The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-30
SOME OF THE NEW
BOOKS REVIEWED.
francesca Petrarca, the First Modern
a@1 Scholar and Man Of Letters.
MODERN EUROPE" ANDREWS.
Periodicals for November-Thc Atians
tic and Current Literature-"One
of the Pilgrims" n Pleasantly
Written Novel by a Fuller


FRANCISCO PETRARCA. THE FIRST
Modern Scolar and Man of Letters.
A Selection From this Correspondence
With BOcCdccio and Other Friends. De-
signed 10 Illustrate The Beginnings OF
The Renaissance. Translated From the
Original Latin. Together With Histori-
cal lntr0ductiOns and Notes, by James
Harvey Robinson. Professor Of History
I'm Columbia University. With the COL
Elaboration Of Henry Winchester Rolfe.
Sometime Professor OF Latin in Swarth-
more College. q. Z. Putnams sons,
New York. London.
This volume justihes ethusiasm, for II
is "a delightful as IL Is valuable. which
Is saying much. Tie scholarly author
has compiled di-scriminating'y and used
his material t%houghtfully. Il is material
which Is in Itself fascinating, too, as Is
whatever concerns this singer, whose
superior historic Importance, is NOT
as his biograDher remarks, 'generaHy
recognized. owing partly to the circuh-
stance that tho testimony which ne mas
left % his HES work, although aouhd-
ant. has hitherto been obscured Tor most
OF us bv an unfamiliar tongue, u part
~ 90 tho want Of knowledge OF the
period in which he lived.
Nothing. says he, is easier than 10
pronounce NO.taire a shallow de'st Erds-
mus q timorous dyspeptic, crying peace
when there was 10 peace, ana 10 see J.!
Petrarch oniy the life long victim or
am unfortunate l0ve affair. II Is most
difficult. on the other hand. critically 20
estimate tho vast influence which these
three men have respectively exercised
over fhe worlds history. For the more
completely a reformcr Accompanies HIS
TASK. the more surely does hc obscure
his own importance in the eyes OF sue
ccedinE generations Ills most starting
innovations become the ratified institute
2 0ns o. pos its. His most original
ideas merge into the common stock ~
human thought and appear s~trtighfwoy
so obvious and trite as 70 seem almost
innate. No one dreams of attacking
them: no one amy longer takes credit 10
himself for defending them.
"If we would understand anyone OF the
rroat periods OF transition. We must view
the conflict Of the old and the new at
close range. consller the strength and
equipment Of tho combatants, and inc
precise results Of the struggle. Carrying
ourselves back in thought 10 the four
teenlh century We shall find that the
name Of Francesca Petrarca stands for
n revolution en- European thought. HIS
existence. character and career consul
tutcd in themselves as has been said Or
Voltaire, a new and prodig.ous era. His
was the most po-ont individual influence
in changing the whole trend of inteiiectu-
M pursuits. not only IN his own country
but ultimately I'm Europe no large.
10 may therefor re- Dee consider d ~ pecu-
Iarly fortunate clrct instance That 'here
is. perhaps. 10 other historical character
before the age a. Luther, with the posi-
bic exception of Cicero. who has lc:t so
complete and satisfactory account Of his
spiritual fifo and environment II was
not customary until long after HIS time 20
compose memoirs for pOsterIty, but ln the
daily messages TO his friends he
has given as something not very unlike
the journal Intime" of modern times.
In his correspondence and confessions ne
is the first 20 exhibit "a passion for self
expression. and the modern love OF self
ANALYSIS. From amid 20 shadOwy throng
Of worthless whose personality has been
completely obiiterated bv the lapse OF
time Prtraroh alone stands ont in clear
and as we greet him across the
gulf Of centuries we recognize I'm him q
man Of like pas ions with ourselves.
when SO able and brilliant n hand as our
authors enables us 20 make our way
through the obscrrliae shadows. and
erect "Petrurch tho reforfner. tho fast
modern scholar. the impiacabie enemy Of
ignorance ana superstition. the connse.lof
OF princes the leader Of men and the idoi
oc his people" tine debt I'm which ne places
us can not Doe estimated.
This has he done with SIGNAL briIianey
and his volume is one to Doe treasured 10y
IN the th0urhf1l as combining whatever
g.. finest ga hflfory and b~fJ-raDhg.