Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/586

 Balch, Eva Emery Dye and Sheba Hargreaves, and through the poetry of Joaquin Miller and Sam. L. Simpson.

The college trained worker in the field of Oregon history is having and, of course, will have a steadily growing influence on its character. In the way of good, they are freeing it from prejudice, making it more accurate and heavily documenting it so it can be accepted. On the other hand, their impact, as it in creases in volume and if it does not change from its present embarrassment and immaturity of interpretation and gracelessness of style, will be actually mischievous. In an environment where it is naturally supposed that English composition would be rather care fully cultivated, these young historians are the worst violators of the following precept by a man who had a good deal to do with universities—Woodrow Wilson, in an essay "On the Writing of History" in the Century Magazine of September, 1895:

"Histories are written in order that the bulk of men may read and realize; and it is as bad to bungle the telling of the story as to lie, as fatal to lack a vocabulary as to lack knowledge....There is an art of lying; there is equally an art—an infinitely more difficult art —of telling the truth."

Citizens of rich capacity, and professional leaders, the former for pastime, the latter through interest in the historical background of their work, have contributed a considerable number of essays and pamphlets and some books to Oregon history. Through them the writing of Oregon history has become a widely cooperative enterprise.

This group, in whose hands history has fared well,