The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-15

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,OsnAsiy's Klssssy % che Thirty YsasS War
j.. We may probably take for granted that here
before most American readers hsvs been almost
sn S indebted Il ScSllisi III M.ir inowlsdss
of the Thirty Years War; but even II Schiller
bad been competent TO produce an impartial
narrative. whom his sympathies were 10 oh.
yiously enlisted on one side. he lacked much Of
lhe documentary material which IL now forth
coming. and he could not b expected to apply
methods Of historical research and criticism
which had not a. yet been invented. II his
book IL still peculiarly accounted German
classic. It retains that distinction solely by vr.
tue Of Its style. and II has long ceased to be 40.
esptod by students a. an authority. 1t IL we'll
known that Mr. Motley had hoped to supple.
ment his story OF the Dutch uprising for re-
ligious and civil liberty With an account OF
tho great contest between Protestants and
Catholics upon the wider field OF Germany but
he was only able to complete what might be
considered an Introduction to such work In
his description OF the part played By Barneveld.
Mean while tho importance OF more thorough
acquaintance with tho causes. Incidents and
results OF the tremendous struggle. which
began In 1918 with the revolt OF Bohemia
against Ferdinand OF Austria. and ended thirty
years later with the pence Of Westphalia. 10
more and more generally recognized. Some
substitute for Schiller must DO found. and none
IL 30 we'll adapted to the general reader who
desires at the same time to keep abreast with
the conclusions Of competent specialists, than
the short history Of this eventful epoch COM
piled by Prof. ANTON 0INpELY Of tho Univer-
sity Of Prague. We have reason. therefore to
b grateful for an English translation OF this
A1NI DAT l-A
lished In two volumes BY the Putnams.
About tho authors qualifications there can
be NO difference OF opinion. though his view Of
particular persons and measures may DO con.
troverted In some instances where tho evidence
admits Of more than one Interpretation. But
We imagine that historical students who are
able to gauge the amount Of laborious and eau.
tious investigation that has preceded tho for
nation Of his judgments will hesitate to reject
them even where they run most sharply counter
to current ideas. or whore the production OF
the facts upon which they are grounded 10. for
time. deferred. The present compendium OF
course. IL only . by-work. executed In the
writer's hours OF leisure. for the benefit OF Ger.
man youth. and It IL his larger work on the
Thirty Years War. only four volumes OF which
have yet been published. which entities him to
rank with his contemporaries. Mommssn and
Curtius. In the front rank Of independent ex-
plorers OF the sources OF history. The book be.
fore US IL q summary OF the larger narrative up
to the point where the latter breaks OF and even
after that. up to the year 1886. the author de-
ponds chiefly on his personal examinations
OF the German. Spanish. italian. and French
archives. It Is only for the last twelve
years Of the contest that he has had recourse
to the printed authorities. and even horc he IL
able to Introduce some valuable corrections.
his researches In the French archives having
been already prosecuted UP to the year 164S.
Before adverting to some Of the capital points.
In which the views Of Prof. Gindely differ from
those commonly received. we should say that
Prof Ten Brooks version is pninstaking and
accurate though 1t lacks vivaclty. and that he
has rendered the book more useful to Ameri-
can readers by contributing preliminary and
. concluding chapter. In which he conveys or
recalls certain facts regarding the situation OF
Europe before and after the great struggle.
knowledge OF which appears to be taken for
granted In the original work. We are sorry
to add that tho maps accompanying the English
translation are worthless. and would only mis-
lead or confuse tho reader who turns to them
for elucidation Of the text Would 1t be believed
that tho domlnions Of the Eector Palatine arc
not designated at all on the map Of Germany.
although the restoration OF this Princes terri
tories was one Of the main objects OF Protestant
negotiation throughout the war. To read this
book understandingly continued reference
should be made to the maps OF Germany con-
tanned in Spruner's historical atlas. On tho
other hand. the illustrations in tho American
edition. being for the most part reproductions
Of contemporary engravings. are extremely
Interesting They are not. however. always in
serted In the right place. Opposite. for instance.
page 50. which recounts the famous battle OF
Breitenfeld or Leipzig In September. 1851. be-
tween the Swedish army. under Gustnvus
League. under lilly. is the picture Of wholly
different engagement namely. the second
battle Of Leipzig between the imperial and
Swedish forces. which took place twelve years
Afterward.
1t is characteristic OF Prot. Gindely's whole
narrative that he seems entirely free from pre-
possessions In favor Of either the Protestant or
the Catholic parties to this controversy. He Is
tho first historian Of indisputable authority
who has drawn the character OF the Emperor
Ferdinand without a trace OF rancor. yet with
out any attempt to magnify or embellish the
essentially narrow and trivial traits Of his SUBJ
iect. and he 10 the FIRST to render adequate JUS
tice to the motives and actions Of Macmillan
Of Bavaria and Of Tilly. the redoubtable Gem
sral OF the League. For the excessively eau
Electors Of saxony and Brandenburg toward
Gustavus Adolphus-an attitude for which they
have been Aercely denounced By Protestant
historisns-Prof Gindely Induces not few
substantial reasons. and shows that by their
ambiguous behavior they secured In all likeli-
hood not only the independence Of their own
States but rescued Germany from dlsmem-
berment by the foreigner.
In this book. as In all books that purport to
chronicle the Thirty Years War. the dominant
figures are those Of Gustavus Adolphus and
Wallenstein. but neither II invested ON Ginde.
lys canvas with the heroic attributes which
Schiller has bestowed on him; though. Is
might be expected. the Swedish captain and
statesman fares considerably better than the
Bohemian adventurer. II IL not to be inferred
that tho author taxes Gustavus with religious
hypocrisy or implies that his expedition to
Germany was prompted wholly BY the desire Of
H. NJ