New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-06
AUSTRIA.
A POPULAR HISTORY OF THE EN-
PRE-.
Shot out.

THE STORY OF THE NATIONS; AUSTRIA.
By Sidney Whitman: with the Golla6 DO o. OF
J. R. McIlraith. 16mo. pp. xviii 4O7 G. +.
Putnam's Sons.
Mr. Whitman's history is limited to the rec
ord Of the German element IN the Austro-Hun-
garian Empire, but this record. bound up as 1t
is with the fortunes of the House of Hapsburg,
overlaps much of the history OF Germany proper.
Incredible as II may seem, this little volume is
the first consecutive history of Austria, from
the earliest times down to the present. that has
ever been written IN any language. This alone
would give the book unusual title to consid-
Grafton. or course, in such book. COMPRISING
the story of so long a period from the days of
the Roman dominion down to these closing
years of Francis Joseph's reign. succinctness
and brevity necessary. and in securing them
Mr.. Whitman has departed considerably from
the original intention of this series, which was
to indicate the current Of national life to "enter
into the real life of the people, and to bring
them before the reader as they actually lived,
labored and struggled" Now this is precisely
what the present historian has not done. He
has recorded the political movements that have
finally resulted in the Austria Of to-day; the
succession of rulers and their Quarrels. the cal
culations and plans OF kings and ministers. the
wars that resulted therefrom. We have little of
the people. The historian does. indeed, allow
himself space to characterize some OF the most
commanding royal figures that he has to do
with. but there is a wearisome crew Of small
dukes and princes in early Austrian history
whose proceedings, II necessarily recorded in the
interests Of completeness, seem far removed
from the human interests Of to-day. broader
treatment OF the course OF Austrian events,
more summary disposition Of the smaller fry
and more vitalzing discussion Of the charac-
ter Of the people and their life. their industry
YpaHn 4hn frs+ oF
Austria weightier book and certainly more
interesting ono.
Austria was the East March Of Charlemagne's
kingdom tho nucleus OF the East ReaIm-the
"Oesterreich'' of to-day. But when the great
world conQueror died came the petty dissen-
sions of his sons and SUCCESSORS eliminating in
the Great Interregnum. in the middle of the
thirteenth century, when the princes OF Ger
many fell into a condition Of such anarchy that
they had to be threatened by Pope Gregory x
before they would elect emperor. Brought
thus to the point. they elected Rudolf Of Haps-
burg, who became the founder Of the present
dynasty. He is an interesting personality of
medieval times. Brought up in the Court Of
Frederick II, he had become noted for his
strength and vigor; he was almost a giant in
| stature being nearly seven feet tall, and had
| been trained In wrestling and running, was
skilled In Craftsmanship, and equalled by
| none in casting the javelin. His career is Of
romantic interest whether he is wrestling srom
the Bishop Of Strasburg the ancient Hapsburg
domains, and thus making himself a great
! power in Alsace, Switzerland and the lower
Rhine, or chastising the robber barons who in
! tested the country, or preserving the citizens
| of Zurich from the encroachments of the Count
| Of Regensburg. His victorious course al
most unbroken till near his death, and resulted
| in the great enlargement and consolidation OF
| his kingdom. His sway was more than mill
tary one; he fascinated every one If with a
| love potion" says medieval historian OF him,
and his personal worth and his standard Of
morality seem to have been far above contem-
porary levels. Indeed he seems to have antici-
| pated the Gar of Russia by more than six hun
dred years. for it is related of him that at Diets
held at Nuremberg and Manz he got the cleo
tors, princes and States to decide their differ
ences in future by arbitration instead Of by war.
So highly does Mr.. Whitman think of Rudolf of
Hapsburg that he calls him an historical charac-
ter fitted to rank with Alexander the Great,
Caesar and Napoleon.
The authors enumeration of the complicated
military political and diplomatic movements in
which later Austria was concerned is rather too
concise to be Illuminating; 1t frequently resolves
itself into catalogue Of military operations,
and the significance of 1t all is lost in the de-
tail. OF greater value are the chapters on the
reign Of Francis Joseph, which is treated with
more fulness. and which is brought down as
late the assassination Of the Empress Eliza
beth in 1898 There few pages at the end
devoted TO Austrian literature, science and art
An interesting feature Of the book is the repro
duction OF a number Of illustrations from the
Archduke Rudolrs monumental work THE
Hungarian Monarchy in Word and Pict-
ure." in the use of which illustrations Mr. Whit
] ear
denied privilege"