The New York herald., 1879-09-01
LITER ATU RE.
A Kings Life of a
King.
PROFESSOR FISKES ESSAYS.
The COmedic Humaine and Its Author from
an English Standpoint.
OSCAR II. ON CHARLES XII.

the opinion of king on another. for it is seldom
that monarchs dip into literature. Oscar L.. tho
present King OF Sweden is exception to the rule
and he has written life of his great predecessor
Charles XII. that shows moro than kingly attain
ments. His Swedish Majesty modestly signs the
name Oscar Fredrik" to this volume. the contents
of which were first made public in the
form of address. Indeed. the book needs no
royal backing. for it is well written and often
eloquent. The translator. Mr.. George +. Apgeorge.
dedicates the English edition Richard Bentley &
SOM to the Prince of Wales with His Royal High
ness gracious permission Tho book is adorned
with portrait OF Oscar III. and view Of the monu-
ment erected to Charles XII at Stockholm. while the
arms of the united Kingdoms are embazoned on the
cover. As far as are able to judge Mr.. Apgeorge
made an excellent translation although he says
that he is Of having failed to transfer to
his own language tho finished style and glow Of
genius which distinguished the original Swedish
work.
King Oscar begins his work with resume of the
reign OF Charles XI., whom no calls the Louis XIV.
of Sweden. Then he reviews the condition of that
country previous to the accession of Charles Kill.
after which he proceeds to show what Charles XII.
was cas- king. soldier and q man." King
Oscar has accomplished his task gracefully and with
ability He proves himself student Of history and
man of close observation. Speaking of tho tide of
emigration being always westward. he says:-'May
not the Slavonic race. with its fresh and youthful
elasticity. be compared to powerful generator Of
steam, while America, like gigantic air pump. by
continual suction creates for it the requisite
uum?" He then continues:-
The progress of history and the general develop
ment of the human race cannot be arrested; yet it is
the duty OF every one who would worthily bear the
name Of statesman not only to abstain from favor.
ing that which is injurious to his country. but to
every in his power to counteract it. It is
q duty on the altar of which man may become o
sacrifice, but. comprehended and practiced, 1t is
that distinguishesn 81 him If from & that common herd
tage and follows tho Haunting banner Of fortune
wherever it leads.
The application Of this to Charles XII. is scfevi
dent King Oscar laments the error made by Charles
in regarding tho northern theatre Of
ondary in Importance. He follows tho career Of
Charles from the cradle to the grave. and confirms
the belief have always held that Charles Kill is
one Of the grandest names in history. Referring to
his sudden elevation to the throne he thinks that
would have been BETTER both for Sweden and her
King. had he bcen invested with the full powers OF
royalty in ga less abrupt and more con stitutionM
manner" However. sweden has had little cause to
regret her action, for her "boy King" became her
greatest glory. King Oscar writes sympsthetically
Of the Poles indeed he seems anxious to
judge all people fairly. To Charles XII. no
attributes that ''species Of greatness which is
most strikingly displayed in the hour Of trial"
Charles protracted absence In Turkey. which has
been by many against him and attributed to arb
trary caprice. and even to political insanity. King
Oscar thinks 1t only reasonable to suppose based
settled political plan. The real interests of Tur
key were identical with those of Sweden in respect
now smile on the alliance.
NJ. Cvo n cr1,3 a.
King Oscar thinks to view his character in very
partial light. Whenever his sword at rest he
devoted himself with the liveiest interest to nat
ters bearing on the domestic economy Of Sweden,
and displayed the greatest interest in national edu
cation and art. King Oscar laments the great con-
fdence Charles put in men OF foreign birth after
tho battle OF Pultowa. for they contributed to
widen the breach that was gradually opening be-
tweed the King and his people," The suspicion
that Charles assassinated rather than simply
shot at random in the trenches Of Gyldenlowe King
Oscar sets at rest by saying:-
On the 3lst of August. 1852 another King Charles,
surrounded by some OF tho chief scientific men of
the country, stood beside the opened sarcophaeus
OF his illustrious namesake in the vault of the
Chareses in the Riddarhom Church. A careful ex-
animation has proved how utterly unfounded were
the suspicious that the hero had fallen by
sins hand
In concluding King Oscar says:-
Never was man more thoroughly suited than
Charles Kill to inspire Swedish troops with courage
or to lead them to victory. Noble. just. sclf-deny-
ing and brave AS lion. he seemed to them almost
supernatural being. Every victory he made
his soldiers more confident in him. every danger he
shared with them spurred them on to increased ex-
ertion.
He thinks that the feelings that overwhelmed the
Swedish soldier after the battle Of Pultowa were
''more of wonder that their King could have been
conquered than OF at the calamtous defeat" "
"He was the last of tho Northern Vikings" con.
tinues King Oscar. 'and halo surrounds his men,
ory similar to that which CLEANS on the hero Of
ancient legend. To the adventures Of BOTH Svca 8
sons. even at this day. listen with enthusiasm and
pride" Although beloved by the rank and file Of
his army Charles did not maintain unbroken accord
among it's superior officers. and at the end, with the
exception of a few veteran officers and his BODY
guards who remained near his person. he was sur
rounded only by youthful soldiers. "Not without
reason" says King Oscar. "has the historian Golfer
uttered his grave the significant words. 1t
a finished lfo!' 1t might be added that it also
a finished period in the history Of his country. Its
golden age. both political and military. had passed
away. and Sweden ceased to be great Powor.''
''DARwINIsM AND OTHER ESSAYS"
We must confess to disappoin tment in Professor
John Fiske's volume, 'Darwinsm and Other Es-
says Oo.j We nau hopcu luz boinc
thing new. something In keeping with the fine repu-
tation Professor Fiske has made for himsolf as o
thinker, both at homo and abroad. The volume is
composed principally of reviews OF scientific books
clever. undoubtedly. but not profound as We had
hoped for. The essay on Chauncey Wright is por-
haps the most important in the collection. for it
gives the result of a keen observation of famous
though little known man. "Only those who knew
him best. who had the privilege of listening to his
conversation" says Professor Fiske. really ap-
prociae the philosophy sustained the death of
Mr. Wright. wonderful talker. he was deficient In
the knack of expressing his thoughts in writing.
lis essays and revow articles full of suggestions.
but he was indifferent to public opinion and 80
devoid of literary ambition that he failod to EN-.
phasize them. aud they passed over by tho or
binary reader. Mr. Wright had tasto for extern