Evening star., 1932-01-10

Inv 1t since it leads to great enterprise now
going on. That of the rediscovery Of America
To the average, that settled for good and
all when the Puritan, by virtue OF intellectual
and spiritual leadership, plus his own brand
OF dogmatism, wrote the history Of America,
one that has maintained an educational right
OF way up to the present.
But now another order is rising. Science
fostering new scholarship, supported by that
which in effect is general cooperative move
ment, is steadily recasting the map Of America,
is creating chart of older origins than the
one that spread its thin blade across the con-
tinent from Puritan New England. A search
for truth, quest for actuafity, for facts EN-
bedded in the logic of their own substance and
enects-this, and nothing else, the goal of
scientific investigation To its service expert
training is brought. Archeologist professional
surface historian, psychologist, economist, nov
ehst even. Foundations, individual and col
lective are growing for the advancement of this
departure away from old rumors and repetitions
Of constantly fading substance, OF constantly
diminishing worth as record of the great Amer
ican adventure. Under the new administration
the New World is growing inconceivably old.
Buried cities are coming to light. Unknown
cultures, hideen deep for thousands of years,
are emerging to declare and define their long
gone existence. Inca, Maya, Toltec, Aztec,
Tarascan and another and another name be-
token powers and nations and tribes that, to
the majority, have no meaning of any sort.
Of matters, too, nearer ones, pertaining
10 this country are pressing the modern schol-
ars and nvestig ators. For many of the events
Of our own period are slipping toward tradition,
legend, fable, myth. These are 10 be rescued,
are being rescued to the virile content of real
tty, to active partnership in Nation making,
10 the interpretive values and inspirationsl ef-
1ects that exist within them.
High adventures here. To name few: The
Oregon Trail, the California Gold Rush, the
Mormon Trek, the Lewis and Clark Expedition,
the work of individual explorer, trader, trspper,
soldier. These to be rescued to future active
service in the making OF Americans, not left to
slide into the dreamy glamours of legend and
fable
1t is only SO years since the gold rush to
California Hardly hour historic periods
are now shown to run. Yet this epic OF Ameri
can adventure was already on its way to take
piace beside the mythic Greek tale of Jason
and the Golden Fleece, Jason and the Quest
ing Argonauts when the new spirit of science
in the person Of modern expert constituted
himself rescue agency In behalf of living
record Of our earlier days, Just around the
corner.
FORTY MINERS The Chronicle of the Cali
fornia Trail. By Archer Butler Hubert,
director of the Stewart Commission on
Western History of Colorado College. Illus
treted. Boston: Houghton Miffin Co.
] the trail of the Golden Fleece. prize
story besides, deserving the Atlantic $1,000
award on either OF two counts Preparation
the first of the two. A most vital and imme-
diate drama of expanding America the second.
One is likely to overlook the foundation,
laboriously set here in engrossment with
the building set upon it,
Amazing industry went into that preparation.
From far and wide this expert investigator and
authority ON the history of TIE West gathered
every sort of authentic matter bearing upon the
business in hand. From innumerable original
accounts, from letters, journals, drawings, car
toons. maps he gathered the material. But
that was only material mere bulk to be ex-
amined, assorted, co-ordinated in proper rela-
tions of stresses here, releases there, of round
ing the whole to q body of clear fact for the
meeting of definite purpose. For the recrea-
ton of the great adventure in its own flesh
and blood and animating spirit. Enormous that
task of preparation for the dramatist and artist
10 carry
The covered wagons, trains of these become
q reality. The hope and high spirits of the
outset our high spirits, just the despair
and encouragement and frequent defeat become
ours also. The wide and empty plains to be
traversed, the streams to be crossed, the camps
to be made, and unmade-these all are ours to
do, and to fail to do, just as they with
thosc early high adventurers.
Here is, first of all, a magnificently vivid
story, OF quality to stir imagination, to excite
profound interest. True, besides, in every de-
tail, made of the stuff of our own land and
people. 1t is our adventure, our spiritual
emprise. One to be held alive and near as
part of the common national existence Not
one TO be let to pass off into legend, fable,
folk tale. chronicle of more defeats than
triumphs in the final accounting, to be sure
Nevertheless. gloriously robust outfaring of
youth toward sunset horizons. An epic incident
In the opening up of the West
An achievement deserving its official award
One to be read the world over for the sheer
adventure of it. One to be gathered close BY
American readers as part of their own develop
ment. T:sgic in it's human suffering and loss,
yet Inspiring as measure of pioneer courage
In those early days OF American life OF our