The New York herald., 1922-05-29
History Through Romance.
4 Chance for Somebody TO Write q
Novel on the Electoral Commission.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: We were
discussing IT. G. Wells's "Outline OF
History" and OF course the familiar re-
mark was heard that the work must
lie worthless as history because Wells
is not a historian. Besides the rejoinder
that Wells became historian by writ
Ing history something else may be
said in support OF the contention that
he may have written good history yet
remain, II you please. not historian.
In those days when it was not thought
to be stuffy occupation TO read Bull
wer--it is not easy for old fashioned
folk TO say Lord Lytton--our better
read elders told us youngsters that we
would find no such history Of the de-
struction Of Pompeii as was written into
Bulwcr's "The Last Days OF Pompeii"
They might have said that we would
find no other history Of that tragedy.
Bulwer In his notes to Book V. OF
the novel intimates that he found no
history of the event--and he must have
read cxhaustively on the subject-but
based his description OF the destruction
upon facts developed through study by
modern scientists of the strata of the
ruins. He found that various theories
as to the exact mode by which Pompeii
was destroyed have been invented by
the ingenious" but upon the whole
except the inevitable poetic license OF
shortening the time which the destruc-
ton occupied-I believe my description
of that awful event Ia very little as
sisted by invention. and will be found
60
in q romance"
Then there Is George Eliot's "Romola,"
which some students assert gives bet
ter history of Florence In the fifteenth
century than Ia supplied by any his
torian. And George Eliot wrote that
novel before she ever visited Florence.
have heard scholars cay that In that
work of fiction she gave them their
most vivid impression of Savonarola
himself. his life. and, in his relation
with Romola, OF the reforms he dreamed
OF and sought to accomplish until he
was executed IN 1923 for being too much
OF a progressive.
One could go OIL and make a good
argument that tho world never gets
readable and instructive history of
events until the historians have written
themselves out and the lctionists mako
use of those events. Can any reader
name a non-par,isan history Of the
Franco -Prussian war OF 1902 I've
never found one.
One more historical subject II 7 may
Introduce 1t. Has non-partisan history
been written Of all tho acts which led
Ia the institution by Congress of an
electoral commission 10 settle certain
disputed questions in regard to the cleo
toral votes OF several states In the
Presidential election OF 1876? ] ask
this with unusual interest because many
years ago a man, not a politician but
one necessarily familiar with political
happenings. told me that there were
then two men living who could have
told OF acts leading up TO the creation
OF that commission which. II publicly
known before the rendering of the COM
missions nnal judgment. would inevita-
bly, have had one OF two results. the
inauguration OF Tilden as President or
riotous protests. II one quotes Rhodes.
Burgess, Hawortl on the subject one
Ia answered Partisan" n one quotes
the International Encyclopedia, which
says fatty, There can be hardly a
question that Mr.. Tilden was morally
entitled to the Presidency" one will be
asked who wrote the article. Anyway,
what Is moral title to an office?
Must we wait until some industrious
or lucky novelist or playwright learns
all tho truth about all the facts relat-
ipg to and preceding the Judgment OF
the commission before we shall have
history Of that interesting crisis?
u. w. T.
MoNTcIAIn. N. J., May 81