New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-27
SCHOLARS MEMORIES.
,urrR SIDE OF A sEDATE
CAREER

per- Tho covers OF this book. Max
nan of whom the world would
sur expect anything but humor' anything
[ r.h, and airy condolences he Is FAMOUS
's Vs." scholar and the reader ex-
o. no weighty. II not dull. But there
~" ALL mage IN Aud Lang Syne"; II IL
:, tho uveliest and most delightful
:, collections published in many
,sv It's charm does not reside IN us
,.,n. alone. either but In the character
!. photographed revelations. without
,s,. IN too fragrant a strain OF egotism
go Miller nevertheless tells his own
ueu 40 that OF others. and we are
-, - ANYTHING In his book is more inter
Il, than the picture ne draws OF his carry
~ the old town of Dessau. where ne was
his grandfather was the Prime MINIS
:, ,hs Duke " Anhalt-Dcssau. ana accord
], voung Muller had access TO the castle
~ &c N the houses Of the ordinary towns
\ 49,, neither 10 one class nor to the other
\. and his relatives exclusively belong
y. we're not more than ten or twelve 'hou
/, ,nhsbi,snts In the town. everybody khe"
k,rbosy else and the life seems 10 nave
|. a, that quiet. domestic and yet active
,,,sr which gave the provincial centres OF
.,e srty wears ago q distinction 10 which
\ a, them can row lay claim. Professor
l,r describes the departure OF his grand
l. ., for the Court in his carriage. with every
rs hoving and scrapng as he drove UP 'he
r., and his return with the pockets OF ms
.,sa uniform filed with bonbOns and cakes
I,yb, from the state dinner for the young
l. The Prime Minister was magnificent IN
! WAY but he enjoyed salary OF only iSOO
!. with him. as with the other citizens OF
Esau. il seemed absurd 10 put on airs. Dessau,
\ rather from Professor Muller was a genuine,
k,ere little town. in which loyalty to the
ksulng Duke had healthy tone Of simplicity.
Professor Mullers recOllections Of royalty be-
\. Of course, with his cWn peculiar Duke and
t.AsS, and his first point is that while
reat des u ridicule has been bestowed upon
b. Petty princes Of Germany there is. or at
ny rate Vas in his time. All Inherited dignity "a
Ee soyeregns themselves. a sentiment of no.
kesse Oblge which demands respect" The
Csl ha, once when 4 political agitator had
H. expelled from within It's borders he threat
u: to throw stones from across the frontier
I'd break the Dukes windows, but this very
Imitation Of the Dukes sphere Increased his
cssge He owned almost the entire Duchy.
Be not exist, and vas never allowed to be men
5led All appointments were made by the
,sEs all salaries and pensions were paid from
q Dual chest There was no appeal
F'n him al least not in practice. whatever it
ay have been in theory The only pub
'r-es own permanent civil service, and GER
1-y IL tradition was so strong that even the
'IAs ndeper dent as he was. would have hesi-
As' Before going against il. The Duke
" Bis highly cultivated Duchess were the lit
Z s'ds Of Dessau. They seemed TO live on their
VI olympus Everything depended on them
Nsything, such as theatre concerts. or any
e'ne amusements. had TO be provided out OF
~ private purse" In short. the Duchy OF
caA,-Dessau typi1ed that paternal form Of
~s'nment administered under semi-ant IT,
acc conditions. which it is always possible to
'Are in the romantic novels which make 30
'aa f fust such state Of affairs. and which
= an See no reason for regarding in Professor
'isra pages a. anything but human and good.
''uot there was great deal Of foolish snob-
~ Z the town, but there was a great deal OF
% feeling, too. and our authors experience
''-e's to have been singularly happy. IL the
'"Aali'ies which he sets down concerning the
w OF his day DO not make exactly thrilling
S1hg IS al all events amusing TO trace with
: 'ae history OF the Duchy In the biographies
~ Charming princes. They appear TO have
u n amiable race. and, at times, not only
''' but powerful
ION the court, however. we may turn to the
sea society which In Professor Mdllers
NC was a. good In Dessau as anywhere else
Trrany which Is saying much. He was
1~i destined at first for a musical career.