The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-18
BOOK NOTICE.

HISTORY OF CHARLES THE BOLD DUKE OF BUR.
GUNDY. BY John Foster Kirk. Vol. 3. Lippncott
4 Co.
Mr. Kirk has concluded in this volume his pro-
jected task Three bulky volumes devoted to Charles
the Bold in this late age Of the world is perhaps
little more than Charles the Bold had any right to
expect II Is certainly more than he is entitled to.
Charles was right good fellow and played not I'M
important part In his day and generation, but he
never occupied any position which entitled him to
be treated a great historical centre. nor did he
ever reveal qualities either man or as a ruler
which marked him out as q representative character.
We do not say that new reading of the life and
times of Charles the Bold was not desirable, but we
do say that one of Mr.. Kirk1 volumes ought to have
been large enough for the subject. II Is only q by
way of history and Mr.. Kirk ought so to have
treated 1t. Mr.. Kirk has, however, given us three
interesting Volumes and to those who will take time
to read them they will be found devoid OF instruc
tion Mr.. Kinks style Is not wholly free from fault.
1t lacks at once independence and dignity. Effort
all through Is too painfully visible. We should have
expected less OF this from man who was for time
the literary assistant Of the amented Prescott. Here
is specimen OF fine writing whose only Justification
is that Charles had resolved to make war in the
Jura:-
When the spectators on the Riei have watched
successive groups OF giant Alps rise out Of she night
and receive their ley brows warm kisses from the
radiant dawn the eye turns In quest OF further
wells to the opposite quarter OF the panorama across
and bounded by the distant chain OF the Jura. But
there the horizon offers none Of the grand and en-
trancing aspects OF mountain range That long.
straight, dusky line, with no variety OF
form or play Of color, belongs not to the
picture, but to the frame. If we transfer
our point or view to the Lake OF Geneva and choose
for comparison the evening instead Of the morn
ing light, the contrast Is still more striking. For
then the mountains OF the valais and Of savoy unve
themselves to the declining SUM- and, as the mist rolls
on, each snowy summit and gray pyramid Pushes
into soft crimson before his parting glance. The
lake, like o conscious witness, trembles and burns.
But Jura, wrapping herself In darker mantle, inter-
poses TO cut short the glowing scene The lingering
orb IL snatched away. The matchiess mirror ceases
10 reject Pallld, yet serene the majestic Alps re-
cede into the gloom.
This is good enough in its way, but 1t savors too
much of the style Of the novelist, and one feels
tempted ask what all this has to do with Charles
the Bold or with his campaign In 147I.
Here Is bit In the spasmodic vein:-
more alone than he, in all the camp In all the wordY
q misery Abandoned betrayed, encompassed by
foes--severed by O gulf from the faithful Few
dance the goadings OF fate The world against him,
God not with hini-O misery, misery
Was II, in truth, too later lorraine the Bnrgun-
OF the past must be buried forever. But might he
not by bending to the storm still save himself from
total shipwreck9 Might he not, by protracting the
contest, weary down OF oufve his antagonist
Might he not--ah, no Another might-another who
had never scared so high 10 fall 80 lows who had
never taken between his teeth the bt Of destiny and
tune had beat with the steady pulsations Of o ma
chine; such one-not he
These, however. are, after ali, but bamishes In n
work which has many merits, and which wiii In all
likelihood, for many years 10 come, reisain thc
standard book on the subject.