The University Courier.
23
In the case just mentioned, he has, as in many others, disregarded the authentic statements of the historian by ascribing to his favorites the glory of deeds done by others; and employed the license of the poet by making historical facts subservient to his purpose of pleasing and instructing. Everything or nearly everything mentioned in the poem which pertains to the Indians or Indian wars, occrred during some period of the colonial history; but Longfellow makes them to occur just at the time when they add to the character of his hero or enhance the effect and beauty of his production.
Another instance of this kind is at the close of the poem where the bride rides home on the white bull. This could not have occurred. Of the old Puritan records still extant one says that, in 1623, four head of cattle, three cows and one bull were brought over and that in the allotment of these cattle John Alden received the bull. Another record kept by Beadford says that Alden and Priscilla were married in September, 1621. The error in the poet's statement is apparent and there can be no doubt but this is the authority from which he drew it.
Besides drawing from historical events and making them occur to suit his fancy, his own creation of events has linked these isolated historical facts into one interesting and artistic whole. I refer to the Captain's proposal of marriage to Priscilla. This is the creation of the poet alone. Most excellent reasons may be furnished to show that Standish never entertained an idea of marriage relations with Priscilla. His wife had died childless in the early part of 1621. In September, of 1621, Alden and Priscilla were married. It was love for the Puritan maiden that drove John Alden to the wild and uncultivated lands of the New World, and it is safe to say that Priscilla, and, probably, many of the passengers on the May Flower, especially Standish, whose secretary Alden was, were not ignorant of John's mission to the New World. Then again, it is not probable that Standish entertained the idea of marrying a girl so young, so soon after his wife's
death; and especially does this seem to be true since in 1622 he married his wife's sister whom he had sent for the year before. I cannot believe that a man of his stern nature could be so fickle in love. Then if Standish did not propose to the Puritan maiden, Alden's grief and worry, the Captain's rage and disappointment and Priscilla's breach of decorum or frankness of spirit, are the creatures of the poet's invention.
Thus the poet has drawn from the historical events of the period, the customs of the people and woven them together, with creatures of his own invention, and with the most general and characteristic customs of the times and events of the period, making one of the most beautiful and entertaining poems—most of it characteristic and representative of early colonial life.
Prof. Blake goes Morse one Better.
Professor Blake goes Morse one better in the use of electricity as a medium of swift communication and now successfully transmits messages to different places on the water without the use of wires. The Professor has been working to complete a method by which messages might be sent from one vessel to another without the use of wires and for this purpose the government has provided him each year with a vessel to try his experiments. Chancellor Snow received a letter from him recently in which he stated that he had been successfully communicating with several vessels for a number of days.
Professor Blake is confident that he has solved the problem of communication by this method. The government made a test last week but a report of the result obtained has not yet been made public.
The successful operation of such a system of transmitting intelligence is invaluable not only to science but also to the government and merchant marine in signalling light-vessels located near the light-houses and at dangerous points along the shore. The result of his labors will not be void of recompense and glory for from the stand point of the humamtarian he will be considered one of the great contributors to the world's prosperity, security and happiness and from the stand point of the scientists, one of the great electricians of the age, and Kansas University makes the proud boast to claim him as her most faithful servant.