Page:Hubert Howe Bancroft His Work and His Method.djvu/13

170 by still other men, after the work had been put into type, but be- fore the pages were stereotyped."

Since so much depends upon the literary staff in such a work of co-operation it is of supreme importance that every responsible assistant should be thoroughly capable and absolutely honest. The chief experienced much trouble in securing able men, but pro- fessed to use scrupulous care. "Hence, I say, love of truth for truth's sake must be to every one of these men as the apple of his eye." (246) How unfortunate, then, that persons of no name or literary standing should be intrusted with so important a work. Not that all his assistants were either incapable or untruthful, although I have been informed that certain of them were newspaper reporters who had been discharged for incompetence and lying. Again, when we are made acquainted with Mr. Bancroft's methods of securing family papers, the query becomes pertinent; - is conscience requisite to history writing? Note, for example, how "Gen." Cerruti secures material, according to Bancroft's own statement: "With equal grace he could simulate virtue or wink at vice. Hence, like Catiline planning his conspiracy, he made himself a favorite with the best and the basest. This unprincipled Italian, who prac- ticed lying as a fine art, was directed to open correspondence with General Vallejo, with instructions to use his own judgment, for Vallejo's papers were greatly desired. If "the lie did good service" (425) in furthering Cerruti's projects in Bancroft's behalf, is it entirely unreasonable to venture the suggestion that it likewise furthered Cerruti's mercenary projects in his own evil behalf, all unsuspected by the master? There is a very damaging report that some of Bancroft's staff "faked" wantonly, and at least it would be difficult to deny that there were chances without number.

A uniform and dignified style is precluded by the very methods employed, if indeed, all style and real coherency are not rendered impossible. The semi-occasional bursts of exalted expression some- times remind one of the "purple patch" of the Ars Poética, and not infrequently they are followed by a reckless leyity that causes one deep regret. In addition to the serious defects inevitable to the best co-operative writing, such as uneven style and the want of a steady purpose in an organic narration proceeding from the ground plan of a consistent philosophy of history, the writing in Bancroft's works abounds in idiosyncracies, crudities and hasty compositions ill-suited to sober history.

Mr. Bancroft accomplished a herculean labor in bringing to com- pletion the thirty-nine volumes of his Works. To do this required