Versailles was a gulf into which the labor of France poured its earnings; and it was never full. Francis Parkman More Quotes by Francis Parkman More Quotes From Francis Parkman Spanish civilization crushed the Indian. English civilization scorned and neglected him. French civilization embraced and cherished him. Francis Parkman neglected crushed civilization Faithfulness to the truth of history involves far more than a research, however patient and scrupulous, into special facts. Such facts may be detailed with the most minute exactness, and yet the narrative, taken as a whole, may be unmeaning or untrue. The narrator must seek to imbue himself with the life and spirit of the time. He must study events in their bearings near and remote; in the character, habits, and manners of those who took part in them. He must himself be, as it were, a sharer or a spectator of the action he describes. Francis Parkman taken character history In one point the plan was fatally defective, since it involved the deadly enmity of a race whose character and whose power were as yet but ill understood,--the fiercest, boldest, most politic, and most ambitious savages to whom the American forest has ever given birth. Francis Parkman ambitious race character America was still a land of wonder. The ancient spell still hung unbroken over the wild, vast world of mystery beyond the sea,-a land of romance, adventure, and gold. Francis Parkman land sea adventure Art, industry, and commerce, so long crushed and overborne, were stirring into renewed life, and a crowd of adventurous men, nurtured in war and incapable of repose, must seek employment for their restless energies in fields of peaceful enterprise. Francis Parkman men war art America, when it became known to Europeans, was, as it had long been, a scene of wide-spread revolution. Francis Parkman revolution long america Humanity, morality, decency, might be forgotten, but codfish must still be had for the use of the faithful in Lent and on fast days. Francis Parkman faithful use humanity It was a rich and gorgeous sunset - an American sunset; and the ruddy glow of the sky was reflected from some extensive pools of water among the shadowy copses in the meadow below. Francis Parkman glowing sunset sky Not a breath of air stirred over the free and open prairie; the clouds were like light piles of cotton; and where the blue sky was visible, it wore a hazy and languid aspect. Francis Parkman light air clouds Here society is reduced to its original elements, the whole fabric of art and conventionality is struck rudely to pieces, and men find themselves suddenly brought back to the wants and resources of their original natures. Francis Parkman rude men art The most momentous and far-reaching question ever brought to issue on this continent was: Shall France remain here, or shall she not? Francis Parkman reaching france issues If any pale student, glued to his desk, here seek an apology for a way of life whose natural fruits is that pallid and emasculate scholarship of which New England has had too many examples, it will be far better that this sketch had not been written. For the student there is, in its season, no better place than the saddle, and no better companion than the rifle or the oar. Francis Parkman fruit apology way Early on the next morning we reached Kansas, about five hundred miles from the mouth of the Missouri. Francis Parkman kansas mouths morning France built its best colony on a principle of exclusion, and failed; England reversed the system, and succeeded. Francis Parkman exclusion england principles Fort Leavenworth is in fact no fort, being without defensive works, except two block-houses. Francis Parkman block house two Many of the Iroquois and Huron houses were of similar construction, the partitions being at the sides only, leaving a wide passage down the middle of the house. Francis Parkman two-sides leaving house Our New England climate is mild and equable compared with that of the Platte. Francis Parkman new-england climate england We were now, as I before mentioned, upon this St. Joseph's trail. It was evident, by the traces, that large parties were a few days in advance of us; and as we too supposed them to be Mormons, we had some apprehension of interruption. Francis Parkman interruptions trails party When America was first made known to Europe, the part assumed by France on the borders of that new world was peculiar, and is little recognized. While the Spaniard roamed sea and land, burning for achievement, red-hot with bigotry and avarice, and while England, with soberer steps and a less dazzling result, followed in the path of discovery and gold-hunting, it was from France that those barbarous shores first learned to serve the ends of peaceful commercial industry. Francis Parkman hunting discovery europe The monk, the inquisitor, and the Jesuit were lords of Spain,- sovereigns of her sovereign, for they had formed the dark and narrow mind of that tyrannical recluse. They had formed the minds of her people, quenched in blood every spark of rising heresy, and given over a noble nation to a bigotry blind and inexorable as the doom of fate. Linked with pride, ambition, avarice, every passion of a rich, strong nature, potent for good and ill, it made the Spaniard of that day a scourge as dire as ever fell on man. Francis Parkman passion strong ambition
