New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-10


Paris Translation Edited by S N Macrane
Octave. PIP. XXI So Henry Holt & Co 'i'' . '''''
To undertake to compress the history Of con-
temporary Europe into one volume requires not
a little courage; to succeed in the attempt a
vast amount Of skill. Both were shown by Pro-
fessor Seignobos in his 'Histoire Politique de
fEurope Contemporaries" and in translating it
Professor Macrane has rendered a service to
the many students of history who would not
be likely 10 It in the original. II is accurate
scholarly and. in spite Of its extreme condensa-
ton, readable-a fact which distinguishes It
notably from almost all other works of a similar
character.
In his preface the author is at somewhat
necessary pains TO explain that IT was impossi-
bic for him to meet the demands of the 'rigor-
historical method" in the direct study of
sources and the citation of authorities. One
would indeed need to be Methuselah even ito
read the official documents of single country
of Europe" while to give adequate array of
references would be to consume most of the
space required by the text 1t might have been
added, also. that in work of this kind elab-
crate references even IL they are highly scien-
tlne are for the most part useless. Such brief
historical summaries are not used for purposes
that render elaborate verif1cation essential.
Moreover, as Professor Seignobos notes. the con-
ditions under which they are written necessarily
restrict them to the general facts Of political
life, known to all concerned and admitted with
out dispute" It is simply question of the
ability of the writer 20 state accepted facts in
an intelligent and accurate way and this ability
Professor Seignobos possesses in an eminent de-
gree
Having thus renowned the "erudte history"
as impossible, he also rejects the narrative his
tory as undesirable. and defines his aim as an
attempt to enable his readers Ito comprehend
the essential phenomena of the political life of
Europe in the nineteenth century by explaining
the organization Of the nations, governments and
parties, the political questions which have arisen
in the course of the century, and the solutions
they have received 1 have tried to write an
explanatory history" And in this one may say
without qualification he has succeeded A more
instructive and suggestive survey of nineteenth
century Europe from the point of view thus
adopted cannot well be imagined. Nor can one
agree with the author that his limitation of his
task has ''cut him off from all chance of liter
airy display; for to accomplish it. as he does in
such way to hold the attention and inter
est Of the reader and constantly stimulate his
thought implies literary art of the best kind.
more difficult problem met in the CLASH
ficaton Of the facts thus selected for exposition
There are three possible orders of proceeding:
first, the logical order, which consists in analyz-
ing the political organization of European
States, studying it a whole in all its states.
taking successfully each Of the institutions
central government. army. finances. justice,
etc.); second the chronological order, which
consists in dividing the whole into periods.
treating each period in succession; third. the
geographical order. which takes up one country
at a time and finishes its history before passing
to another"
Each Of these methods has obviously special
advantages for the treatment of certain aspects
Of the problem which Professor Seignobos set
before himself. and he wisely concludes that to
exclude any of them would be to run
risk Of falling into confusion in parts Of his I'M
dertaking.' He accordingly begins with the geo.
graphical, giving successfully the internal his
tory of each European State, beginning with
England, that which has served as the
model for all the others; then adopts the logi-
cal order. grouping together certain political
Thenornena-"changes in the material conditions
of political life and the action Of parties that are
not limited by national boundaries; and finally
discusses "the external relations between the
States by periods following the chronological
order" Excellent brief photographers are given
which are quite adequate to the wants Of the
readers for whom the book is designed.