56.
becomes a social lion in circles without the official pale , where
“ he is much courted by aspirants and much hated by rivals.” If he is a man of engaging personality and fulfills all the requirements
prescribed for special correspondents and is admitted to social circles deemed the highest, temptation also lies in that direction . More than one eminent special correspondent has succumbed to the insidious allurements of social life and his work has thereby become dogmatic in temper, superficial in its interpretations, and
lacking in vigor of expression . The historian can not hope to find his best perspective through the eyes of petted social favorites. Yet in spite of all these generally recognized limitations on the authoritativeness of special correspondence , the correspondent
himself is “ a fine fellow " who is often not responsible for the limitations that hamper his work . “ What most extraordinary men are these reporters of newspapers in general, I mean English newspapers!” exclaims George Borrow when viewing an insurrec
tion in Madrid from behind a bolted door in company with the cor respondent of theMorning Chronicle. “ The activity , energy , and courage which they occasionally display in the pursuit of informa tion , are truly remarkable." 42 The high type of men who have been special correspondents on five continents at the behest of
the greatest newspapers in the world is a guarantee that as far as is humanly possible they will overcome these limitations inherent in the position . It must rest with the historian to separate the
writer from his work and to give to the one his due meed for his self.
" The Bible in Spain , chap. XIV.
