New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-21

TIM, life of astounding contrasts there was
after all kind OF rugged simplicity. Men were
unconscious OF being BY turns saints and hendS.
To them good and Ill alike were all III the
days work: the main point was to give indiVldu-
ality free play and to enjoy every sensation
that the world had 70 offer This principle pro
duced remarkable types of mingled ferocity and
urbanity. at once normal and abnormal. ana
these types exert TO this day a curious tas-
cination. Nowhere did they flourish more char
acteristically than in Ferrara, and the mere raw
material of Mr. Gardeners book could not but
enthran the reader. As a matter of fact. this
author. already favorably known for his deal
ings with Italian subjects. has told in very
charming manner some of the most striking
chapters In the story of the house of Este In
the present volume he portrays those princes
Lconcllo. Borso and Ercole-under whom Ferra-
reese culture expanded like n flower under the
rays OF the beuignant sun. In another volume
he will treat OF the reign OF Alfonso 1 and of
nriosto. Ferraras greatest poetical glory; in a
smaller book he win celebrate the painters OF
the Ferrarese school, and finally he will COM
plete the political and literary history OF Fer
rara down 10 the expulsion of the last Duke
He has begun his great task with delightful
book. the value of which. We may add. is con-
sderably enhanced by its ten twelve well
chosen Illustrations
The princes OF the house Of Este had human
ism in their blood. but from the start they had
also that tendency to cruelty and sensuaIty so
common I'm all Renaissance annals. THE begin
ming of each reign" says Mr.. Gardner was
marked by palace conspiracies and followed by
sanguinary executions" Niccoo d'Este the
first OF the rulers studied In this volume was
nineteen years old when he took I'D the reins
of government. in f4O2 He was a genuinely re-
iigious man. after the fashion OF his day. and
morally he was beast. But he saw no reason
why his wife. Parisina, should emulate his baser
tastes. When he discovered the intrigue she
was carrying on with Ugo, one of his sons by
an earlier wife. Madonna Stella, he clapped the
pair into prison and had them promptly be-
headed. The deed caused him agony OF soul.
yet strangely insensitive the spirit OF the
age that his heir. Leonello. could defend the
| threat of Hneas against the life of Helen in the
'Aeneid' by thus referring to this horrible cpl
sode In his family history:
you have SEEN" Angelo represents him as say
ing. my own father more recent and familiar
| not because he is my father. but as fame bears
testimony. among the Italian princes by far the
most famous for his obServanceS of humanity, JUS
| tice and piety. when he saw what he would fain
have not put to death his wife. together with
| his son. the stepmother with the stepson. Was my
father thus condemned account OF this sort of
vengeance. after the accusation was made public?
fault remained upon the slain
| One would infer from this that Ieonello was
as brutal as his father. His portrait of Clio
vanni Oriolo does not bear out the idea nor
| indeed. do the records With the help OF a con-
temporary humanist of Milan. Angelo Camille
| Decembrio. whose book. DE Politia Litterarin "
| throws vivid light on Ferrarese society Mr.