New-York tribune., 1872-04-13

teachng OF words rather than OF things rather
than IDEAS the memory crowded TO the neglect OF the
reasoning faculties, and literary phrase, elegance o
expression, cultivated to the neglect OF Informing
thought But, critically examining. one after ano'her
these vicious methods, teaching the clements OF
geography I'm the primary school, Of the ancient CLASSICS
In tho Lyctc OF the highest branches or learning ana
science In the Fdeuttts CUniversty) and speea hsn
schools he points out the bearing OF the evil not only In
the mind and character OF individual pupil but In
the national fc He then proposes in each instance
remedy and shows that the remedy possible ana
cable by presenting sufficient explanatory DETAIL ana
pointing out where and how, in Germany oh some ease
In the United states has been put In practee ana
with what profitable superiority OF results over those OF
the method here for which he would nave IL
substituted. The book, warmly commended by such
men Reuan and Francisque sarcey Is well worth inc
pcrusal any interested In educational questions
and their intimate relation with national character and
Situations"
While NJ Breal proposes adaptation OF German re-
forms TO French schools NJ Tanc whose Christian name
is HppOyte the given one OF Henri being pure graf
nifty OF foreign prnters) offers TO the higher reading
classes foreign lesson in their own history Under the
title OF UR SejoT France de 1902 d lTo5, he has
ed ted with preface and notes. a somewhat abridged
translation OF Residence in France during the years
1894 I7o3 1884, and 1885, described in Series OF Letters
from English lady, with general and incidental re-
marks the French character and manners prepared
for the press by John Clifford author, etc The original
was published i'll London in 1797 and through three
editions SO far NJ Tdne is aware, IL has not been
ferrcd by any French historian of the Revolution He
is persuaded from internal and external evidence OF the
genuincness letters, and is that they must
in the main, have been written by eyewitness. His
researches in the Bbliotheque Naionae and In the Ii
brary British Museum have failed to assure him OF
the OF the lady author. He draws the Following
clever portrait OF her from her book in accordance with
his critical laws OF design:
dicuIrct. -stlrchcd.
with orly but rather grim moral sentiments II had
an aunt like her should pay the respectful at
tentiOn, might sometimes ask her advice. should
have the Srcat,sJ regard for her principles, ana Wish
that there were many women Ike her In my country
but SHOULD my habitual entertainment in her
society. English, Protestant. politician morllst very
q, cided IN her ideas very absolute opinions, she
is not ndulsent; htr racry Is always hard without
changing ner tone, III the midst Of an rreproachable
pArase sne places with cool calculation one Of those eX
sOns that cut To- the quick and leave an oDen wound
sne cauOt out OF herself enter into the sentiments OF
others conceive form OF thought and conduct other
than her own When bames she condemns, and her
Judgments are without appeal Her anger Is calculated
the 0rcc OF her character and the harsh severity OF her
CONVICTIONS break out through her measured words ana
correct pcr1Ous."
II the authority which the OF a
critic like TIinc lends to his opinion, one would be
tempted exclaim. with sir Hugh. 81 like not when
Oman has great pcard," and 10 attribute suspicously
larger part than he does the letters OF this anonymous
lady to the pseudOnymOu prcparer of them for the press
Mr.. John Green. who took the name OF Clifford. was
rank Tory and fierce antJacobin aud violent partisan
writer, though not of clean private or distinguished
literary reputation as william Clifford. lie came to
France TO his creditors and lived here until l7ss
he returned England. His Reign OF Louis XVI,
and Complete History OF the French Revolution" Q4on-
don. 1894 vol 4o), his History OF France from the
EII iest Times the End OF the Revolution" london.
1895. vols 4o) heavy his brefer review arti-
materially light. The English Government
rewarded HIM with pension and place in the police
service Could the letters OF lady French Affairs be
uehed at that time by such pitch and not be deled
And why should English lady disgusted with what
going about her. Lave prolonged the residence
she describes In a country from which, for anything
that appears she had apart from the fourteen months Of
forcbc detention and incarceration, between August
1893, and O;0bcr 1884, frequent opportunity OF escape
but setting aside the question OF literary criticism, il
is evident that the subject matter OF the hooA whether
furnished by one female worked up from the reports
OF paid spies other data 10 be trusted TO far as
eye-vitnesscs' testimony IL ever TO be trusted The
.niaeancc of its translation and publication to-day In
France, with the editorial care, improvement, and
furthcrancc Of 80 eminent Frenclnan as NJ Tame, Is
what nave for the moment specially to DO WITH This
viii nc best made pparcnt by another extract translated
without abriigment or compression IN t4ls instance,
from his preface:
IS certain that Frenchman after reading this book,
will find the draugC Il bitter one; it needs 10 De drunk
ali me same for it Is saiCary. We hardly know the
FrerrF Revolution. except fo its general scenes-the
nj cry different Assemblies and or the lnsrrec-
t0r o. Paris at least our great historians nave always
treated from such points OF view. II Il well 20 SEQ
u-s under another aspects tine detail and as they
occur daY by day, i'll the successive impressions OF SIN
u re wtncss IL is thus that should have seen them
mad we lvc those days and Il III reading sc tcs-
really transport ourselves INTO tho
Dusf That the witness Is friendly Is not reason FOR
cxclud ng MIN; inasmuch he has been witness, an
ha, good eyes ana honesty he mas rEht 10 uple WIN
he rest LelvIc judges who seek To know the whole truth
Throw out, II you will, from his impressions
Tl, cxaggrratious that TO he set TO the ac-
count ot his personal suhernrs and national an
tathcs; but keep IN mind that II he he lazy letter
WuteIauthors have no privilege OF SEX Sohuenhs, II
brcausc before all ether things liberty, secur
ity ana tue rue OF LIw which surely are worthy OF
love and Fr,nch readers (of to-day who still under
the mprcssiu NJ. Tame rather eNcessvey L. OF the
events the last iatc Revolutionary year IN general
and OF the tTimestre in TnrcuaT) viii NOT be
at lis dcplUTng their loss. And finally con-
sdcr That gu pO Cal side and from the outset, he
s.w ciearfy and mat along with Burke. GOuverneur
Morr.s Minet du Pau. Dumont OF Geneva, and all prac
tcly cAperenccd men, he Uhe female wltnessl pointed
ouf M AIN Inc, the fatal decyity down whlcn have
ro.ci al the governments OF the revolution" W. H. II.