New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-10
TILE METTERNIcH MEMOIRS
FROM 1915 To1s29.

S71. Vol. W. pp. vii. e42. Now-YOrs' Charles
seribners sons
Prince Metternich's memoirs, in the proper sense
~ The word. ended with the Congress Of Vienna
and we're ;ucluded in the first and second volumes
which brought his diplomatic career through tne
year 1915: II they were little dull in places .neS
were also intensely interesting in places and OF as
iug historical Importance. The third ana 1our'n
volumes, which will be issued in day OF t"o' aie
compilations of his state papers ana iesee'e W a
family and friends during the period between 1910
and 1929. They show the shrewd Chancellor more
a, he was. both in bis pu,Asc life and private
thoughts. and have greater zest and freedom suen
ss would be looked for in letters written ior
reading The political papers are not OIL uuitola'
but are worthy of the closest study as
ing curious view of the panorama Oh s.aeeclai'
fab.a ne scenes The Princes letters to his wife,
mother and son are full of facy description, amusing
anecdotes and characteristic recolections, "hicn
make them exceedingly entertaining.
In 1917 he accompanied the Archduchess Leo
noldine to Italy, and at Bologna encountered TO
fmarkable Able Mezzofanti, librarian OF tns en"e'
sitv. whom he describes as follows: ne spesAo
thirty languages, and as well as II ne were na,i'e
30 eacb of the thirty countries. attacked
him In German, and I defy anyone not
a. fake him for Saxon. He has, never
been away from Bologna and never had master
/ asked how he got the right infections Oh tne
language. The Infections replied he all spring
from the genius of language. learnt IN the gram
mar that each letter is pronounced in a certain
manner: read and understood it in three months
i could sneak it in six, and since then have held
conversations with Germans of different countries
have done the same with all languages. Indian
ana Chinese are the only ones that have embarrassed
me little for have never had an opportunity OF
talking either with a mandarin or brahmln, so
that am not sure if ] have surmounted the vulgar
pronunciation.' made an inward sign of humility,
and thought myself perfect simpleton beside the
Librarian of Bologna"
IL was In this same year that he had to encounter
che Emperor Alexander's request as protector of
Bible societies." that such societies be permitted to
operate in Austria. " In all the ideas of the EN-
peror Alexander" he writes, the design OF prose-
jytine stands first" Catholic Austria would not
encourage tho universal reading of the Bible be-
cause as Prince Metternich said the church did not
encourage it. Of the effect the Bible upon him
self he says:
read every day one or two chapters of the
Bible: discover new beauties daily, and prostra to
myself before this admirable book; while at the age
of twenty found it difficult not TO think the faml
of Lot un worthy to be saved Noah unworthy to
have lived; Saul great criminal, and David TER
rible man. At twenty tried to understand the
Apocalypse; now am sure that never shall under
stand IT. At the age of twenty deep and long
continued research in the Holy Books made me an
ATHEIST after the fashion OF Alembert anu Lalande
lor q Christian after that of Chateaubrlahd; now
believe and do not criticise. have read too much
and seen too much not to know that reading is not
tS26
insuficiency of knowledge, comprehend SO lmper-
fectly.
The year 1910 found him in Italy again and he
gives this amusing account of the grand religious
services of March and April:
The ceremonies here take place In balls and
chapels much too small, although in the largest
palace in the world. These places are encumbered
with strangers: for one Catholic you see eight or
guards are Obliged to their halberds: the Pope
Che Apostles. the sovereigns-an ls confusion On
the Pauline CRapelt from thence to the hall where
the Apostles dine There is fight at each door. and
generally blood flows Yesterday, for example, an
English lady fancying herself stronger than guard
nothing s but Cries Of My shoel" my yeil 'YOu
hs s,a.sGve way, please" and then KNOCKS and
blows" in abundance. The noise ceases ana the
ceremony is over Last year an E1gilshman De
line, forming passage for the Pope had bis nose
taken of between the shoulders of the tive guards
(they wear cuirasses on Holy Ihursdaysl You mag
imaene that the holiness of the place and tbs unc-
ton Of the service gain nothing by these occur
fences. .,. nA
The moment when the Holy Father, carried in a
chair, appears ut the window In the front OF the
The people falling on Their. knees is most
solemn But it seems as if bad luck at
tended all the religipns ceremonies at Rome after
mains at the window !; Q cardinal advances and
throws to the people ndulgences written on sheets
OF paper All the ragamniiins assemble struggling
shouts and laughter, as when one throws money IN
tbs street; the vctors make oil as fast as they cam
and use-I know not how-their indulgences. i
acknowledge that cannot understand how q Pro-
testant can turn Catholic at Rome. Rome is like O
most magnificent theatre with very bad actors,
ali Vienna, and love religion and its triumph TOO
much to wish 20 cast slur upon it in any manner
whatever
Anything be may say of Napoleon has special
interest Anniversaries OF great events of the Ma
poleonc era or books he has read usually turn his
thoughts in that direction. At one time he says:
Tie fall of Bonaparte delivered the world from an
immense weight, but this weight having pressed on
both good and bad, good and bad both alike felt
released from the shackles which had bound them.
Unhappily the elements Of the good were distorted
or paralyzed while those Of the evil did not remain
inactive and the revolutionary spirit was soon seen
TO take a new fight" October Is, 1919, ne writes
to his wife:
This day six years ago the fate of the world was
decided NAPOLEON would however nave osen ~ o.
after it. But this day enlightened the world, and
will always be looked upon in the annals OF history
as the turning point of that memorable epoch, show:
ina the beginning OF new era The hand of God
was armed with twenty nations 10 subdne one man.
who, to master people whom he had placed above
all other peoples, had put himself above all othei
men, BY soul was never more filed with holy rev
crence than during the course Of that long day
which passed between the dead and dying. fe!
reacc was in me and around me. Napoleon could
not have had similar feeliug on that day he mus
have experienced foretaste Of the Last Judgment
have often told you that in writing follow the
impulse of the moment aud to-day feel this. for
fancy hear that noise so strikiDgly described By
tho expression tho roar of the battle, tina
sound which was called forth by the clashing to
ecther Of the strongest forces of modern times. The
austrian army alone had on the 18th shot OF
e00O0 cannon balls, and since this army repre-
scented only q third of the assembled Powers, ont
may venture to assert that on that day more than
500 900 cannon balls must have been fired. Then