CHAPTER VIII: History Astigmatic.
So far as I know, it was Mr.Sydney Gent Fisher, an American, who was the first to go back to the original documents, and to write from study of these documents the complete truth about England and ourselves during the Revolution.

His admirable book tore off the cloak which our school histories had wrapped round the fables.

He lays bare the political state of Britain at that time.

What did you learn at your school of that political state?
Did you ever wonder able General Howe and his manner of fighting us?
Did it ever strike you that, although we were more often defeated than victorious in those engagements with him (and sometimes he even seemed to avoid pitched battles with us when the odds were all in his favor), yet somehow England did seem to reap the advantage she should be reaped from those contests, didn't follow them, let us get away, didn't in short make any progress to speak of in really conquering us?
Perhaps you attributed this to our brave troops and our great Washington.

Well, our troops were brave and Washington was great; but there was more behind--more than your school teaching ever led you to suspect, if your schooling was like mine.