historical question and after consult ing all the leading authorities, I am not at all sure that I have the facts, but only comfort myself with the thought that at least l have compared more or less discrepant statements and have been enabled to draw my own conclu- sions, confident or hesitant according to my estimate of the bias or prejudice of the various writers.
 I know that it is mighty easy for from the mere fact that he has been an omniverous reader of history. The amount read has absolutely nothing whatever to do with the question of ones ability to properly pass upon the
 
 different sources Of historical infor- nation, and the principles that should guide the inquirer estimating their evil dential value. It takes an investigator to arrive at the facts just as it re- quires ability to interpret them.
 Now. do not wish to discourage any one from reading history. for it's an in- forming and pleasant thing to do even though one may not hope to ever be- come an authority even in limited field. It's worth while to have at least a superficial acquaintance with the past, partly in order to get some idea of how the religious, political and so- cial conditions of the world as we know have grown up. It at least broadens ones per specfive of life and thereby saves from narrowness
 While it takes special training to be a historian whose opinion is authorita- tive in his chosen field, yet, in fact, as has been pointed out, every man who is not totally indifferent to current
 
 in d haphazard way. what the historian does methodically It's like the Lady Ambrose, who, quoting from Moliere's, "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, who ex- claimed after his instruction in prose- T have known this these twenty years without being conscious of it. He dis covered that he had been talking prose all his life, and so she, like MT. Jour dain, had been making history without knowing it.
 Current history is being made each day under our eyes. and we are helping to make it. Take an illustration to show the average mans part in it. He reads in the newspapers eyewitnesses' narratives which are believed by the writer to be correct Laugh as you may. the one thing drilled into a re- porter is to get the facts and leave comment upon them to the editors And so the man in the street" who reads each day his favorite journal is getting the current history of the day.
 
 I have brought this out to show just how hard it is to arrive at the truth in | history. when it is earnestly sought. l To test the matter, the next time you | witness an automobile accident just | join yourself to the crowd and hear the | two drivers of the cars give their ac- l count of how it happened to the traf- | fic policeman. and you will almost doubt your own eyes, for they will be | so wide apart in their versions. Now, | if it happens that you are called as a | witness. and get on the stand to tell | plain, unvarnished tale without bias, l before you are out of the hands of a | shrewd cross-examining lawyer you | will be put to such confusion that in | your own mind you will doubt whether or not you told it just as it really hap pened.
 Some claim that we are yet too close | to the revolutionary war to properly | give it its proper focus in history; that l certainly the civil war will have to wait another half century before jus | tice can be done either to the north or | the south; and surely it is too soon to | even dimly outline the great tragedy | which set the world in arms; but I'll | stake my reputation as a historian on | the fact that the Rainbow division has | made for itself a place which will |