The Monikins

By: Cooper, James Fenimore

The philosopher who broaches a new theory is bound to furnish, at least, someelementary proofs of the reasonableness of his positions, and the historian whoventures to record marvels that have hitherto been hid from human knowledge, owes it to a decent regard to the opinions of others, to produce some credibletestimony in favor of his veracity. I am peculiarly placed in regard to these twogreat essentials having little more than its plausibility to offer in favor of myphilosophy, and no other witness than myself to establish the important facts thatare now about to be laid before the reading world for the first time. In this dilemma, I fully feel the weight of responsibility under which I stand; for there are truths ofso little apparent probability as to appear fictitious, and fictions so like the truththat the ordinary observer is very apt to affirm that he was an eye-witness to theirexistence: two facts that all our historians would do well to bear in mind, since aknowledge of the circumstances might spare them the mortification of havingtestimony that cost a deal of trouble, discredited in the one case, and save a vastdeal of painful and unnecessary labor, in the other. Thrown upon myself, therefore, for what the French call les pieces justificatives of my theories, as well as of myfacts, I see no better way to prepare the reader to believe me, than by giving anunvarnished the result of the orange-woman's application; for had my worthyancestor been subjected to the happy accidents and generous caprices of voluntarycharity, it is more than probable I should be driven to throw a veil over thoseimportant years of his life that were notoriously passed in the work-hou

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B08YHX1KX4
• ISBN13: 9798719112626
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 292 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 8.0"