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Show HISTORIAN GEOrtGS' BANCROFT, Eamlntsceuces Suggested by Hie Retiring from Active Work. Special Correspondence. N.SW VoiiK, Nov. 10. Theannouncemen 1ms recently been made by George Bancroft that he has written his last word for pub-j , lication. Thus the wonderful literary career ca-reer of this eminent American closes with his ninetieth year. Mr. Bancroft some years ago determined that if bis life should . i. be spared until his ninetieth year he would f ' at that time end literary endeavors which have extended over the greutur part of this ! ' century. Although Mr. Bancroft's great work Is called the "History of the United States," yet it is in one sense no history of the United States. It is a history of those circumstances, cir-cumstances, conflicts, tendencies and agitations agi-tations which led to the revolt of the colonies colo-nies from the mother country, and to the establishment, first of the confederation of states, and later on to the Union under the constitution as it now stands. The history of the United States as such has not been told except in piecemeal, or in the rapid sketching which two or three writers have written and published under the name of United States history. Mr. Bancroft hus laid the foundation, and it will be comparatively compar-atively easy for the historian who is yet to come to tell the story of the United States In the first century of their existence as nation. Mr. Bancroft has been more than fifty years in writing this hit-tory. He began it when ho was still a young man, and while he was engaged not only in literary but In political activity. It is a work of almost al-most incredible labor, sometimes a single pc.ge of it involving Investigations of many months both here and in Europe. It was so colossal in its purpose that for years Mr. Bancroft has carried it on at great expense and with a largo number of assistants. At one tlmo he had as many as twenty clerks employed in arranging, sifting and con-finuing con-finuing data. It would have been imposition impos-ition for him unaided to have produced even in fifty years a work of this kind. . Mr. Bancroft, it is not so well known; was at one time in his career quite active as a politician and statesman. He is the sole survivor of the administration ot ' President James K. Polk, and no other cabinet odlcer of any earlier period survives. sur-vives. Therefore Mr. Bancroft's experience experi-ence dates further back than that of any man now living who has ever held a cabinet cabi-net office. Ho was a contemporary of Daniel Dan-iel Webster, Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, Cal-houn, was an iutimnte friend of President Pierce and was on terms of the closest friendship with a literary celebrity ot an- i other day, James K. Pauldine, who was also a cabinet officer. Mr. Bancroft also has served as the minister of the United Btates Wt'DeTJerman court, and he was on the threshold of old age when he retired from active politics thirty years ao. That be should have retained his mental faculties unimpaired and his physical strength surprising sustained up to the ago of 90 he ascribes to three or four simple rules of lifo which he adopted. One was regularity in his work. He always worked a certain number of hours in the morning, and he let no day pass without producing at least a line. With regularity of literary work there was also method in his other habits. In the second place he has never failed to take a certain amount of exercise in the fresh uir every day. Up to a few years ago be spent two or three hours in the afternoon, rain or shine, In horseback , riding, and he allowed his horse to go at no dilatory gait; but a fall which he had some few years ago warned him that it was no longer safe for him to trust himself to the saddle, and he has therefore taken his outdoor exercise by daily walks, always al-ways accompanied by his faithful valet. His third reason for tbe long lifo which has been granted him is the mental relaxation relaxa-tion which ho has insisted upon. This for . many years he found In the cultivation of ruses, and even in his narrow little garden In Washington he was able to grow some ' of the most exquisite specimens of roses to be found in any country. At his summer placo in Newport he had a still larger collection, col-lection, and his knowledge of the varieties of roses and success in developing new . ones gave him as great a reputation among horticulturists as he had before gained among literary men and statesmen. These three rules combined with training, which always preserved an equable temper and which permitted no annoyance or vexation to ruffle in tho slightest decree his nerves, ho bellovos account for his long and vigorous vigor-ous life. He is also a believer in heredity, find thinks that the long life of his ancestors, an-cestors, most of whom died at advanced go, also accounts for his own heritage of years. Mr. Bancroft's old age is a charm to his friends and a comfort to himself, and he It us boon permitted to live long enough to get the judgment of the nation upon his prc.it achievement, the "History of the United Stutcs." Thut is something which tnrely happens to an author who under-ahc3 under-ahc3 so colossal a work. E. J. Edwards. |