BROSNAN'S HISTORY OF IDAHO
A brief and rapid narrative, entitled History of the State of Idaho, and written for school reading by C. J. Brosnan, superintendent of schools of Nampa, is one of the year's notable publications of the Pacific Northwest. This book of some 230 pages is not only a history of the growth of the commonwealth but also a description of topography, resources and industries. Topical arrangement is unusually good, condensation is skilfully accomplished and dry-as-dust recital is properly avoided. The author has steered clear of pioneer prejudices such as those involved in controversies about the Hudson's Bay Company, Whitman, the missionaries, treatment of Indians, etc. As a good chronicler he has carefully withheld his own personality from the pages. His chapters on geological history and physical contours are especially interesting; also those on the Indians and their wars, the fur traders and the western trails. He recognizes the work of Roman Catholics, Protestants and Mormons without prejudice. As life in the mining camps started the real progress of the inland country that subject is appropriately treated in a special chapter. The cattle days and the sheep era, as distinctive periods of progress, are faithfully portrayed.
Professor Brosnan received much aid and suggestion from contemporaries and it is unfortunate that mention of them by name was omitted in the preface. It is understood, however, that this omission will be corrected in the next edition. The author worked hard for accuracy and cast away pride of composition to rewrite the book in many parts so as to conform with ideas of his critics and to meet his own changes of view. A criticism that may be expected is that the author should have served a longer time in the historical vineyard before assuming the authority of a historian, but, on the whole, he has done his work well and produced the best short history of Idaho yet written, a pleasant contrast to the customary histories of reminiscence. The book is published by Charles Scribner's Sons.
