New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-05

Company.
The late Ferdinand Grpgorovtus had one merit
which went far 10 compensate for his failure
to reach the highest rank in his profession. He
had keen taste for the lively, picturesque side
Of human history. an Imagination which was
readily kinded by dramatic and strongly
marked Municipalities In the past and this
gave him a touch which. If not exactly vivacious,
was at all events lighter than that OF the chief
| exemplars of German research. He confessed
that wher he Hrst visited Rome he was, contrary
TO his expectations, "enthralled not by the an
cent. but by the medieval genius Of the Eter-
nal CITY," and he adds. Il gave the best work
and the hes, years OF my life to the study OF
the history Of Rome In the Middle Ages" After
the event 1t is easy to say, This was obviously
the only thing for Grpgorovius to do If he was
to put his talents to their natural use" but the
fact il that those who read his essay or Hadrian
when IT first appeared in 1851 must have felt
very clearly that the author was bound to
choose always themes rich in color more sym
pathetic to the really modern temperament than
the ancient world is as rule The age OF
Hadrisn. paradOxically. provided such a theme
In many respects 1t anticipated the Renas-
sance. The Emperor himself was type Of the
intellectual and Sensuous rstleSsnrss when
was to characterize prince and plebeian alike In
the time of Italy's leawakening, and the Rome
of his day. turning its back on the leaden skies
Of the imperial despots and facing the happy
epoch Of the Antonnes Was full of precisely the
warm and glowing inspiration which Gregoro-
vus most preferred. Reading his history Of
Rome in the Middle Ages or his admirable
monograph on Lucrczia Borgfa, one sees that
he loved a motive with the vitality Of flesh and
blood in II. The study Of Hadrian was therefore
good preparation for the labors of his ma
turty. He was not without pride in that earlier
production In 1889 he rewrote it, expanding
and improving it. From this edition the pres
en- translation has been made.
Professor Pelham in an Introduction to this
work complains that GregOrcvius does not give
full enough account of the master idea
which shaped Hafrian's policy" namely. tn
idea OF an empire absolutely unified. This crit
cis,n is to be expected. The historian was too
much fascinated by the pageantIy Of Hadrian's
msrchings and concentrating through the
Fnlpire. and too warmly in sympathy with the
mere passion for travel underlying the Emper-
or's administrative ar lor TO pause very long
on the latter. Yet il ie little unfair Ia blame
him for leaving the reader 10 draw his own con
cuSiOns since at any rate he provides the neceS-
sary data We are not sure. furthermore, but
that Professor Pelham pushes a little too far
the conception OF Hadran as an incarnation OF
/ imperialistc craftsmanship. The Emperor was
wise ia his measures. and addressed himself
with a great zeal Of sy stem to the marking OF
the Roman frontiers. But emotion waited on
his wisdom the emotion OF u man loving art
and letters and travel and most Of all, life
Such a man would to some extent, frame his
policy as he went along The most diverse i'm
pulses met in his remarkable nature, and We
can imagine that just as he was moved 10 gen
erositv toward Athens by his enthusiasm for
Greek culture, 90 his reasons for scattering
benefits among the cities ne visited throughout
the Empire varied constantly. being often com
pick and cOloIVd by personal feeling quite as
much as by constructive craftsmanship. Here
is where Gre gorOvius becomes extremely sug-
/ eestivc and valuable. After all, il was the per
sonaIity Of Hadrian that touched him. and 1t Is
mat personality by which the readers attention
IS held
Hadrian was a sublime dilcttante. and. like his
nrototvp.s I'm all ages, he preferred the ways Of
peace Thus his inclination conceded with his
duty as ~ donned the purple and ne lost no
| time i'm Withdrawing the imperial ogions from
! the scene Of rrljans unfrUitful campaign in the
| East The important thing, az the second cen
turv of the Christian era unfodcd itself. WAS for
the boundaries Of the Roman Empire TO he Sc
curely fixed, and for the growing prosperity
within those limits 10 be fostercd and perma-
| nently established Hadrian would have asked
for no better occupation than 10 see that his
dominions were consolidated and made happy.
| Pagan as ne was. he nevertheless seems to have
shared in that enrichment Of mems minds which
| Christianity was subuy bringing about. Life
was sweetcr and more wholesome than il had