New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-07
BURTON's IDEAS ABOUT RELIGION.


His present biographer is somewhat bitter
toward what she calls Lady Burton's Jesut'ca'
fanaticism. but she is at least right In appearing
to Burton's writings as his only true monument
She also ventures to give his creed In connection
with the part OF her narrative which tells OF MS
attaining by his studies In India the honor OF
"the Brahmanicai thread" Though then
young man. he had. not merely from books. but
from persistent intercourse with the people.
phenomenal knowledge OF Eastern faiths. or
course the thought pressed upon him then as II
never had before whether there was anything
to be believed In all the various religions with
which he was acquainted. During these studies
OF alien faiths" says his bographer "Christian-
ity dwindled In his mind to what nc considered
her true proportions--not the one religion, but
one among many religions He arrived at
sort OF Agnosticism. in which God was Unknowa-
bic and Impersonal, and absolute evil impossi-
bic. because IL was always rising up Into good.
Hence he did not believe in the existence OF
Satan at ALL ard was. doubtful about future
life thinking "all ideas of another existence
copies more or less idealized. of the present. He
believed in knowledge. in resistance to merely
speculative tendencies Though here hls conduct
was not always squared to his own rule). and In
doing good for its own sake In general he
seems to have preferred Islam on It's own ground
10 Christianity because he was dubious about
the doctrine OF the Trinity But he thought the
reward for mere belief offered by Islam demoral-
izing. while on the other hand he spoke Of Ca
thocism as having added fourth person to the
Trinity. In short according to his present BIZ
ographer there is not the shadow OF a doubt
among those who knew Burton best and who
hal Eos ol i,y tr,iti,
corning him. that he looked with somewha; cyni-
cal eyes upon the conflicting religions Of the
world
II is almost a satire upon the aspirations OF
humanity that the fate Of this Indifferent re-
ligiOnist should have turned at critical mo-
ment upon a religious question. But 1t did. The
story in its main outlines is the same whether It
be read in the present biography or in that by
Lady Burton. The principal difference lies in
the estimate put upon Lady Burton herself.
This. II hardly need be said. Is I'm this volume
somewhat less than fattering. She Is held to be
Internationally to blame for his failure In off,
caI life As military man. Burton had proved
himself competent: but he was an outspoken
critic. and so made enemies. while his endless
studies and his desire TO mingle with the peo-
pie were more annoying than otherwise to his
surerors. But he entered the diplomatic service
in maturity, with the reputation Of the foremos.
practical lingulst in the world and record of
adventure and discovery that had made him IA
nous. He was supposed to have passed the age
Of romantic attachments. To his sister alone
was confided the story of a beautiful Persian who
Gied lin India. and whom he seems 10 have
mourned all his life. other thoughts Of marriage
were discouraged by the clouded prospects OF
life full Of excitement but not Of financial sue
cess The book on the LatterDay Saints. with
it, plea for polygamy. reads like cynical eli
max to ali this. But then came his marriage
which surprised both friends and relatives;
those who knew him best were perfectly aware
that 1t surprised him most OF ALL" The first effect
Of the marriage IL said to have been to put OIL
efforts that were on foot to send Burton on new
explorations under the auspices Of the Royal
Geographical Society or to secure him good
place in the India service. But, In spite OF re-
ligious differences, the acknowledgment is made
in this book that Burton's wife labored inces-
sanity in copying his manuscript and preparing
1, for the press She initiated his handwriting
with such skill that few could tell the difference
In addition 10 this she WAC energetic and sue
cessful in finding publishers. That she loved to
nut her name in her husbands books as editor
mr. by penning an introduction does not seem to
have dspleased Burton. though 1t Is animal
verted on by his present biographer The real
difficulty was the difference in religion. Burton
II Is here said made one stipulation before mar
r,ape-that no Catholic priest should be intro
duced to his death chamber. AT first her pious
enthusiasm rather amused him. She was eager
TO accompany him on his journey to Dahomey
her plan being to attract the natives with sacred
scenes pictured by the sttreoptieon. TO THIS
Burton demurred. because he knew that they
would both be murdered as magicans II they
tried a device Of the sort In Africa. Meanwhile
his consulate at Fernando Pc was successful In
spite of the fatal reputation Of the place sun
better was the next diplomatic post that OF Con-
sui AT Santos in Brazil His consummate knowi-
edge Of the Portuguese language and literature
made him welcome to the greater Portugal ana
the country had all the attractions OF novelty
for the born traveller that Burton was.
HIS WORK AT TRIESTE.
Then came the promotion to Damascus Bur
TON had dreamed Of this. and now there hoated