New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-10

sale use Of the statuary on Hadrians TOMB as
n,issles against an advancing foe. But 1t was
NOT 70 such rare incidents that Rome owed her IN
ca1cuIable losses. The greatest damage was done
~. stealth in the midst o. profound Indifference
In those long ages when the great temples 81 d
dead religion stood tenantless. the ooJerts "a 9u-
perstitous dread and aversion there was nom ne ~
600 that the metal clamps which heId the!E
stones together We're preserved, or that me wins
and roofs and pillars and sculptures VIZ N'pN
safe In every generation there were tho-e Wl'
revered art merely "a art and VINO NoTNu tneH
complaints against thu processes OF destructDn.
Laws were enacted for the preservation % w,
antique beauties Of Rome. Foreign rulers ana
ra,iIn rrIcre were q one mind IN this matter.
Bu; laws amounted II no:hing when there was
nobody - enforce them. The conclusion rom ''e
elaborate narrative II GregoloViuS ~ tIa' VI w
cav within the city was as inevltaoie d. ma -
tho Enlpire without. As within the Dhdy 81 the
ancient empire something else was growing up
namely. the national spirit ~ n"derh fuoi't'
So within the community that had ono" o"en me
centre If the Empire was growing up sP'r'
which was t. dominate the world In a new way
and create a new art OF IT'S own not INai ~
the spirit 70 the art Of the ancient Worlo' out
someth hing apart from them. In IN" evolution "i
the great churches Of renascent Rome out OF the
pain rectangular structures OF the earnest l'meS
Is 10 be seen tn" most potent Illustration Oh the
changes which tme wrought. In me passage
from the state Of things when the massive walls
OF Aurelian We're a military necessity 10 modern
conditions when the smallest relic of SUCH wall
war for nearly two millcnniums.
From this inncr point of view Grcgorovius
gazes over another field which tibbon never fully
explored In his second volume he has hardly
any occasion TO refer to Gibbon. tie ther" taxes
up the development Of the Plpacy. IL Is trut
that the older historian dealt with th,s topic ou.
with ~ such wealth of detail rs II deserved 1T
presented itself to him solely In the llght "i &C.
c,esiastical history II Is row s"methhS NOR
than that. Consequently Gregoro'lus mas i Gone
into minute details which Glbbon avoided from
sheer dislike of the subject. Not merely NE
most famous pontiNs. those under whose suld-
ance the Church gained some noteworthy a.
cretion Of power but also those whom flbbon
M ssed with 4 mere word demand attention Tor
what they d.d in Iome's behalf or 10 IL d"'I!-
meut or for what was done IN 'hcSe ''rP','S
during their administration. t'lt even ht'' w
reader will find that Gr"CoroviuS has pni! hH'h
in the outlines which Gibbon had already drawn
When the narrative approa'hc mes 'ho.. MA ''stS
which Gibhon deemed essential paris oi ms
theme the rise OF the Lombards. the interference
Of the Franks or the formal resuscitatlon o. I'M
perlasm in the person OF Cnar,enasn'' .,m m@
Decline and Fair is ~ more lacking III dela''s
than IN rhetoric But the view Of Rome Is not
continuous There a!c intervals when fhoboh
loses sight Of the city altogether. rms rttSoi,-
wins never does 70 Gibbon tn" life OF the c'tY
was incidental to the effort Of tracing the modI-
fcation OF political ideas Of when me "hC.cnt
Empire was the first embodiment - 'isFo,"
yIus the lIfe ~ the medieval word ~ h'lH'H'a.
IN that Of the city. Tho phenomenal feature OF
his narrative is the proof IL gives that th@ Who.e
history Of civilization FIR many '"ntuile@ was ~
and that town no longer great politicdi rapl'ai
Rome deserted. absolutely bare ~ II IS Sa:d 10
have been. OF inhabitants for the space ol iorV
DAYS on one occasion was sun a place 10 "Fn'
for In the case ~ any other city such break
in its annals would have meant Il history with
ne,y beginning. but with Rome II WIS "NiN ono
~ the yiclssitudos IN the eternal continuity ~ hrr
career Thus II comes about that one "h" =
ready at the outset u resent as Super"u'"S
narts Of a history not So well tod as they were
told bv Gihb1n ends by trcasuring the whole as
a picture - human ne in an aspect ana from
point Of view which Ghbon neglected Al theS.
absorbed as he was in the pursuit ~ distinct
object.
There are few Of the delights Il sustained ana
exalted style in this book. bNt 'h'Sr at" r.
lid M. unw.nried attention t. details. and by
The massivcness II struCtug" built up "ut 90
minute facts The effect IS That ~ a mosaic IN
which the pieces are microscopic " - no, seen
~, ire host ON thu first ucrrsa'. but g. interest
grows with study The translator makes liiue
apology for her work. 81" noel Mt has" done
So. II is for tho most piIi a"'N"''he ''"t" %
-n