Publisher description
Excerpt from Life of Patrick A. Collins: With Some of His Most Notable Public AddressesIt is extremely difficult, if indeed it be not impossible, to write the life story of a departed friend without being influenced more or less, in estimating his characters, by tender and affectionate memories which impart to the work a flavor of eulogy untempered by criticism. However diligently and dutifully one may strive, in such circumstances, to avoid descending "below the dignity of history, " the personal equation is sure to enter in, and the good qualities of the subject will tower high above any shortcomings that may obtrude upon the writer's thoughts or recollection. But inasmuch as so eminent an authority as Carlyle concedes the usefulness, nay the necessity, of seeing a man's good qualities first in order to form a right judgment, lesser mortals may take comfort in the reflection that no great violence is done to historic truth if biography be tinged slightly by the genial rays of friendly bias.It was my privilege to have known Patrick A. Collins for over a quarter of a century. During that period our personal, social, and political relations were very close and intimate. When he was out of the country or in Washington attending to his congressional duties, we were in touch through free and uninterrupted correspondence; when he was in Boston we saw each other not less than twice each week, usually oftener. I was in daily contact with him for nearly four years during his service as mayor of Boston. My opportunities therefore for observing his personal characteristics and the bent of his thoughts were exceptional.In the pages that follow I have not attempted to analyze his character, or to form an estimate of the possible influences which his notable career may exercise upon his own generation or upon those to come. I have contented myself with supplying the materials upon which those who read may base their own estimate. His life activities cover a remarkably wide range of endeavor. Truly may it be said of him that in his time he played many parts.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works
Similar books
Rate the book
Write a review and share your opinion with others. Try to focus on the content of the book. Read our instructions for further information.
Life of Patrick A. Collins
Book reviews » Life of Patrick A. Collins
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
