The Morning herald., 1876-03-22
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bHlEF blO8BAPAABS OF FAONCn TVAAA
IcAL LHADERs-By. EDwAfD KING.-
EDITED BY THOMAS WENTWORTH
HIaaINsoN.-a. p. PUTNAM & SONS.
This is one ofa series Of publications,
entitled "The Library of Brief Biogra-'
phies," perhaps the most readable, inter-
esting, and instructive books of the kind
ever offered to the reading public-at least
to that portion who take an intesest in
the affairs of different countries, and who
wish to become acquainted with the men
who are taking conlpicious part in max
ing European history Of the nineteenth
century.
The series comprise biographies Of Eng
lisn, French, and German political lead
ers and statesmen, whose views on public
questions, are in many instances so similar
to our own, that to know them is to regard
them as members of the same republican
family with ourselves. Especially is this
so with our brethren Of the French Re-
public, whose biographies are perfectly
fascinating. Sketches of such men as
Victor Hugo, Leon Gambetta, l.. A..
Theirs, Jules Simon, Marshal MacMahon,
E. Leboulaye. Jules Fevre, and Henri
Rochfert, and the parts they severally
PLAYED at certain eventful periods in
France, could hardly fail to interest the
American reader. Laboulaye said, it was
the spirit of the immortal Constitution
makers Of America, that agitated France,
when it exchanged the Empire fot Re-
public and one has only to read Kings
biographies to learn how thoroughly the
leading Frenchmen were imbued with that
spirit, and how infinitely better prepared
they were for Republic, than was gener-
ally supposed.
The that the fact monarchists were d.
vided among themselves, probably helped
to bring matters to a favorable issue, as
the Legitimists, the Orleanists, and Bona
partists, had each nominee for the
throne The American spirit of '76, re-
cognized in France in '93, and still lin
gering in Gau], was thoroughly under
stood, and rightly interpreted when the
present French Republic was established
For this grand achievement, the world is
indebted to the master-minds of France,
whose intensely interesting biographies
will be read with avidity throughout the
entire Union.
Gambetta, one Of the brightest stars in
the political armament of France, is
thus described by his biographer
"ln the National Assembly, when ex-
posing the conduct Of the Administra-
ton, with regard to the control of the
Press. Gambetta as an orator shown with
surprising brilliancy.
Imagine seven hundred passionate
deputies listening to this crushing revela-
ton; a handful Of fifty, still faithful to
the ministry, who had scented the danger
from the very first, and who interpret, cry,
deny the evidence, make an uproar in
every conceivable manner; three hundred
Republicans, indignant and triumphant
selecting the most cynical passages Of the
speech with formidable hurrahs the mass
of the Right, and Centre Right taker
completely by Storea, stupefed and con
founded, irritated at its own confusion: il
vain kicking against the pricks; all thi
crowd surprised, tempestuous, undecided
bursting into fury, then relapsing int
calm; given to colloquics, fluctuations
and incertitude.
"Gambetta was astonishing in the mids
of the tumult.
"He spread himself out, leaning on t,
tribune; reading and battling, with re
tort for every aggression, making room b
f his speech as by rapier; commentin
upon each phrase ard word, with his ho
low yet sonorous voice, and his grand an
r powerful gestures, which knew well how
: give snch terrific explosion to anger, an
f such comic force to irony He went on
disorder, his hair sire inning over his bro,
: shaking his head, and throwing taunts
: his interrupters, distributing sledege-han
o mer blows, sowing apostrophics and sa
l. casms broadcast, laying stress upon al
t, giving ten-fold importance to each wo
= of the shameful secret document."'
J. This thrilling volume can be had
l. Messrs Boughman, Thomas & Co. Prie