The San Francisco call., 1896-08-16
MIXERS OF FRENCH HISTORY
GIinpsos Of the Men and Women
Who Have Shaped the Des-
tinies Of the Gallo Race

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS FROM
FRENCH HISTORY. By Baron Ferdinand
RothschiId. For sale by Doxey, Palace Hotel
price So 25.
There are people to whom history is the rec
ord of the evolution OF a race ana the develop
ment of nation, and there are others to whom
1t is the chronicle of the words and doings of
great men, The former conception clothes
history with the greater dignity, but the latter
makes it the more interesting. Forone person
who cares to trace the slow degrees by which
the people of the United States were trans
formed from the conditions of 1776 to those
of 1896 there are hundred who delight in
every anecdote of Washington, Franklin, Jack
son, Lincoln, and even of such second-rate IA
Vorites as Davy Crockett and Sam Houston.
Aneedotical history is in fact one of the de-
partments of literature that is most unlver-
sally pleasing TO the great mass of men
and women, and in this respect is
perhaps second only to the bright
domains of poetry and romance. 1t may be
safely asserted, therefore, that one of the most
popular of new books OF the season will be the
recently published work of Baron Ferdinand
Rothschild, MP, Personal characteristics
from French History illustrated with nu-
merous portraits of the noted men and women
whose sayings and doings are recorded in the
book.
The aim OF the author has been not to write
a history of France, nor even to give series
of biographies OF famous personages, but
simply to record some of their more important
words OF wit or wisdom in order that the
reader may obtain therefrom an idea OF the
salient characters tics of the men and women
whose personal influence had much to do IN
making the history OF France and shaping the
destinies of its people Enough OF history ana
biography is given to save the work from be-
ing mere catalogue of famous people or
book of anecdotes. The historical passages
serve to give continuity to the work and
make a good setting Tor the stories which con-
stitute its chief charm and value.
One of the first anecdotes of the book is OF
Philippe II who, on the morning of the battle
of BouvineS ordered mass to be said before
his whole army, and placing his crown on the
altar said to his generals: Here is my crown; !;
if one of you deems himself worthia than
TO reign over these good people let him take it.
If not let US march on the enemy" The King
fought in the battle like an ordinarI knight
and won victory over the Emperor OF Ger
many which made MIN the foremost prince OF
his lime Another of the brave Kings OF the
early days was Louis TX, who, whenan assas-
sin rushed into his tent with draTn sword
and cried, Make me knight or dies calmly
replied Become a Chris tian and viii make
thee knight" The man was awed and fed.
Philippe VI is given the credit OF BEING the
author OF the famous phrase, "Who bves me
follows me-" which has been ever since
household word in France. Jean II having
been taken prisoner at Poictiers regained his
liberty after some years on condition of send
ing his son as a hostage to England. The
young Prince, however, escaped, and the King
then returned to captivity, saying: -rH good
faith be banished from earth it must find a
home in the hearts of Kings" 1t is asserted,
however by some skeptics that the ieturn Of
the King to England was due less Il noble
love of good faith and honor than to a desire
to meet again fair dame whom hehad met
and admired during his captivity.
OF Louis XII q really noble sayint is mar
rated. Before he came to the throne and while
his accession was uncertain he bore the title
of Due d'Urleans, and was at that tine griey
ously injured by the Sire de Ia TremoHlle. On
becoming King he was advised by his Ourtiers
TO revenge himself on his enemy, butFefused
to d so, saying: cit would be neithei decent
nor honorable for a King of France toavenge
an injury done to the Duke of Orleans.
OF Henry " multitude of anecdotes sur
vive, but although he was one OF tie most
heroic of the Kings OF France few reallt great
sayings are recorded of him. One of thA best
was his remark to Pierre Matthew, whom he
had employed to write his biography: "The
whole truth must be told; were my detects 10
be ignored other things would not be believed;
future" Two of the best known sayiIgs at
tributed to Henry: "Paris is well worth a
mass" and 81 wish every French peahnt to
have fowl in the pot" are regarded byBaron
Rothschild as apocryphal.
After Henry " the next King of Fralce in
whom the world takes much interet was
Louis XIV. This monarch, whose cou't was
the most brilliant the world has seel, was
himself not noted in conversation eitler for
wit or wisdom. One of his reparteesis in
terest1ng because it shows for how longa time
phrase still popular has been current in the
world. A certain young courtier said,in the
presence of the King, of an old Statesman that
quite large book could be written on Subjects
of which the statesman was ignorant. And
very small one" said the King; qtickly,
"couid be written on those of whia you
know anything" 1t is related that whh still
young man Louis appeared before his ParIa-