Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-15
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
l. C. NJ.

THE UNKNOWN WASHINGTON BIZ
ographic Origins of the Republic.
John Corbin3 Charles Scribners
Sons.
The irnumerable over-writings of
George Washington have served both
hands. right and left In this one Is
fact. authentic. basic iii substance, eX-
panding consistently through the inter-
play of character and circumstance to
the approach and fulfiilment Of
unique political experiment in the New
World-that of a government by the
people. Here, only may Washington,
man and statesman, be found.
In the other hand is fact also. Here,
however, fact is tninned by rumor and
hearSay, discolored by loose observa-
tion and looser comment, distorted by
interpretations alien to the subject, but
sourced rather in biased political OPP
ponents. Washington has suffered here,
moreover, through Puritanic imposi-
tons of educational intent, wherein
paragons and patterns were the chief
concern. Legend is IN the making. you
see. With this hand. The mind OF
man is. however, partial to legend,
myth, miracle. 1t has to be. Some
where in marvel and wonder must hide
the answer to his fears, his hopes. So,
BCIlcldlly, The ldDIe Wits WIlcIC IAAC
straight tale loses. Such alliance be-
common mind has caused more than
one great figure in history to depart
wholly from himself under the blight OF
superimposed and dehumanizing per-
lection. In our own time and place no
other great one has so completely re-
tired behind his own artificial front,
behind his own effigy, as has George
Washington. Early education, the great
public school in its passion for precept
and example has done yeoman work in
the extinction of this great man. The
lad, coming his history book, says, "Oh,
shucks! He's too good to be true!" and
turns away from the Father of His
Country to the more interestingly prank
ish boys and girls around him. The older
schoolmasters had not learned that the
young heart must be stirred before the
mind allows itself to be caught in the
tells of mere learning. Maybe they
know better now.
A cold correct, honest, uninspiring,
dull, dead man-George Washington,
save when galvanized into motion by
memorial celebrations Of quasi-patriotic
character.
A few years ago there was reaction
against such false and artificial con-
struction and Interpretation of one who
had once been alive. But this reaction
was too violent. 1t went as far to the
other side as the Jealous Saint-maker
had gone on his. Somewhere in be-
tween these two groups Of exposltors
was the real man himself, waiting to
carry on in service to his country and
his countrymen as he had done in the
long ago and more vivid past. Around
this one, piled high, were volumes, man
uscripts, journals, letterS-all the writ
ten whatnot which men leave In rather
pathetic gesture toward their own con-
tinuation in long-accustomed roles OF
useful service. Other volumes have
been added to these original ones. Both
right and left hands of successors have
multiplied enormously the early liter
AZURE of Washington. But, even so and
yet, the great man remains deplorably
unreal, lamentably defunct.
Here Is John Corbin. Obviously q
scholar, having learned many things
from bookS-biology, psychology, philos-
ophy, history, biography, literature as
such. Still. and in despite thereof, may
be, one who has held fast to the more
open reactions of high intelligence. as well
as to the mental spade work OF sheer
common sense. Equipment both full
and unusual for an undertaking like
the one he has chosen in this case. The
enterprise is nothing less than the rec
reation of George Washington to his
own day and work, to the forward NOV
ing of the man and his time up into
the present. This union to effect a
continuing and combined force right
now and in all the years to come While
free governments endure. With such
adventure in view, John Corbin sur
rounds himself with the volume and
weight of material that have grown up
around the subject. Not forgetting,
mind you, the personal equation, a
richly equipped John Corbin, who, out
of the mass is to bring a living man,
George Washington. Out of the effort
let us say it at once-Washington
does come alive, Individually and imme-
diately alive. A wide and deep I'M
Outstanding coupled with creative mag
ination--these the tools Of this distinct
achievement.
Searching and researching-such the
literal process-mulling over the heavy
bulk of ready-to-wear literary stuff at
hand; choosing, discarding, simplifying
here in the interest of clarity, condenS-
ing there for the sake of pith and point;
setting in order, binding together in
coherent progression; vitaliZing with
incident, picturing with description, con-
vincing with proof and argument; suf-
fusing the whole with the glow OF in
sight, with the warmth Of understand
ing-such, sketchily. is the way of this
writer in the geographic study OF George
Washington in his service to the young
Republic.
The search for truth is an exacting, a
ruthless adventure. 1t is here. In its
pursuit this author has run counter
not habitually, of course, but in many
cases has he run counter to the md
ings in more than one Life of Wash
ington." And low grumblings have
been heard from q critic here and
there from an author over yonder rub
bling his sore shin. Yet scrutiny OF
any difference between this writer and
another on the subject in hand fails
to disclose anything but the single pur-
pose, to get close to Washington him.
self-heart- and-soul close to the man
and the momentouS purpose of his life
and service, the union of the Colonies
for the formation of the Republic. II
another has projected errors, these are
merely pointed out and set aside. NO
animus whatever Is manifest. Nothing
save the scientific measure of truth is
accepted in the study. The effect OF
such purpose, steadfastly maintained, on
the part Of John Corbin, is as near
complete rehabilitation of that particu-
lar period and its outstanding repre-
sentative as can be conceived.
The supreme problem of that time was
to hold the young Republic together
The Colonies were at fierce odds with
one another, Jealousy was the domi-
narit emotion. Trade jealousies were,
just as they are today. the real potencies
of disunion, the real enemy to those ac-
comodations that must characterize all
collective operations. The South was
jealous OF the commercial North. This
basic animosity worked out In all the
aspects of settling war debts, of in
augurating new enterprises, of legisla-
tive representation in the new Congress.
No mart of the national idea uaS free