New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-10

O. = Putnam Schs
The author Of this book (Which published
in French more than seventy years ago. but
which has not hitherto been translated into
Engish) was a Genevan who began life under
the shadow of the Church. but lured by
his temperament and by the political upheavals
of his tine to the paths Of the pubiicist and
teacher rather than those OF the pastor. He
was IN his prime when the French Revolution
broke out and friendships which he had MADE
brought him not only during the hercest hours
Of that catastrophe, but before and after the
crisis into position from which he could OBJ
serve. as from the centre. all that was going on
Etienne Dumont was rational lover OF hoerty
and a penetrating student Of his fellow men.
Gifted with a powerful intellect and most skill
ful in expression. he less inclined to use
these resources for the advancement OF his own
fame than for the welfare Of humanity. ana
he did not shrink from acting one OF Mira
besus aids, composing speeches for the great
man and looking on with contentment while the
world applauded the latter. So long as he
could contribute 10 the dissemination of sound
ideas OF constitutional government. IT did not
much matter 90 him whether he or some one
else got the credit for them. Yet his modesty
cid not ia the least enfeeble his character. Car
lyle and Macaulay havs testified to the value
Of his writings as really sane and vigorous add
ali the notes on revolutionary personages and
events which go to make UP the substance of
the present volume he leaves the impression Of
a man who considered public affairs with see
ing eyes and independent judgment
He was a traveller with taste for social In
tercourse; he talked with many OF the best
thinkers Of his day. not only in France but
elsewhere on the Continent. and I'm England,
and he studied politics in Paris with the de-
syaEl nut
them in a proper perspective. Thus he saw
whst some students even at this late day fail
TO perceive-that the Revolution was not TO be
ascribed 10 the secret Vaccinations Of the plot
tiers They did not create the general DISPOSE
ton of things" he says, they only made use
OF them, increased and directed them, but ii is
ridiculous to ascribe 20 individual conspirators
the vast and sudden impulse which possessed
the French people at the time OF which speak.
Everything was shaken TO its foundations in
Paris. The coolest heads were carried away in
the passion Of the moment. It was general
overhesting of the whole mass. A cry from the
Palais Royale Lwhere. he says. the Duo dor
leans sat like a spider in the middle OF its
web"J, a chance movement, a trifie. would cause
q general cornnlotion. In this state OF affairs
tumults produce tumults. the maladies Of the
preceding day only increase those OF the NOR
row" He realized that the Revolution was
resented a national movement. This gave the
more freedom 10 his judgments on the leaders.
he saw them with unclouded vision, estimated
them for precisely what they were. and his
vignettes OF these notabilties cast up by the
furious tide of French politics concise and
Illuminating. OF Barnave he says that he was
proud and irritable. had q Jealous and chOleric
temper. and conceited to a revolving de-
gree: but after a little practice he showed
tiresomely prolix.' Potion he describes hav-
ing 'the corpulence Of an indolent man and an
appearance OF responsibility" adding that 'he
was vain and thought himself a great orator,
+. but his speeches showed talent nor
powers Of thought expression" He had only
two conversations with Robespierre. but gives
this aTresting note him:
re hsd a sinister appearance. and never looked
any one in the face; he had nervous twtch in his
eyes that ives continuous and painful Once when
him 70 speak on the subject; He told me that he
fear on approaching the tribune and that he was
hardly conscious OF his surroundings when lac be-
gan 10 speak.
There are other pen portraits here. drawn with
similar vividness There IS one Of Volney "a
large, dull bilious man." showering fulsome
nattery on Nirabeau. There is another Of NJ.
Necker. assuming "the prudery OF the honest
man who refuses to have any connection with
roue' when any question Of himself and the
great Tribune OF the People came up. Champ
fort he sketches in a rather biting paragraph,
saying that he wished 10 pass Tor a nissan
throplst. but his misanthropy was that OF pride
and only shown by his wit" and that he
never saw in the revolutionary passion of the
maker OF epigrams anything except wounded
pride. which only happy In attempting to
put down any authority which had given him Of
fence" But it is on Mirabeau that Dumont is
richest and most steadily interesting. gen.
uine friendship 10 have been established
between the two but the Genevan had no illu-
sions about the Frenchman. On the contrary,
he appraised him dispassonately he APP
praised every other sgitator IN the Paris of that
day, He well knew. for example. how many of
Mirabeau's most eloquent utterances had their
source IN the minds OF other men. But he knew
also that an idea supplied TO Mirabeau took on an
added potentiality es IL sprang from the lips of
that practical politician. he saw that the faults
OF the man did not really disable him as a
worker for reorganized government and he CO
operated with him cordially es though there
were no faults 20 be found Meanwhile he noted
Lirabeau's traits his ways OF acting and talk
ing. and set forth IN his souvenir" some inval-
liable fragments OF observation. Here is q pas
sage abiding to the time when his friend was
co9uettng with Egalite:
Mirabeau said TO Duroverai and me: q am aston
:shea 81 anoing myself philosopher. was born
Fesns 70 eisnasnDer the Kingdom. and have some
and said; lie already believes himself ccmte de
Provence" We'll" said Mirabeeu. many others
soresaw upheavais and destruction
There is an interesting report Of a talk with
Eirabsau over one Of his plans for the rescue of
the King from a position Of intolerable restraint
IN Paris DuDront did not ike the plan, OF