" Furnace Fodder "

A gentleman named David Hirshfield was directed by the Mayor of New York City, a gentleman named Hylan, to investigate charges briefly advanced by Mr. Hirshfield, to the effect that histories in use in New York schools were pro-British. Mr Hirshfield's qualifications consisted of his office as Commissioner of Accounts of New York City and his obvious 100% Americanism. He had the further inestimable advantage of not being an historian. And he knew how to read.

That was about a year ago. Mr. Hirshfield has now finished his labors and made his report. He finds that eight of the history textbooks used in New York public schools are un-American and pro-British, and " fit only to be fed to the furnace." He further finds that the distortion of fact in these books is not accidental. It is due to the operation of a malign influence. It is the " international money power." Since the fact is not divulged by any of the texts, it is to be presumed that Mr. Hirshfield though of it himself. It is a great imaginative conception, and worthy of the scholar who conceived of it.

If Mr. Hirshfield had done no more he would be entitled to the undying gratitude of the people. But he has done more. He has clothed his conception in dramatic form and provided dramatis personae to act the piece. Cecil Rhodes who lured young Americans to England for propaganda purposes is the chief villain, supported in the minor roles by Andrew Carnegie, Lord Northcliffe, Sir Gilbert Parker, Lady Astor, Elihu Root, Owen Wister, Dr. Neilson of Smith, the Sulgrave Institute, the English Speaking Union, the Pilgrim Society, the Sons of St. George. Probably nothing but his artistic sense of the exigencies of the stage prevented the commissioner from adding the names of all American citizens of British ancestry who are not ashamed of their forbears, and leaving among the virtuous and patriotic only such Americans as claim unadulterated European, Asiatic or African descent.

The eight erring historians are Messrs. Hart, Van Tyne, McLaughlin, West, Muzzey, Ward, Guiteau, Barnes. Commenting on the list, Dr. Perkins, professor of history at the University of Rochester, said: "An American history written by David S. Muzzey and contained in the proscribed blacklist is one of the very best textbooks. In fact, three of the first four books named by Mr. Hirshfield as being ' fit only to be fed to the furnace are the works of three of the most distinguished scholars in the country." Of course Dr. Perkins is wrong. But what could be expected of a man with a name like his!