stant increase. And it is very likely to be enlarged by gifts in the direction of historic art. Its commencement is a fortunate event in the history of the University.

PUBLIC POLICY TOWARD HISTORICAL WORK.

Patrick Henry spoke of experience as alone illuminating his pathway; but with equal truth that may be said of states and nations. Change in the order of the lives of men and in the course of states and nations comes largely from considerations of experience. Men turn to memory for lessons of experience and to other men for counsel. States and nations consult their archives or those of other states and nations. Historical libraries and museums disclose the waste and error suffered in the past. They show the deviations in the course of a people. Such institutions inspire to better effort.

The providing of means for original research by future peoples has not long been a popular matter. When the bequest of James Smithson was available to this country Congress debated for ten years before deciding to accept the gift and lay the foundations of an institution which now illuminates our darkest places and fructifies our fields of scholarship. We observe with a sort of alarm that the chance might have fallen the other way and congratulate ourselves that the congressional delay and deliberation of 1846 is the spirit of yesterday.

To-day progressive nations and American commonwealths, many counties and municipalities, maintain or support institutions which prudently gather, preserve and make accessible original matter concerning their history and that of others. The people of these several communities carry the burden of taxation necessary to establish and maintain these institutions with a pleasure equal to that derived from the maintenance of educational systems. No more do the people demand a penurious provision for the support of these than they desire the nonsupport of their educational or judicial departments. Whatever lack has been suffered in the support and encourage

ment of historical work has come not from the people but from their servants in official relation to the work. Success in the accumulation of valuable materials, the favor with which such enterprises are looked upon by men of local prestige as well as those of wider influence and more extended fields of endeavor, together with the remarkable popularity the institutions meet at the hands and in the attentions of the ordinary, practical, substantial tax-paying citizen, invariably removes official discouragement and entrenches the institutions and their administration in the public policy. Even the educational institutions do not enjoy more freedom from the hazards of local or temporary conditions, and are no more remote from the exigencies of politics and personal design.

The policy of the State of Iowa seems now to be firmly and happily fixed in this respect. Ample equipment is almost complete for the present advantageous handling and accessible arrangement of our priceless historical library and the collection in art portraiture and museum materials. Financial support now corresponds with the favor these meet in the esteem of scholar and lay patron. They are rapidly attaining a high value in the estimation of the public. They will prove valuable stores for future Iowa peoples. This growth, from its origin in the mind of one man who had approvingly observed the similar efforts of other states and nations a quarter of a century ago, has been little short of marvelous. With popular support grown from a few scattered but far sighted patriots in editorial and legislative places to a purpose common in all the State's positive forces where none condemn, few gainsay and a rich and generous people highly applaud, the prospect is little less than inspiring. Former meagerness of official support is now changed to positive zeal in a large number of the best and strongest men in official life to discharge a recognized obligation to the present and future Iowa public.

E. R. H.

AN EARLY IOWA MILITARY HOSPITAL.-The following interesting item appeared in the Iowa Religious News-Letter, published at Dubuque, in the issue of August, 1862:

Having a leisure hour the other day, at Keokuk, we went with a friend through the different wards and apartments of the Military Hospital in

that place. Those of our readers who have friends there will be glad to know that though there are twelve hundred patients in the Hospital, they are all provided for with the utmost possible comfort. Perfect cleanliness is apparent throughout the establishment, and the building is so admirably ventilated that we perceived far less of the peculiar odor of the sick room than is common in connection with sickness in the best ordered private dwellings. Would that all the sick and wounded soldiers of the country were as well cared for as those at Keokuk.

PHINEAS M. CASADY.

After a long and successful business career, this venerable gentleman has resigned the presidency of his bank and retired to private life. When he first came to Iowa he settled in Des Moines, and has been very successful, participating in its business affairs, and proving himself in all respects an important element in the development of its varied interests. He was chosen to the State Senate in 1846 and served the regular term of four years. During the second session he was chairman of the committee on township and county organization, and had the honor to report the bill which named fifty counties in the western half of the State. Many of these counties bear names which were suggested by Judge Casady. He was in all respects a useful senator and the record which he made during his four years' service is one which will endure. He was also elected district judge, but he resigned before entering upon active service on the bench. He has seemed ever to prize the station of a private citizen devoted to legitimate business pursuits rather than the distinctions arising from politics. He has always been known for the beauty of his character and the uprightness of his dealings with his fellow men. No man in the State enjoys a wider measure of respect, and now that he has so gracefully retired he will carry with him the hearty good-will of everybody who knows him. He was born in 1818, and is now in his 89th year, but he has retained to a remarkable degree his health and vigor, and we trust with many years of happiness and business prosperity still before him.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

McDonald of Oregon, A Tale of Two Shores, by Eva Emery Dye, Author of "The Conquest," "McLoughlin and Old Oregon." A. C. McClurg & Co. 1906. pp. 395.

The hero of this book was born at Astoria; the son of a Scotch Highlander, his mother a Chinook squaw. She died while he was an infant, and the care of him fell into other hands, so that he was reared not as a "Flathead," but with an oval face, and a fair countenance, and he was trained in the ways of civilization. His life of seventy years, 182494, covered those great events which transformed a vast and savage wilderness into the large and prosperous States of Oregon and Washington, with their enormous wealth of forests and mines and the fish industry and wheat-fields and orchards, and such cities as Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane. He did a good part in the transformation, and also led the way in carrying the honor and fame of the United States to Japan, so that the book is a tale of two shores, "the western shore of America and the eastern shore of Asia.

The author tells the story of various Indian tribes, their manners, customs, and cruel wars, of the downfall of the Hudson Bay Company, the rush of American immigration, the building of wagon-roads and of the railroad over the mountains, of the establishment of civil government, of McDonald's going with a crew of shipwrecked Japanese to their country, establishing a school there, and preparing the way for the expedition of Commodore Perry, in the graphic and vivid style of her earlier books, noticed in The Annals (iv. 624, vi. 74). Accounts are given of the Indian chiefs, Seattle and Spokane, whose names remain in the cities which bear them. Romantic stories of love and adventure, pleasing and tragic, are interwoven in rapid sketches. Mrs. Dye had the opportunity of obtaining from McDonald his personal reminiscences, and has taken pains to verify everything that she has recorded. history itself is more wonderful than any romance. It should be familiar to every American who feels a just pride in the honor and growth of his country.

W. S.

The

AN ANECDOTE OF GOVERNOR STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD.

It is an amiable, pleasant face that looks out from one of the portrait frames in the Iowa Historical Art Gallery which bears the name of Stephen Hempstead, second Governor of the State of Iowa. He held this position four years, following Governor Briggs, first Governor of the State, and preceding James W. Grimes, the third. In the days when Governor Hempstead flourished there were no railroads west of the Mississippi and even stage coaches had reached no very remarkable development. The good Governor resided in Dubuque and whenever he visited Iowa City, the then capital, he was accustomed to make the journey on horseback. On one of these journeys he stopped for the night at the little village of Cascade, some twenty miles from Dubuque. When he arose in the morning the very unwelcome intelligence was communicated to him that his horse had been stolen in the night. This was a great disappointment to Governor Hempstead, for good saddle horses were not very plentiful in that region. The legend does not tell how he

succeeded in reaching Iowa City, but he some way or other made his way. Soon after the executive office was opened the following morning a lady dressed in deep black sought and obtained admission to the Governor's room. He received her very kindly as was his wont, for his was a polite and genial personality. After she had taken the proffered seat, she removed her veil and commenced her story of grief and woe. She told the Governor that she had called to make a request for the pardon of her husband who was then languishing in the penitentiary at Ft. Madi"Of what offense was your husband convicted?'' queried the Governor. "He was charged," said the lady, "with stealing a horse." The Governor's countenance changed on the instant from a smile to as near a frown as he was ever capable of putting on. "Madam," said he, I cannot pardon horse thieves. I know too much of those gentlemen myself," and while he listened to her story he was incorrigible as to letting the man out of prison.

son.

This story shows the meager means of transportation in those days and how a Governor could not avail himself of an automobile, or even of a stage coach, much less of transportation by railroad.

AN OLD POLITICAL LETTER.

An interesting letter was recently presented to the Historical Department by Mr. John M. McPherrin of Polk county, Iowa. The writer was an active whig of wide influence. The Knapp to whom he refers was Judge Joseph C. Knapp. Steele was a merchant and joint manager with Knapp. The addressees were the Van Buren county members of the Iowa House of Representatives, and Senate, respectively.

E. R. H.

KEOSAUQUA, Iowa, January 18, 1847.

MESSRS: I have nothing more important to write than that the Dodge faction has got up a large petition instructing you to vote for Dodge. If you want anything more than the last election we will get up a petition to the reverse. There may be some Whigs on the petition who signed under false representations. I am of the opinion they can not get more than half of the Democrats in Farmington (Sanford's) township. Knapp informs us that the Democrats propose that if the Whigs will resign that they will and then come home and have another election. I have no objection for I have no fears of Old Van Buren. I made the proposition to Steele and Knapp that if they would make the issue Dodge and anti-Dodge and then head their ticket Dodge, we would head ours anti-Dodge and instruct you to come home. They would not

agree.

We have eight Mormons in jail at this time for stealing at a considerable expense to the county and no doubt we will have more in a few days. If it would be possible to have a call court to try them it would suit the wishes of the people. But if that can not be done you must pass a law giving two or three weeks court at the next term. JAMES JOHNSTON.

To Messrs. McPherrin and Sanford.