New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE COMMON PEOPLE IN GERMAN
HISTORY.


ir sHfdH Win Drawings by r. Cation woodvllle
and with Portraits and Maps. Two .p Sn
Octave. PIP. go and S3 harper /" h'o'"''"'
Tbere Ga no more interesting and moving chap
tor ~ modern history than that which tells OF
Cs~manv.s submission TO Napoleon, and her up
rising against him. 1t is not. to Enghsh-speaK-
ing readers one oc the most familiar chapters
and Mr. Poutney Bigeow has done valuable
service in making this attractive presentation
% II. There is no very long step from MT
Rleeow's discussions of contemporary German
topics which have made him tolerably we'll
known figure in recent periodical literature, to
these chronicles of German experiences at the
beginning OF the century and her part In the
Napoleonic struggle The period connects itself
closely with some Of the present developments
of that country's politics. and must exercise
n peculiar attraction upon q thoughtful observer
Of actual conditions there. That Mr.. Bigelow
activities have not hitherto been eXerted IN inc
field OF history does not. therefore. make II
matter Of any difficulty to account for these
two volumes.
They are history in the most popular accepta-
ton of that term. 1t is a vivacious narrative
that he gives though occasionally somewhat
disconnected one: a suggestive and striking de-
linea.icn of the personages involved pct
uresouc sketch of the prevailing conditions ana
surroundings. The authors strong partisanshlp
is rarely absent from his discussion; perhaps
for what 1t is and the purpose 1t is intendeo TO
serve, there is no damage done by TINS lac'' ~
smplihos some historical situations for MN ana
his readers. and it enhances the RAPID How ana
the color Of his narrative. The stor! lie '''''
Is almost conditioned upon vigorous ah''pd'"'
to Napoleon. an equally vigorous scorh lot NV
Prussan aristocracy and for Klng freueiiON
William III. and A Arm faitn IN the co'iiiiio"
people These are his prepossesslons' ana lie
has little trouble in making it clear that frus
sia's woes were due to the weakness ana inca
pacity Of those in high places, especlaliy 'he
yeeh,eness and perversity Of the King, and to
the fact that the common people were sun
bound in an almost feudal servitude
The military system bequeathed TO his sue
cessors by Frederick the Great had lapsed INTO
an ineficiency that broke 1t down completely
IN the time of stress A body of impressed SOL
ders. kept in the ranks by fiogging and led by
superannuated officers whose sole title TO COM
mand was generally their noble birth, oHereo
scarcely more than show Of resistance 10 Ma
poleon. and the ignomnious surrender OF 1ort
after fort at his approach. without opposltioh'
showed the ignobe spirit that dominated the
Prussian Army only twenty short years AFTER
the great Frederick's death. The one shlhihs
figure in this squalor and helpless poverty OF
resource was Queen Luise. She is an idol OF inc
latter-day German people. but she IS better
known to Engishspeak readers by name
than by any real appreciation Of her quaiities'
Mr.. Bigeow takes pains to enlighten on this
score and the picture that he gives OF the luck
less Queen Is vivid and consistent.
The humiliation of Prussia was completed in
little more than conquered province. and the
taunt of the French Emperor to the weakling
King that soon he would lapse into mere
Mareraye Of Brandenburg-the rank from which
his ancestors had raised themselves and him
bade fair TO be realized as fact But there was
saving grace in the common people. The MIS-
torjan dates the regeneration Of Prussia from
Napoleon's brutal execution Of John Palm, the
bookseller. in 1906 This kindled into patriotic
fire the smouldering embers Of German national
feeling. and brought home to every German the
fact that he was at the mercy Of an irresponsi-
BILE foreign despot. There were leaders raised
I'D who could supplant the suppliant aristocracy
and direct this blaze Of patriotic enthusiasm
This was the work of Gnesenau. Scharnhorst
Stein Hardenberg. jain. They are notable
figures in modern history. Their task was or
appalling proportions, and was fulfilled In
wondrously short time. 1t involved the root
ing out Of ancient prercgatives and vested IN
terests: the bending of the Kings Will away from
the aristocratic principles that had always ruled
In the Prussian Army. and the utilization OF the
new born spirit of the aroused people.
Stein remained in the Kings service hardly
more than year. yet the revolution he wrought
has scarcely parallel in history. He aboi-
ished the practical serfdom Of the German peas
antry, made the civic spirit recognized force
in the German State for the first time. and made
plain the way for the great popular movement
that was to follow. He. with Gneisenau and
Scharnhorst, the regenerators Of the army on
lines that made it an organization of the peo-
pie for their own defence, hampered by the
obstinate opposition Of the King and the jeal-
Gus watchfulness OF Napoleon. who had them
discharged from the public service more than
once and some of them sent into exile. Their
methods, the different ways in which their per-
sonalities were projected from the gloomy back
ground OF Prussian degradation. make fasc-
mating study, and Mr.. Bigeow is especially
happy In his deneation of these men. He
makes them living figures Gneisenau especial
~ appeals to his sympathes as an American
He had spent year in America during the
War of independence as young officer in the
pay Of George III. He came sck from that
war with new ideas for there he had learned
that farmer boys. inflamed by love Of country
and guided by men Of practical common sense,
can be a match for mercenary soldiers led by
nrofessional officers" . After the Ameri-
can Gnesenau returned much wiser LOT
his American trip. He prepared an exhaustive
paper setting forth the notifications he deemed
necessary in order profit by the lessons taught
in the American war" This paper earned nm
the distrust of the ruler Of the little prlnc-
pality that was his home. and. though 1t
brought him TO Frederick the Greats favorable
notice, he had TO contend against the oppose
lion and personal dislike of his weak successor,
Frederick William III, when the day came to
use his talent for the salvation Of his country.
History has few things more stirring 10 record
than the emotions OF the German people IN the
spring of 1913. whom The most absolute or