The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-31


prominently in his thoughts. though in saying we
mainly refer to the pictorial qualities of his style.
and do not mean to intimate that there is any want
OF historical substance in the basis of his sketches
'PRINCE METrERNIcHs MEMOIRS" WHERE ARE
TALLEYRANDs?
Prince Metternich the Austrian statesman. who
died in Vienna in 1859 ut the advanced age of eighty
six. had passed through the eventful period OF
European history comprised between the years 1873
and 1849 in the highest offices. He was Minister to
France in 1906. where Napoleon received him with
the remark. "You very young to represent so
powerful monarchy" To which he replied. "Your
Majesty not older at Austerlitz." He was cog
infant Of if not the centre of. all the secret springs
of European diplomacy for the succeeding forty
years. 1t is announced that this leader of the
conservatism of Europe has left behind him an
autobiography and q Of photographed ma
terials which will illuminate his connection with the
great events Of the history Of the first half
of the century. and consequently throw much light
on the events themselves. These memoirs are now
about to be published simultaneously in Vienna,
London and Paris. Mr.. Bentley is the English pub
Usher NJ Braumnller the Austrian. and NJ. Plon the
French. The work Of editing has been done by
Prince Meternichs son. Prince Richard Metternich.
formerly Austrian Ambassador at the Court of Napo
The order of despotism of which Metternich the
incarnation is passing away indeed. it was an up
heava against it that shook Metternich out OF power
but it is desirable to know the attitude Of the
to his work and the influences which helped him to
stay the tide of progress long as he did. man Of
keen observation and judgment his opinions. his
sketches of his celebrated contemporaries cannot fail
to be Of high interest
This publication will undoubtedly add immensely
to the material for the history of the first half Of the
century. But now that the promise likely to
be realized in the of Metternich another ques
ton presents itself. Why not the memoirs Of
Talleyrand given to the world? On his death. in
1888. it found that he desired these memoirs to
be kept from the public eye for thirty years In 1868
they should accordingly have appeared but the fam
lily. it seems. decided that it yet too Pos
sbly they found that the revelations Of the memoirs
would have compromised in public esteem persons
still living. or that the comments great person
sges-Nspoleon Bonaparte, for instance-would not
have been relished by his so-called nephew then
the French throne. and with innumerable police
spies and agents available to make life uncomfort
able for those who made light Of his "uncle" But
the Nspoleonic dynasty is safely out Of the way
and Death has had eleven years to CLEAN the inter-
ested few spared his grim harvests of the previous
three decades. Great the value will be of the Met
ternich memoirs 1t is safe to say that the interest
awakened by the memoirs Of Talleyrsnd would be
many times greater than will follow the appearance
Of the life work OF the Austrian statesman.
Metternch, with all his foxy turns of statecrsf had
a dominant political idea, which hc sustained all
through aud who's, application at length cost him
his power; but what CONFUSION stayed the influence
of Talleyranda 1t is strange character in history
that is made by the subtle dplomatist. oynic. wit
and statesman. who had been Catholic bishop. high
list and royalst. and from 1889 to the close of his
hfe either at the front rank Of affairs in France
the secret mentor Of its statesmen. He may not be
lovable even to be respected not to say admired
but he presented mixture Of extraordinary quail
ties of high order. and his word upon the and
the events OF his time is certain to be listened to
with keen attention, much from the cold worldly
wisdom expressed in caustic sententiousness with
which it is of being iced from his command
ing sources of information. His story. told by him
SELF is necessary before the inner diplomatic history
of Europe. during and Immediately following the
reign of the Corscan. be said to be written 1t
should be the most interesting Of all the memoirs Of
the epoch. What better or moro apt time than the
present could be chosen for the appearance of his
photographed remainsa Following closely on
the Metternich memoirs they would be Of the
keen attention Of the entire literary world.
THOMAS CARLYLE"
In their Handy Volume" series d. Appleton & Co.
have issued biography of Carlyle. written by Alfred
H. Guernsey. The lfe the books and the theories Of
the octogenarian writer epitomized within this
small duodecimo of two hundred pages In o style
that is perforce sketchy but in the collection
and arrangement of the data has not been lacking.
and the result is on the whole. satisfactory. AS
historian Mr.. Guernsey accords Carlyle place among
critic who has written in language; but. while
conceding to his subject eminence as a bographer
and historian. he admits that q guide to conduct
one through the mazes of speculation and inquiry
there could hardly be poorer one than Carlyle
Very little that is reminiscent Of Carlye's personal
character habits is offered. and in this respect the
book Is o disappointment II is doubtless true that
the sage leads exceptionally isolated existence
but there must have been other available material
than the pcagre records of Rev. Mr. Milburn, the
blind preacher. and of Ralph Waldo Emerson. The
author discloses however the fact that the manifold
Inconsistencies Of his subject due in small
measure to the tyranny of an obdurate stomach.
which, for more than half . century. compelled the
enforcement of a strict regimen. Rustic farm prod
seems to have been his only diet. He could not
with i,npunity 90 beyond milk and meal eggs chick
ems. moor mutton aud whitefsh. Even salmon,
lamb and veal were, he writes himself. 'tabooed' to
him. lie regarded the as the friend Of man, and
tho French cook his enemy and not day In ten
did he drink beyond single glass Of wine. With
the conclusion Of his bographer there will probably
be a general agrcement:-"IIis place is that of q
stimulator Of thought rather than leader Of 1t.
He has taught US muita. not maitum-very many
things but not very much
ARABIA, EGYPT AND INDIA"
ind fa tiuahlo trn liar Mrs IaahoI p,,r<o
wife of the redoutabo Captain. has just published
new volume Of travel. William Muan ~ Son. Lon
don.) In very personal introduction sho begs
the public not to pronounce her book dry until they
have given it chance. Tho first chapter seems
quito rs personal the introduction. although the
author does not label 1t so. Indeed, Mrs. Buttons
style might be called personal throughout the book