New-York tribune., 1896-05-31
THE DEFICIENCIES OF HISTORY.

The difficulties in the path Of even the most
svmpathetic and intuitive Interpretation OF Jeanne
dare are in one way similar to those whlch
lie between the world and every one of its heroes
They are "the abysmal depths OF personality
Modern criticism resoutely says: Ihe man
passes. the work endures; let US revere the WORK
and men, for all their appreciation or the hidh III
himself grow enthusiastic over what they can
the naked splendor Of an heroic deco. Yet 'he
hunger for acquaintance with the heros person
ality remains and just in so far as that Is known
Is ne correctly conclusively understood NO one
in history has escaped the burden OF this ract IN
human nature and Jeanne dare suffers with the
rest Her pre-eminence consists in suffering more
She is more battling than any other great char-
acter Of which the world reads. and Tor THIS rea-
son: OF the others we know little and therefore
expect TO appreciate little OF her we know much.
so much that II seems Incredible she could ever
have been called, as she has been called, a myth;
and with all our knowledge she recedes Still fur-
ther from our grasp What she did We know well
and can admire worthily. So laconic ar account OF
her career as is embodied in Lea's History ofthe
Inauisition' thrills the reader with sympathetic
feeling How she lived and died we know to very
nearly the last word. What she was We only
partly know, and before her own effortless en-
very soul and nowhere ese We must perpetually
wonder. 1t will be seen, therefore. that as new
writer's take up the old theme appraisal OF their
effcrts to draw the portrait Of the Maid must be
directed along two lines: Are the facts OF her
life correctly stated? In what degree has she
been appreciated?
The two histories with which it Is necessary to
deal in the present instance are accurate enough.
There is nothing, apparently to be gained from
individual research about Jeanne dare to-day.
The monumental labors of NJ. Qmcherat terrni-
mated nearly half-century ago. gave In their
rescue of the contemporary records from the
archives of France all the data essential to the
record; and while a considerable literature has
accumulated around his Ave great volumes, the
sitting of 1t does not require epic courage. 1t Is
not intended to belitte Mr.. Lowels work On
the contrary, his book Is a peculiarly welcome
one. for 1t is the only compact and yet compre
hensive history Of Jeanne dare which exists in
English. with any of the elements of authority
clothing it's pages. But to read Mr.. Lowell re-
hectyely Is to be struck once more with the
unmagnetc character of mere history. All the
episodes of the Maids meteoric rise upon the
stage Of French war, and of her disappearance
therefrom. are here set forth. Mr.. Lowell de-
scribes her childhood at Domremy, the occur
rences associated with her self-consecration to
the cause Of Charles VII; he goes with the Maid
to the King, accompanies her through the swift
succession Of her campaigns relates the crcum-
stances Of the sacring of the King at Rheims,
and Of Jeanne dArc's trial, death and rehabilita-
tion The record is dramatic: even in the bald
est narrative II would be romantic. and from
Mr.. Lowells careful pages there is 30 much de-
tail to be CLEANED that 1t is possible to obtain
with Its aid a really clear image Of the France
Of the time. What more could be asked? Moth
ing more-of historian. Mr.. Lowell has done
his work well. Yet, 1t may be repeated, nc is
unmagnetic.~ and In the case Of a heroine like
Jeanne dare that means tnat ne is unillum-
mating. He Is not to blame for not seeing into the
core of her genius. No one before him could do
that. His is misfortune. not fault. His book
Is renqushed with a sigh for its cold marshal
ling Of facts and dates. with regret for his fall
Ire to let himself 20.