New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

LIFE OF 81 Ef IA
F STss sse A. n spsrs Hour serAsaI 1sn3 Vp
The uresent work which is considered one
n, fine best biographical productions Of the middle ages
has hitherto been concealed In the oDscury Oh ueau
language and is for the lrs tme we eeheVe gwen
70 the public In an English translation. IL mas Ooe
generally accepted ss the best original authority on INC
Of the great Emperor and Is no less valuable as
eentemporary historical monument, than amusing do
vaeord of ne rsousl Details. Enhard held an impor''
MAGE In the Court OF Charemagne, who mace nun ns
Minister OF Public Works and Councillor OF ele' "S
also employed him his private secretary ne
the Cnurch In the year 815 and WAS honorea win '-
nortant ecclesiastical Offices and finally died IN
st.,y IN saG According to the memoir, little mas peeh
known In regard 10 the birth and Childhood OF Cn
xa.,ne He vas born in 742 but his nati'e pi~so 20
entirely uncertain. He was the father vi se'el"'
drep TO whose early training he paid the ~
tion Both sons and daughters we're instructor ~ W
liberal arts As rs they were OF sue'n' "ee en-.
-. haa to learn horsemanship, and TO praclSe INC
h.oa epd military exercises while the girls learheu 'n
art of weaving and IL handle the spindle anu ois'"n
Ue never took meal without his enhureu wHen ~
home and they accompanied him, as RUE Oh NO ~
ouent Journeys. His sons would rde ~ MS sue No
daughters followed behind, and company Oh ms "Ouy
,o,d hran1ht an the rear. His daughters we're very
handsome women, bat he would never cohsent ~ nc.
marriage and kept them at home unrlt inc uAS " no
de,tb This gave rise macy scandalous rulnors' "'
obto,ncd general currency, and were never oSproVeu
In his personal Ape arance Charles was OF lOS
,hanon not Internationally tall strong ana
,h,st.. the upper part Of bis head WAS
round, his eyes large and aniHa'eu' .no
nose a little long; and the expression ol MS
Face marked by cheerfuness and even gayety. TIC was
ALWAYS denifed aud stately, though incineh l" CORFU
lence and his neck was thick and sOmeW nat snort
s,rv Of the rest OF body concealed these delees
His gait was firm, his whole carriage manly anu ~
voice clear He had perfect health until the iour you
preeedng his death, when he was supeet 10 IeNe'' anu
a, the last even nmped little Win one ioo'' e 'ooH
freouept exercise horseback and In the cn"se-
mas remarkably fond OF swimming, in which ne was
erpeed by no one III his Court His dress was the h"
fional Frauksh costume. He wore q Iheh eni't anu
linen urcecles next his skin above these was 'u"
fripRed with sIlk his legs were protected d! uose
rod with hands and over his shoulders ana chest III
to time was elose-htting coat of otter or marten
,N+ns Over all he flung blue cloak; he always nau
svorh grit about him. usually with gold OF sl'er MI
md he sometimes carried cwelled sword o" o' VIZ
Great foast-days or at the reception ot foreign auo
Sors II. had n dsiastc for foreign costumes however
handsome and would never consent 10 wear thcu' va
-. ,,r,.o &, Rome when he put on the Roman tunc,
oh;o,,vs and Shoes On great icasiays he dressed III
embroidered clothes and shoes bedecked wth peelo"
sones: his cloak fastened with golden pueA' III"
no was crowned with diadcm Of gold and gems p' OH
other DAYS his dress nearly the same rs the common
reso o the peop;e Charles temperate IN eatihg'
and still more in drinking; lie detested
especially those Of his household; but ne couu n
eosily abstain from his favOrite articles OF Ioou' nc
rarely gave great entertainments, only IN hgh iestVs
and he then invited large company OF guests MS
reas consisted OF four courses, not Counting
tho rnast which his used to bring In on tue
snt he was more fond OF this than OF any otner os
While at table he listened tO music or reading lie e
hchted In the stories and deeds OF olden time ana GU
ioyed the writings OF st. Augustine especially the CITY
TIay
all other drinks that he never allowed him
self more than three cups IN the eouse
of q meal In Summer. after the midday repast' he
would eat little fruit, drain single cup put on us
clothes and Shoes Just ne aid for the nigh auu seep
for two or three hours. Chnrlemagne had the gut oi
.dy and fluent speech and could always express bim-
v,f with the utmost He was addictefto tue
iudy gn languages, in particular OF Latln "nic
he could speak we'll his native tongue out ne couu
understand Greek better than he could speak H. de
yas so eloquent, indeed, that he miglt almost nave
assed for teacher eloquence. He WAS ardenty de-
voted to the Liberal ars, and conferred great hOhos
upon those who taught them one OF Ma teachers III
other branches Of learning was Acun, native VI b'!-
aIn and the greatest scholar Of his day. Win whon ne
snent much time in studying rhetoric, dalcct;cs ana
nooio,Iv ostronouy He also tired write and used
IN keep tablets and blanks under his pillow, that ne
might practice the letters In his leisure hours b ne
becau this exercise late in III, tiat lie never m"U
much Of hand at wrtin2, and In fac never acquired
apractic1l knowieEe OI the ART Ills i"s' '0
Mace at the age OF seventy, In bis palace al AlX-h-
S-nnpelIe where he died tine 2Sth OF January el4.
The volume now published, though OF brief compass
presents an sketch of the prominent carac
ter in medieval history who equally remarkable for
his organizing genius in government, hs mastery as a
military commander and his zeal ana energy Tor the al
vaneement OF learning and civilization in rude age
His biographer has produced quaint and attractive
speeimen OF historical literature which forms an inter
esns study for naive simplicity of style and Its lucid
pictures Of social political life at an early period OF
modern history.
SYSTEM OF MORAL SCIENCE BY LAuRFNs p.
HIrKoK LID Revised with the Cooperation OF julius
h SEELYR- u. D., LID. l2mo, pp. 2e9 Boston: CHM