New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-12

From the miniature BY Jean Peutet)
minis. under pledge Of secrecy. and that pledge
/. had failed to keep Thereupon Puyguilhem
rsied away few steps, turned his back 10
he King, drew his sword, broke the blade with
liz foot. and shouted furiously that he would
,eyer In his life serve q Prince who had broken
ks word 80 villanously. The King, In trans
MI Of anger. did what was perhaps the finest
stton Of his life He turned instantly, opened
he window and flung out his cane. saying that
be should be sorry 10 strike man, and left the
nom II. next day Puyguilhem. who had not
dared 10 show himself was arrested and taken
10 the Bssnue'
ne value Of This. as human document" Ii
so-tousy great 1t takes high rank also In that
rhee Of nt-Simon's action as a writer 10
vhch sainte- Beuve aludes after touching upon
as portraits in the great gallery. There IS
ury another thing in Saint Simon,' he says
.rsna and scenic effect; groups and inter-
rsrngs without end CT persOnages; above all,
sgs action" and these things, we may OBJ
we gain in Miss Wormeley's abridgment
1 2. sIcisions Of long stretches o. detail con-
srnng the authors military experience, Court
/ naasre and political questions heighten the
agility Of what is left Saint-Simon was not
Ei,ary man. Nothing could be more aruess
| al the steady evolution OF his great work out
/ he daily occurrences and meditations or hls
y The only times when he seems an author
& al, in the professional sense OF the word
/ n he times when, as he tells with perfect
Z:of he fshed for information among court
n and Wallets. aiming TO find out things that
| lsened before he came to Court, as well as
l sas happening round about him. But hts
~ and even stealthy methods were exercised,
rs al, for the practical purposes OF the mo-
III as well as for the enrichment OF his
| '=Srs, and We see plainly enough that au-
| sship for him was exactly what ii ought 10
AZ been for Due ct Pair de France an
| easement for his leisure hours and the prom
p q perhaps q naughty gift to posterity
VIZ al its great narrative merits, says MISS
''nsley. the style of Saint-Simon has no
1 KAY quality" Yet, as We have SEEM ne
"a reproduce a dramatic episode with the
"a Of htera = master The drama the
Fsaie effect" the action" which this con-
e'saion Of the memoirs makes 50 tersely po-
MA, transform the memoirs into history,
y he history into something no less accurate
z veghty. but much more personal. human
y 'elghuul. II Is often said Of such history
ms that II reads like q novel" a remark
'oa may give offence TO the pedant, but Is
AZ only another way Of saying that the
VETS sympathies have been aroused, a con-
NATION certainly to be desired as much By
historian as the romaucer
~hi-smon will not let even his least i'm
INT inquire escape your sympathy Shabby
1s hon, the lover OF the Duchesse de
u made as tangible, as comprehensive,
"a 70 US, as though he were the Marechal
Il aa over whose eminent character Saint
hngers with almost tender feeling; and
4 Ne'sf how much We may like OF dislike any
1 X personages IN the memoirs. We accept
H.. as part and parcel Of the grand spec
H. which summed Up the aristocracy OF
80 cd presaged the Revolution. 1t Is In
Ing 10 find salnt-simon. whose apprecia- /
!, !" intellectual power was so far modified
r.. 'noe Of class that he could speak dis .
=. :" 'oltaire Is "Arouet, son Of man
H. my fAthers notary and mine until
entering ardentiy into the spirit Of
structures upon the economic admin
IL. France This hardened courtier; /
uenptuous critic OF every one whom I
- Knew anything sbout' this cold con-
IT, any one rising TO power from ''ths |
ssss ns people; this sophist.cA noralist,
NAs AZ his fenowA On The favor Of