New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-23

Contaut- Bron are more interesting than thiS
review OF them by the Duke de Brogle, then they
must be very interesting indeed II IS hls'or!
that reads like romance. The reader never mas 10
stop in this narrative TO commiserate the nero
as when he is peruslng the lately puohsheu
"reminiscences Of Count Benedict. Though the
task of NJ de Gontaut was difficult and migrate
full. he performed 1t with unfailing skill and
perfectIon of manner that Disconnected even
Prince Bismarck Such Is the picture which the
Duke de Brogle gives Of his friends diplomacy.
II Is true that in his time French statesmen hao
a clearer estimate Of Prince Bismarck than De-
fore The author OF this book can say senteh-
tiously that to understand Bsmarck's policy one
must have studied intently the career OF freo-
er.ck the Great. and NJ. de Gontaut seems to have
baffed easily those arts TO which others leH
victims.
This Is the more wonderful because ne was
already man over fifty when he entered public
affairs and he had hitherto lived HE OF re-
tirement. There must have been something in
family tradition to make him what he proved 10
be. For we are not left in ignorance of the fact
that he was sprung from one Of the oldest and
most illustrious families of France. Hereditary
traditions and personal conviction kept him from
all participation in politics during the whole Oh
the Second Empire. He cared little for the
Republic but he doubtless had other hopes when
he allowed himself to be elected TO the National
Assembly after the war with Germany was
over fervent Royalist. he nevertheless had
little taste for the glitter OF court. In one OF
the few passages quoted directly from his recoi-
lections ne expresses downright surprise at the
predcament in which he found himself as Am
bassador at Berlin. Behold me. then, he says
Compelled to don uniform for the inst time
in my life l may own that felt more or less
uncomfortable at my own appearance in coat
with gold lace on every seam sword getting
between my legs and a cooked hat with white
feathers on my head. Mingling with the serious
and sad reflections Of the moment there come
some less grave and more humorous impressions
a the sight OF my costume, or at the sound OF
Your Excellency from the grand seigneurs. as
we'll as from the subaterns | rubbed my eyes
in order to ascertain whether had been taken
with a sudden accession Of giddiness, or whether
my eyesight was perfectly clear. | asked my
self whether 1t was l. a descendant Of those who
warred in the Crusades. who in the name or the
President of the French Republic about TO
present myself the ambassador of my sadly
disturbed country to the new Emperor Of Ger
many in all the glitter of his success. surrounded
BY triumphant generals like himself; whether it
was I who was going afterward to pay court to
the Empress amidst her ladies of honor attired
in all their splendor gala days? | asked
myself all this as stood alone amidst crowd OF
unknown faces. and listening to language
did not understand. Was it dream? Was II
nightmare? 1t was both the one and the other;
It was multitude of diverse sensations such as
one might experience during a troubled Sleep in
which brilliant scenes become complicated by
impossible, unlikely and ridiculous situations,
from which one is relieved only by becoming
awake"
As he was not oppressed by sense OF his
own dignity even in gold lace. he not over
awed by the terrible Chancellor though he felt
all the impressiveness of the latters colossal
height. and found it difficult to say what he
wished to say when so ready a talker as Bis
marck was inclined to put difficulties In his
way When NJ. de Gontaut went to Berlin,
France was in the midst Of her efforts to pay
the vast war indemnity exacted by Germany.
Two-ffths of the sum had been paid; but until
the whole debt was discharged six French de-
partments to be held in pledge by German
troops The rapidity with which France cleared
off the obligation is still one of the wonders Of
the world. But, curiousy enough. her very
facility made the task Of her Ambassador in
Berlin the more troublesome. The party
in Germany regretted that they had not made
a heavier demand. French haste to be rid Of
the indemnity raised the suspicion that soon
plans of revenge would be developed. Did not
the hurry to be rid of the German troops" they
asked, hide the design to embark in military
preparat lions away from their surveillance, with
the view of having recourse as soon az possible.
and in the hope Of a prompt revenge. to the
chances of another war;" The determination.
II there was any fear of this. to forestall it
hpfO he NJ
de Gontaut, and the threat was embodied in
the German Chancellor. The expressions in
France were far from prudent, and thus NJ. de
Gontaut lived for years in much dread of
what he should hear from Paris as from Bis
marck. When the final payments We're made
and in the preliminary convention even the
German demand for the fortress of Belfort was
relinqushed the JOY with which Nj. de Con
taut signed the document was soon tempered by
q disappointment shared by the Duke de Broglie.
President Theirs and the Republicans in general
began TO show that they no longer felt the need
Of the Royalists Returning to Paris for
few DAYS he found that the respite from ex-
ternal annoyances only made the internal d.
visions worse. At a reception at the Presidency
ne observed that men of different factions
treated each other almost as enemies. This
distrust was not without Justification Until
the Comte de Chambord quoted the movement.
the Royalsts. including NJ. de Gontaut. never
ceased to look for the restoration Of the mon
archy Here again NJ. de Gontaut had to face
Prince Bsmarck's opposition. The latter did
not disguise the feeling that the Republic in
France was weaker than monarchy would be
and, therefore. preferable to Germany If NJ
de Gontaut could congratulate himself on sub
stantial diplomatic successes where questions
rs to the military independence of France were
involved. he had to confess himself foiled in
his desires for a king in France The author OF
this book is still convinced that the Restora-
ton would have been easy II the heir 10 the
throne had been eager as MS adhereh's
But the victory remained with frihce DIS