The sun., 1893-06-26

The Roman Jorrrsi OF oerms. utstorinn
Long Hesident in the Eternal City.

ans. In ancient times she had the power OF
expansion: under the reign OF the cross anu OF
the Popos. her power of assimilation nus
been the FIRST In tho world. Wherever Rrea'
thought palpitates wherever On ideal arisef
to enlarge tho zono OF humanity, the MS
torical sense is developed with supreme Ia
| cility. When q civilization continues through
| centuries Of glory and OF life, erecting im-
| perishablo monuments and incarnatlng an on-
tire epoch. this historical sense often becomes
| genius. OF all historical cities. Rome IL the
| only one that has preserved this privilege
| Athens had it's inimitable masterpieces, It's
| charming and classic stories, In whlch the
| mild philosophy Of tho Greeks Is presented
| In the most harmonious and the most delight-
| ful language that ever enchanted mankind.
| But this supremacy ceased after nm enheneral
efllorescence Of tho most beautiful human &C.
MUS. homo alone has held the sceptre. Sho has
preserved the Giit of inspiration par ercehcnce
the resurrection of the past as Michc!et
| called history. The reason is that Rome
| through Christianity and tho Popes. has re-
| mained tho immortal metropolis Of tho past OF
all humanity, and the everything metropolis OF
| the Christian universe. In his nervous style
Dante declares that each stone Of her walls
made genius fruitful" No man of original
mind. coming to Rome with reproductive
imagination. has ever been able to resist this
magic OF the centuries, this mysterious soul Of
Roma Ampere. writing the history of Rome
among the monuments OF Rome. symbolizcs.
perhaps with tho greatest felicity. this artis-
tic and intellectual phenomenon.
This intuitive historical sense is transfused
to the present day among foreigners and art
pilgrims. Gregorovius. whose R5nische 1aoe-
bacher. or Roman Journal has just been
published. in which he notes tho recol-
lections OF more than twenty years 1854
1875. was tho last to be touched by the mys-
terious and creative fairy. Arrived from
the frontiers OF Russia In 1854. after having
visited Corsica. he felt the influence OF this
intellectual sacrament and was captivated
Rome bound him in her genius OF the past. in
spring and oyalting the gift OF evocation.
which makes the historian. But to make tho
charm work 1t Is necessary that the elected
one should be OF those foreigners tore'ti-
e1'U whom the Romans have always despised
or conquered. The native has nevor expe-
renced this miracle OF intellectual communi-
cation. In order that the mystery may op-
crate. tho medium OF the sorcery must be a
new and sympathetic element
Gregorovius, with his pure soul and his
plastic Imagination. was from the very first
day the victim OF Rome. The Tdg.bucher.
which have read with delight. initiates the
reader into the mystery OF tho birth OF his vo-
cation. Scarcely yet under the charm ofher his
torical horizon. he began the History OF
Rome during the Middle Ages" which he fn-
ished ut last after twenty yenrs OF happy work.
The republic OF letters knows this monu-
mont. Perhaps 1t is acquainted also with the
Tagebacher. prefer these recolectons.
which describe his life and his sensations. to
his history. I prefer to read the mystery Of
destiny which explains to you another dss-
tiny. rather than to review the shades OF tho
past however grand and exciting they may be.
Now the Tagebucher opens up horizons upon
Italy and its Risoraimento. upon Rome and
its place in the human family. Inasmuch
as this journal refers to American friends,
1t might perhaps be interesting to the
readers Of THE Sun. its enlightened readers.
to extract from the book tho experience OF the
great historian. At the present time. when
all foreign observers and all italian pa
trIots are inaulring what will bc the fate OF
unity. what the future OF resusctated Italy.
the lights Of the 1d0ebucher may illuminate
perhaps. the true horizon Of this classic land.
A Protestant and a Freethinker. Gregoro-
vius had no repulsion for the unitary move
ment His soul was 'vhite page on which
events could be written without any foreign
ingredient. A Catholic. trembling for the
liberty Of tho Pope. or a spiritualist OF the
school OF Cousin. OF Theirs. and Of Guizot.
anxious for European equilibrium. and in the
presence Of tho existence OF the two powers in
Rome. might leave us room. perhaps. for soma
doubt In regard to his absolute sincerity and
his impartial observation: but GreEorovius
exats the Msoroimento and he biasphemes !
the Pope Consequently his testimony is par- |
ticularly valuable.
What, then. are the representations OF this |
stubborn lover OF Italy9 Upon this sub
ject the Taesbucher is the most curious OF |
books. By the side OF lyric illusions thore |
stands out the most melancholy discourage |
ment- He expresses hope for tho resurrection. |
but he docs not believe in the future OF tho |
people. Almost every page brings us into the |
presence Of o painful struggle between his |
fervsnt aspirations and the sincerity OF his
observation. The Italian soul. according to |
him. 10 q dead soul It has the fancy and the |
genius OF diplomacy. but 1t is wanting IN |
moral force. In the force OF labor. in public |
honesty. In administrative genius and in the |
creative gift. Tho italian people is an histori-
cal people: that Is to say. to borrow the ex-
preston OF NJ Jacob Burckhardt OF Basle.
people that lives upon its antique dream. |
dds den alien Ttdum ,reiter trii,unt.
The Italians are the brothers OF the Poles, |
OF the Greeks. aud OF the Portuguese. will
not soy OF the Spaninrds. because of late years |
the compatriots Of Csrvantes have produced q |
generous wids-awake, and varied literature.
The Italians are a people whose heart and
will-power have been paralyZed by training
too severe and too long in the past; and they
now possess only plastic faculties. the gift OF
the arts. diplomatic combination. the mega
tive qualities All the creative fibres. all the
generating tendencies. are other exhausted
or paralyzed. GreRorovus is astonished some
times at this naked vision OF the soul l will
not say the national soul. because there Is no
such thing here. but the historical He too
came from the north. like the Germans OF
old. In obedience to the irresistible at
traction Of the sun and its radiations. with
this sentiment universally scattered abroad.
that Italy Ia young country. and
thnt from tho unity which 1t has con-
quered, u new civilization will spring. In
stead OF youth he finds exhaustion. atrophy.
and the absence OF wl.l-power And Is 1t not
that makes great nations. Just as 1t
makes great men2 With intultivs science.
GreRorovlus observes admirably that the unity
nf IA nofh - hiefnrtanl