.Mjkz.MjQzMg

From DigitalMaine Transcription Project
Revision as of 12:35, 24 March 2017 by Gpster (talk | contribs) (Created page with ""A GLUTTON FOB 'l'RU To the Editor of The Herald: I read your article in a Neent iasue about Kenneth Roberti, author of "Arundel," which &rticle wu headed "A .G lutton tor Tru...")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search

"A GLUTTON FOB 'l'RU To the Editor of The Herald: I read your article in a Neent iasue about Kenneth Roberti, author of "Arundel," which &rticle wu headed "A .G lutton tor Truth." I allo read hl.J very interestlnr novel, "Arundel," when It came out last winter. At that time his -Interpretation of the character, intelligence, and bablts of the Abena.ld Ii;idlans impressed . u probably not so truthful as drawn· to ftt the story. Candle in the Wilderness" by I 1g ~eller 1n wlilch Mr . .Bacheller l'IV!II a very dif• terent conception of the Indians of colonial times. It. Is true Mr. Bai:h~ller's Indians were Iroquois and Algonquin and hill story ·ot · an earlier date. Mr. Bacheller gives, in the back of his book, •references to his authorities tor his historical facts a.nd his .rather unusual descrlptfon· of his Ind'l ans. Mr. Roberts . does not quote a.ny authorities. Presumably Mr. Roberts did considerable research work before writing hill book, but the main historical facts of Benedict Arnold's famous and fruitless expedition were first gathered together and published In July, 1901 , In "Arnold's Expedition t.o Quebec," by John Codman, 2d (Macmillan co.), This work Is a historical narrative. . • . Omitting the rather absurd love story from "Arundel" and a. few other 11.r.tlonal scene,, the book: becomes a replica of John Codman, 2d's, earller narrative. Codma.n alao gn,es many authorities for his facts. He made the trip personally when the route was not so much or a wilderness as In Arhoi""S time, but much more so than in Kenneth Robert.s's. • The over-exertion from that trip in 111lfl-- brought about Codman's death ftg.31, 1897, -so.he never saw his book published. It was ably edited by Mark De\Volfe Howe. COdman was president of his class of 1885 at Harvucl...and on the varsity football team and , a l ~ h admitted to the bar without even go~. to a law school, he made real estate brokerage his vocation. WILLI.AM: COOMBS CODMAN, Boston, Aug. 20.

me'

I

Boston fl.,. ................. A ugust 22 , 1930

FBOM AUTHOB OF "ARUNDEL" ro the Editor of The ·Herald: WWlam Coombs Codman, in a letter published In your Mall Bar of Aug. 22, In effect accuses me of plariarizinir John Codinan's "Arnold's Expedition to Quebec" In my novel "Arundel." His grounds for this charge seem to be, first, that hils distinguished relative wrote a history of the expeditlo · and second, that I quoted no authorities for tbe historical background of ~ iad+'el. I have always felt that It la somewhat out of place to append a. long bibliography to a work of fiction; and I consequently did not do so In "Arundel." But since Mr. Codlnan raises the point, I here set down a partial list of authori· ties used In its preparation. The tull lfst, together with my maps and the manuscript, has been In the hands of the Maine State Library, Augusta, Me., since last November. The able reference librarian of that Institution, Mrs. Marlon Cobb Fuller, has been kJnd enough to send the full list to those sufficiently este 5QJ.Sk for it, a.od will, I am su , g ad ~ do so In the future. Adams. James Truslow: "Revolutionary New Bnrl&Dd," Anburey, Lt.: "Travels Through ~e Interior Ports of America, 1776-1781." Arnold, B.: "Journal of the Expedition to Quebec." ArnoM, I. N.: "Life of Benedict Arnold." Bourne: "History of Wells and Kt!n· nebunk." Bradbury: "History of Kennebunk· port." Cadman, J.: "Arnold's Expedition to Quebec." Davis. M. L.: "Aaron Burr." Dearborn, Henry: "Journal of the Quebec Expedition." Drake: "Tragedies of the Wilderness." Drake: "India.ms of North America." Fobes, C.: "Account of the Quebec Expedition." French, Allen: "Siege of Boston." Hanson, J . w.: "History of Gardiner and Pittston." Hanson, J . w.: "History of Norrldgewook and Canaan." "History of the Kennebec Valley." Haskell: "Journal of the Quebec Ex· pedltlon." Henrv, J . J.: "Account of Arnold's Camoalgn." Leland, Charles Godfrey: "Algonquin Legends of New England." Lincoln (Gov.): "The Abenakl Indians." Lossing, B . J. : "Field Book of the Revolution." Maine Historical Society ; collectlom: Vols. I and VI, containing material on "Arnold's Expedition" and the "AbenakJ Indians." Melvin, J .: "Journal of Arnold's Expedition. Minnegerode & Andrews: "Life of A. Burr." , Morison, O.: "Journal of Arnold's Expedltlbn." ., Pal"kman, Fran~ls: "Half.century of conflict." Parkman, Francis : "Mont.calm and Wolfe. · Parton, J . : "Aaron BU\'l'." ' Pope, Saxton: "Hunting Wlth the Bow and Arrow." Remlch: "History of x~nnebunk." Senter, I.: "Journal of Arnold'a llxpedltlon." . Smith, Justin H.: "Arnold's March from Cambridge to Quebec. Thayer, S.: "Journal of Arnold's Expedition. Ventromllle (Fr.): "The Abenald In.diana." Williamson, W. D.: "History of M•lne." Willis. w.: "History of Portland."

l

There Ii one Potnt, In ~ William Coombs COdman's ~eat': chatge arainst me. that shoulcr e clear. John Codman's "Btst.ory nold's Expedition" makea p , reading; but for aocurac:, 1' d compare with Prof. Jdlt1n Bmltlt'I nold's March from OambrJdae to Quebec." In fact, Smith devotee about one-third of his history to pointlnr out the Inaccuracies in Oodma.DW bootInaccuracies doubtless due to the fact that Codman died before he had ~ It for publication. ._ ._ l\4'r. Codman seema to aune,t, in ma letter, that John ~ by ~ • hiltory of Arnold's Expedition, has forever ba1Ted authors from further use of that expedition In ftctional form. Thia sua«estion, I feel, ii too absurd to refurther comment. KENNETH ROBERTS. Kennebunk Bea.ch, Me., Aui. 22.

Bos t on Herald P. J.gust 25 , 1930

"ARU To the Editor of The Herald: After readlng \\11th great pleasure "Arundel," Mr. Codman's letter of AUi, 20 was of Interest. There are some things In the wonderful book which· a mused me: Mr. Rob~rts's beans, for example, were baked in an entirely dff• farent way from old-time bean.s."'Mi, gfster Hep.sibah stood guard over the beanpot to make sure that the water never fell below the level of the top• most bean." My gra.ndmother'a- atoriet carry me back 50 year., . She alwa)'ll said that the reasori beans were so I much better baked ib the brlck oven wRs because the even heat and lent j cooking required no itddltlon of ,water, 1 after the first filling. Then, t.oo, l'.'erl! the oven opened constantly, tt WQUld soon lose Its heat. Aga~"My sl.tter Cynthia stood by llfle stove • . . . . , adding water to the beans." Why tht stove? I have been In many.old houaea, and linov, ma n:v taleti of old-time co::iklng, but not one of stoves. I think Mr. Ford would pay a gOQ(I price fot one of Mr. Rob?;:t3';; stoves. There are several m!ntlona of toa ma toes stP.we:i vrith a ftavorlng of all• spice and vlnl!ga.r. I would like to ow If tomatoes "'~re used common}y in the 18t:!l century. I supooaed tlut then they were called "lo,·e-applea,• and not though~ of aa much rood, MRS. CAROLINE C. LAMPING 881:.1. H,-mpt.on, Aug. 26.