The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-19
JNTHELITER AIRY WORLD
WEEKLY cHAT REGARDiN" VIM"
ERs AND hooks.
c.r, life in Old Frsnce--A ske'e" ~
Washington by Elizabeth Eec'e'
sssIye-ofhsr publications

,.,tod volumes are the work OF q cuiu'@'
"A woman thoroughly familiar VIZ
french history, and keenly appreciau''
/ ,,o fact that. az ". Guizot says history
] obounds in romance. ,45ia
healing with court-life from the miuuie
Of the reign of Francis ]. to me - -
| Of Louis XIV. 0he MasniicenO they "a
with the exception Of the relsn ,ha
the thirteenth Louis larsey 1not
/ history OF the usually
always worse than fran female Ias,
! orites Of the several sovereigns who os'
! mower was so decided as TO JUSTLY l,is
/ ure which declares that the capIlce %
! these ladies was the pivot on "h'NN
| French history turned"
The weak and umorous thirteenth LOUIS
was born in the shadow Of the great Car
| cinaTs personality. and he was, from
start TO finish, too entirely lacking IN
vlrilitv 10 throw off the yoke OF thdt
/ etrong-wined. able. sinister gentleman
under which, however. he chafed not NJ
tie The history OF his reign might De
called the history Of King Riehelcu'
Realizing with the keenness OF a cultl-
waited mind the dramatic interest at
taching TO the record Of the period win
which she deals, the author has endsaV-
cred to give US a series Of vivid pictures
behind the throne OF liiDoI Ian lN'N+Nf
that moved IL. to give us an insight into
the humanity beneath the royal robes;
the nature Of the coin beneath the guinea
stamp.
Diane de Poiuers. Duchesse d'Etampes,
Catherine de Medici Marguerite de va
lois. Gabrielle d Estrees, Anne Of Austria
Louise de La Fayette. Duchesse de Chew
reuse, Warehouses de Hautefort, La Val
liere, De Montespan, Maintenon' hch-
elieu, Mazarin-these are the people tlat
give the book its fascination and TO whom
the other actors, royal though they be-
are subservient.
The volumes are not at all In the nature
Of an historic novel. They are simply
series of variations with more or less hap
piness of style. certainly with historic
accuracy, Of the more prominent events
Of the reigns of Francis l., Henry IL,
Francis L., Henry Ill, Henry ". Louis
Kill and Louis XIV, with the strong
side light of that truth which is stranger
than fiction thrown upon those men ana
women who were TO the events as the
brain TO the body; as causes to effects.
In her facts Frances Elliot Is accurate
and her book rather derives its interest
from the people and Period with which
IT deals, and from the broad information
chat Of a scholar and traveller than
from any special literary gifts, or charms
Of style. She is clear and attractive put
her alterations from past 10 present
tense and the sometimes almost curt
certainly ungraceful, brevity Of her SEN
fences are to be regretted.
Nor is she a consistent painter Of char
acter, but her fidelity to history in her
| facts, the impress her work bears OF cul-
| ture broad and genuine. the people about
whom she writes, and her transparent
simplicity Of style-these all make "Old
| Court Life in France" a helpful and fas-
/ chatting work, devoid Of hatness and In
| sipidity.
/ RAMBLEs IN HISTORIC LANDS: BY
Peter J. Hamilton a. NJ, late fei-
low Of Princeton College. illustrated.
G. p. Putnam's Sons. New York.
London. For sale by West, Johnston
& Co.
In his preface to the book. Mr. Hamil-
ton says. and truly, that upon the publ
cation Of a book Of travels. three ques-
lions Immediately arise-Who is the au-
thor? What is his point Of view? What
| new has ne TO tell?
| Answering the first Of these questions,
he disclaims any title to distinction and
| states that he Is a resident OF Mobile, An
alumnus Of Princeton, 70. and a traveller
from Stirling TO Pompeii; from Berlin TO
Paris.
! If he is not distinguished, he deserves
! TO be. not less for the attractveness and
interest he has given our journey with
him and Rachel, (his wife, his incentive
TO authorship" and his friendly critic')-
| from New York 10 New York again via
many vital ruins and historic towns-not
+ less than for his modesty, which is as
| suredly the modesty Of a most charming
writer.
As to his point Of view. it is the histor-
| zeal one.
with regard to the third question. he
has told a good deal that is old with
| raciness that gives It the charm Of fresh
ness and much that is new 10 the general
! reader
He has given us realistic glimpses at
| German university life, shown ms Venice
Paris and London with the freshness Of
| suggestion that characteriZes every line Of
the book, and which seems to be a rehec-
ton of a sort Of temperamental freshness;
upon buildings or towns associated with
the lives and actions of Luther. Shaks-
peare. Goethe and Napoleon, whom ne
calls the greatest men Of modern times,
he has thrown an added attraction.
The Illustrations, twelve I'm number, are
exceptionally fine and are from photo
graphs secured on the spot They repre-
sent res recuvely-The Castle Of Chillon,
from Lake Geneva, Coronation Hall az
Aix-la-Chapelle. Rheinfels Castle on the
Rhire, The Court Of Heidelberg Castle.
Where Napoleon stood on the Field Of
Leipzig, Where Huss and Jerome were
Burned, Calvins Church at Geneva, The
Arsenal at Venice, the Roman Forum,
from the Capitoine Hill. The Palace OF
the Popes, at Avignon Notre Dame from
the Seine, and The Interior of Westmin-
ster Hall.
The book is sensibly and tastefuny
bound and we heartily commend 1t as be-
ing at once pleasant and profitable read
ing.
THE COURT OF LOUIS XIV: BY I'm
bert de Saint Armand Translated by
Elizabeth Gilbert Martin Charles
Seribner's Sons. New York. N.25. For
sale by West, Johnston & Co.
The fifteenth Louis with his unconse-
quent. vacihaung personality, is put be-
fore US in this historical delight from
Imbert de st. Armand. 10 whom we are
indebted for the Incompatible series
Famous Women Of the French Court
with the fairness Of a true Frencbman
loyal to the tradition, the history. the past
of his nation, yet alive 10 whatever is
abhCrrent or dishonoring in It.
The exquisite charm OF the authors
style is already familiar to us and book
bearing upon its title page his name as
author, needs nothing from a newspaper
to commend it to the reader: ST. Armand
is an old and tried friend whose gifts
TO us are valued because his worth has
been thoroughly tested and proven
The royal debauchee's mistresses, hts