East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-05-27
A BROADSIDE AGAINST WELLS

DROADSlDE AGAlNOl w ELiAS
'T>HE 'Muddle- Headed" H. G.. Wells once produced a
book which everybody seems to have read and many
people praised but which now turns out to be silly
in parts, with evidence that its authors qualifications
historian mil" These phrases the high lights of
abroadsde eveed at the author of the Oune of His
tory by the Department Study of Revolutionary Move
,ents of the National Civic Federation One hundred col
ege professors contribute to the bulky pamphlet contain
ing their judgments The Of opinion says Con-
de M Pallen, chairman of the department with
ceptions is that Mr. Wells is not historian at ALL" This
will blow for the doughty writer after he has subsst
ed for several years the tangible evidences of public a
prova Of the most enthusiastic tributes coming from
Dean Cary Thomas of Bryn Mawr. The New York Times
dgesng the pamphlet reports that historians and
teachers of history hold that Wells is as accurate as he
needs to be for the ordinary reader and that in spite of
some shortcomings, he has performed useful service in
getting thousands interested in history who were ndffer
ent to it before As to the style of the work. there diff
ference OF opinion some thinking it brilliant and others
inferior"
Here are some specimen judgments extracted by the
Times:
"Dr D. G. Munro, sPrnceton-The facts are generally
accurate because Wells had the assistance of many crit
les. Occasionally, however, there is curious blunder e.
6, that Washington was indolent.'
Dir. William H. Mace, Syracuse Unversity-Mr Wells is
neither accurate in his statements Of facts dependable
in his deductions,
CDR. Theodore Clark Cmith, Williams Coege-His facts
seem fairly well checked up his deductions worth
tiidH W.T. WeH snap JuugllellC on else
marriage diplomacy, God anything he happens to no.
tice
"Dr. William Stearns Davis, University of Minnesota
Apparently he did not like the Romans and his account of
them seems to me- at least almost grotesque in its mscon-
cepti0ns and its inadequacy.
'Dr. r. v. D. Magoffin Johns Hopkins Universty-The
accuracy and dependabty Of Mr. Wells statements would
to run about So per cent rght his deductions there
from at least S5 per cent wrong
'Dr Frederick X. Paxon, University of Wisconsin-As
journalist and man of letters he has shown remarkable
capacity in constructing imaginary civilization around the
structure provided by interesting or novel hypothe
sis.
"Dean John L. Hill, Georgetown College-In my judg
en the social and moral philosophy of Mr. Wells disqual
flies him as leader and teacher of young people,
"Dr. William Millgan Sloane Columbia University
have read large portions and find no gripping qualities
Professor William Starr Myers Princeton-In m,
opinion, Wells Outline of History is inaccurate msead
ing and calculated to appeal only to ignorant and thought
less people. Mr. Wells lacks both scholarship and abi
to write history and do not how any acher or scho
can honestly this work text and keep his or he
professional sef-respect"
The Brooklyn Eagle is mot quite clear" as to why tn
National Civic Federation has gone about this work
showing up Wells, and thinks that Mr. Pallens summar
dismissal OF Wells pretentons to being historian 'vi
phase Mr.. Wells and his admirers immensely" for
They will hold that conclusions based upon concens,
of opinion admitting so many exceptions are not conc
sve at ALL AS matter of fact Mr. Wells book does n,
some off so badly Asking professors of history to pa
on such work not unlike inviting the opinion of med
cal men on the efficacy of faith healers miracles RI
why 60 TO 50 much trouble to prove that Wells not hi
torian? He never made such claim for himself and h
inhis book repeatedly emphasized his own deficiencies
Literary DIGEST - -NAS'Nies'