New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-18

,rncs mn. NiX-12S Win nlusTdtiOhe
New-York Published by the author
These volumes appear to have had peculiar
Genesis. Their venerable author, Mr. Theodore
8 Fav. will be remembered as holding diplomatic
pos,s abroad under the United States Gov
eminent for many years. and also as writer Tor
the old Mirror" in the days of n. T. Wills
During a long residence in Germany, and In
familiar intercourse with her statesmen, politicians
md prominent men generally, he acquired a
knowledge OF modern German history whloh
finally suggested the composition Of a sketch oil
the existing situation. How the scheme grew we
will let MIR Fav himself relate. A mighty drama
had passed before his eyes since he went 10 Ber-
lin saw" he says, the Germany oil 1919
60 down, and new Europe and n new Germany
rise in its place. j was present when the nrsU
news of,the French Revolution of SIS burst upon
Berlin. beheld the street battle Of the lsth OF
March; heard the debates in the Prussian Nj
tional Assembly during that summers was one OF
a mission sent TO Archduke John then Regent OIL
revolutionary Germany and TO Helnrlch Won
Gaeern; and saw the Frankfort Parliament WIN
its array of celebrated members Prince Lichno"-
sky and Robert Blum just before their DEATH inc
entrance of General Wrangel with twenty-five
thousand troops into Berlin; the close OF inc
revolution in Prussia, and the breaking out anu
The change which took place in this interval
is thus impressvely indicated by Mr.. Fay. " In
the first scene of this drama 1887, the Prussiah
censor struck out from the manuscript OF mover
a description of the upsettng of a stage-cOach'
because il seemed to cast an imputauoh on IN
Minister of the Post. In March, 1871 IN tle
first Imperial Parliament Of the new German Hu-
pirc 1,eichstag), the member Bcbel, one OF tnc
leaders of the Socialist party, openly dech'reu
that the burnings and masSacres recently Poi-
petrated by the Communists in Paris were !uSu-
fable and were but the mild forerunners OF what
was inevitably TO follow. In 1886, the same
member. again from his seat in the Relchstag
spoke in justification of the murder oil the O|'F'
Alexander H. threatening the German Emperor
with a similar fate should the Socialist party
deem the measure required by circumstances
10 set forth the events through which this trans
formation had been effected was Mr. ray
original purpose He intended merely to relate
those things of which he had been an eyewitness
But. he explains, "when my sketch was IN
ished, | found that to be ineligible 1t required
also sketch Of the French Reyou-
rich and Napoleon. These soon
discovered could not be rightly unders' ood
without at least glance at the Holy Roman En-
pire, the suppression of which was the true DIS
toric act of Napoleon. 1t was France Whlch
destroyed the first Germany; it was France when,
by her attempt TO destroy the second, furnished
the desired opportunity TO build up the third the
German Empire founded by William |. history
Of Germany without the old German Empire Wouh
te torso; and without a corresponding we" oi
France, it would be painting of wrestling glad
jators presenting only one OF the combatantS. Inc
Umpire of Charlemagne tho Germany without an
Empire and the Empire of William cannot
IL lace in fhnlp
mutual connection
The result Of these considerations was working
backward to the era of Charlemagne, and finally
the writing of an introduction of hundred pages
carving the narrative from before Christ down 10
Chaemagne. Mr.. Fay does not pretend to have
made any discoveries nor to have gone 20 the orlg
nal records in any case His work is mainly COM
plation but it has received in passing through
his hands certain characteristic attributes winch
give 10 il distinct interest and even charm, ana
an impressveness hardly 10 be looked for IN those
original compositions which are occupied as much
with the correction Of error and the NeTlhcanol
of authorities rs with statement OF hlstoricol
facts Some readers may consider that Mr. Fay
long introduction might have been dispensed with,
and that the history of Germany could have been
made Ineligible without a sketch OF the Flse ana
fall Of ImperiSl Rome. We ourselves think he is
canvas and extended the area of his inquiry so
far. Charlcmagnc is distant enough for any prac-
tical purpose of the kind. and the consideration
light have been better kept in mind that for long
perod the title of the Holy Roman Empire cor
responded 10 no reality, while even Germany re-
mainod for centuries little more than geograph-
lcal expression
II NAV. however he at once admitted that Mr..
Tay has succeeded in making very graphic sketch
Of his subject and that the reader who follows
him closely is apt away clearer ana III Ter
idea of the fortunes and vcissitudeS of the three
Germanys than he could perhaps, gather from
far more pretentious historical works. Much OF
this is certainly attributable TO the authors STYLE
which is compressed, terse, nervous ard lucid, ana
which often rises 20 cloquencc and is habitually
Identified and well sustained. His narrative TOO,
las swift and steady flow which covers much
ground. and with close economy of words omlls
ma essential details lie has besides these merits,
what is always attractive III historical wnuns,
namely. dramatic taste which leads HIM
70 sketch in the picturesque, romantic
and tragic episodes with few strong strokes
which throw them into sharp relief. These
b,t1o scenes arc given additional verismilitude
nv putting in the mouths Of the actors certain
expressions which. while they are, perhaps. more
traditional than historical, are usually fehcltouS
and impressive enough 10 complete the picture
neatly Mr.. Fay has not suffered himself to be
scduced by any of the tempting unsettled questions
which line the historical path in which
he wallis. In discussing the Eruption OF the bar
barians he even refrnins from putting forward a
new theory of the origin and place of the Huns,
and this is rare proof of selfcontro and modeSty
In these days But in truth he is strongly con-
scrvative writer, who not only believes in Chris
tianity. but holds it not beyond the scope of an
historical work to discuss the origin and authority
of the gospels therein. lie is, moreover, an Evan
pcIcal who entertans the most serious apprehen-
sion, OF the Papal purposes. and believes that the