The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-26

In the despair OF all patriots, and the scarcely
dissembled satisfaction Of the domestic and
foreign enemies Of France at the Kings death.
he finds q convincing proof Of Henry's great
ness Our author would recognize an other proof
in the almost enthusiastic admiration felt for
him by many OF those who had lived in his
intimacy. even whom they were severe censors
OF hia failings. Aubign6. for instance. was a
caustlo aud often an ungenerous critic: yet,
after relating an example Of Henry's frank
magnanimity he exclaims in n tone nj severe
conviction. such was the King. our masterl
II he had his faults. he had also sublime yir-
tues" 1t Ia pointed out that this evidence has
all tho more weight. because many OF Henry =
weaknesses and shortcomings were OF tho
kind which most prevent a man from appear
ing sublime or heroic to those about him.
His father was q klcptomaniac. and no in
herited from him the unreasoninG de-
light In petty gains OF which kleptomania
seems TO be only the eNngReratlon. This In
herited tendency made him appear mean and
greedy In small matters. Then again. his SEN
suallty was not only unbridled. but not over
nice in the qualification It demanded. lik-
ing for coarse food highly spiccd and redolent
OF garlic. for heavy perfumes and ful-bodied
wines. and neglect OF personal cleanliness
remarkable even In tho seventeenth century.
may be explained by the exigencies OF life
obOhN III the rhuhle anu uuueT HTHSs Out Iney
present q contrast to the moro refined luxury
Of his predecessor. and Indicate a coarseness
OF perception which som etimes betrayed itself
In want OF tact surprising ina man OF ready
sympathy and OF warm. though transient and
superficial emotions
Nevertheless while making these deductions,
Mr. Wilert does not deem II strange that
in spite Of. all Henry should have ex-
erclsed great personal fascination over
those who opposed him. since even his
torlcal students who are uninfluenced by
personal contact with so rich and vigorous a
nature. fall to some extent under the charm OF
his unhagging energy boundless good tenn
per, and unfeiGned humanity. lie gained
much popularity by the frankness with which
he treated his friends and his enemies. by the
ostentatious openness Of his dealings. both
public and private. He was not, as he boosted,
one OF those princes who had not sufficient
virtue to be relieved from the necessity OF con-
cealinR their faults. 1t is also noted that,
while ineenslble to adulaton himself he ex-
celled In the art Of nattering others whether
writing with his own hand to the Mayor OF
some provincial town. or begging Beza. the
great CalVinist divine. to continue his fatherly
admonttions. or assuring tho old Marshal BIZ
ron that his son is as dear to him as brother.
or addressing some companion in arms with
tone OF military comradeship. his letters are
models OF skiful com piment lie never for
gets to court his friends by small and cheap
attentions. and he is prodigal OF expressions OF
gratitude and vague promises. Does 1t follow
that he was consciously insincere2 Mr. Will
lert does not find 1t easy to answer this aues-
ton In the case OF a man OF such vivacity. so
susceptible to the feeling OF the moment He
deems 1t probable that Henry felt at the time
what he expressed so warmly and naturally.
N hall h. h A.
often meant to deceive. Necessity" he said.
com pels me to say now this. now that"
Tried by tho standard Of his times. boweyer:
compared for instance, with Phillip H. or
Elizabeth Of England: the praise is awarded To
Henry OF having been STRAIGHTFORWARD and
honorable In word and deed
An apparent incapacity to conceal his fesI-
ings was OF service to him. few suspecting how
cool and calculating a politician was hidden
under the exterior OF the blunt outspoken
soldier and genial ian OF pleasure Ho really
had great power Of self repression, as he
proved when the occasion required IL. ma.
ture." he said. made me hot tempered. but
anger is bad counsellor. and, since have
known myself. / have always been on nv
guard against so dangerous n passion"
Though ne may have been, as he said mas
sionate by nature, It Is certain that no man
was ever less resentfuL Michelet attributes
his placability 10 an unfathomable depth ofin.
difference to all things, which, as no thinks
az at the root OF Henry's character. such
would account for the fact that be
does not seem to have been jealous even OF his
best loved mistresses. As to Henry's readIness
10 forgive. Mr.. Willard holds that this NAV
more charitably be deduoed from bis mat.
o,,oa hu,oni,v NJ n.
eo.eu num"h'. No eohmahuer OF the
line was more anxious to provide for the
comfort OF his mon and to mitigate the
,ufJerinp ga Of his en,mies No Kiro was w..
sincerely anxious to make the life OF his poorer
subjects less miserable Again and apaip ba |
,orno1 ,oOi..,at. -. q. a. ar. "
Nnrnou maEis'ra'es NOT 10 inhlct unduiy Sc
Iere punishment Twice he fiogged his son.
he dauphin. with his own hand. once for cut. |
ing off the head OF a sparrow. and again for |
pho had disnIoosod bir, NJ ,a1,I,a $500