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Martha Baldwin diary,page 40

Baldwin, Martha, 1840-1913

Baldwin Public Library

Baldwin, Martha, 1840-1913

Women Michigan Birmingham Biography

Birmingham (Mich.) History

EC01b040

Part of Martha Baldwin's Diary, 1860-1863

text, image

tiff

Some sections of the original diary are illegible, and these are noted in the transcription. A bracketed question mark [?] represents one illegible word. Places where whole sentences (or considerable portions thereof) were found to be illegible are noted with a bracketed ellipsis […]. Whole paragraphs found to be illegible have been noted in the following manner: [P] in their characters with such as these it is all enthusiasm. The sterling elements are wanting. This spirit we term youth in a powerful power of discernment the power to perceive and to separate the true from the false; the right from the wrong; likened to a powerful all conquering will. This is why the history of war is to so great an extent the history of youth, and youthful men. Cortes was the conquer [sic] of Mexico at thirty; Hannibal [?] at thirty, Napoleon at twenty six had overthrown the power of haughty Austria. The greatest triumph history records have been youthful victories, and after has the most grievous past of defeat been that they were beaten by mere boys and according to the rules of war most inappropriately beaten.