New-York tribune., 1905-01-14

As Miss MacI.ehose has already shown IN her
hook called 'arhe Last Days Of the French Moii-
arcfvs she does not take herself too seriously
as an historian. 1t is perhaps for that very .eo
son fhat she leaves so good an IMPRESSION ~
arst publication was singularly clear ana piao-
deal narrative. and the sequel TO IL "hioh siIe
now brings forward. is equally wen written II
,s nowhere colored by any ostentatiously phiio-
sonbfcaI theory of the Revolution. 1t gives SIM
MS, a STRAIGHTFORWARD account Of the saheht
events between the Kings premise TO 0ohFoAe
The states-CSeneral and the declaration OF
republic: and so slzilfully does the author mar
shal her facts that she succeeds where many
more pretentaous historians have failed name
" in making the reader feel that he is ASSIST
ing at the development OF affairs in crlticaI
persod Of French history. a style which is anil
mated without loss of dignity aids Miss Mac
I.ebose In producing her admirable effect.
1t IS difficult in dealing with the Revolution TO
avoid putting fits more violently dramatic cpl
sodes IN the foreground Since all the historians
unite 81 pronouncing IT a kind OF CONFUSION OF
nature the temptation OF every one VINO at
ternpts TO sketch it in outline, as 1t Is sketcheo
IN the book before US, is to dip the brush IN
earthquake and eclipse. Miss MacLehose knows
better keeping close TO the Vines OF that curious
conflict between Louis XVI and his people,
which, until the end comes. suggests duel be-
tween two diplomatic adversaries, each sensi-
tive 10 the point OF honor. yet loath TO do IRE
rnediable injury to the other. 1t was a duel be-
tween privilege and equality. between autocracy
and freedom Il was. necessarily, duel TO the
death. yet it is well TO be reminded, as Miss
MacLehose reminds US. that it was long before
Il caused the streets Of Paris to run with blood
In her book stress is laid upon the length of
time il took TO widen the inevitable breach be-
tween the monarchy and the people. At the out
set II must have seemed TO some observers that
there was no reason why the two should di-
verge Says Miss MacDehose:
1t has been asserted that France made more
progress n the ideas OF justice equality and l9- m
cry n the hfteen years OF e reign oI louis a =,
years which followed it. and De TocaueviIle de-
monarchy. The reforms which took place from the
year ia to the year I7S9 are unaqesuonable The
without distinction or exception Of any kind was
&c & - Ln9 ,t % o9pa,ssSfg s y , csber
public works abolssed the suppression OF the
old trade corporations which exercised exclusive
and tyrannous rights was attempted and in a
measure carried out; the King freed his serfs; the
free circulation OF grain within and without the
kingdom was decreed. and a system Of provincial
assemblies. by which taxes could be more fairly
aIpoftoneo and leeal matters more quickly at
reform. had had some abuses removed An accused
prisoner, until proved guilty, was exempted from
tortured in order TO extract from them confession:
rssoer was foun rsir Of death snd noI Shnrss 9a
10 PASS judgment s'beca1se Of the resfIt of he
trial" and instead Of execution inInediateiy fol
lowing the sentence. a month must elapse ex-
cent IN cases Of insurrecton or riot In civil courts
new ARRANGEMENTS were made which would render
civil suits little less tedious.
Other reforms might be cited from this enocb
The King had done much. and he was willing 70
do more. Perhaps If Afirabeau had lived the
Revolution might have been modified in many
OF its aspects, for Louis XVI was steadily re-
vising his views Of what he owed TO his sub
5ects in the last years Of HIS reign But neither
the administrative machinery nor the social fab
ric under his care could be made over in a dav.
and when the King convoked the States General
that body found itself confronted by issues SO
grave that it could hardly estimate at their full
value the reforms already accomplished. The
finances OF the nation were terribly out Of foint
In many ways the situation was desperate
wise counsels were needed. and, above all har-
mony among those summoned to put the affairs
OF France IN order. How difficult II was tn se
cure harmony It has been Miss MacLehose's
special aim 70 show. In her careful exposition
OF just what each party stood for IN the long
struggle lies the chief merit OF her book She
shows the mobiles and The clergy entering with
some good faith upon the reorganization Of the
state. but baking at thorough cooperation with
The people. She shows the latter in its repre-
sentative body, patient but Enthusiastically stirred
by the conviction that the time had come for q
drastic change, and therefore bound 10 kick over
the traces the moment the deep roote5 an+ae
onism of the privileged class was deanit,vaIv
displayed She shows. finally the King in all his
oeplorabie vacfIlation, eager TO do the right
thing for his country, but lacking the resources
OF true craftsmanship and incurably weak Of
VIII The details Of the negotiations between
the court and the country are too familiar To bs
touched upon here. What we wish 10 euforce ,s
une good judgment with which Miss MacIehose
summarizes them. bringing out all that identifies
them with the rational political movements ~
history and thereby clarifying their significance
for the student
She knows that IL is impossible TO deprive
such an event as the fan Of the Bestile Of its
dramatic glamour. She does not seek 10 min
irnize any OF the tragic episodes in her story.
But she Is at pains TO indicate the comparative
~ subordinate relation to which those enisodes
were for a long time assigned. From some un
published letters written by a Mrs. Edward
standish. who was living 'n Paris at the time.
she quotes these passages. dating from the very
eve Of the Kings dethronement:
This day has passed very quietly, and every
stranger IN PARIS SS Honesf a9d s7 Lass danger fPr quiet
ne other cay ana told me he expected nothing less
one would imagine had nearly reaes tber nogTe5s bsif
IA society We begin 70 be tired OF talking OF them
more peaceable & situation than we are in this Very
The least inquietude. e 20
Within fortnight the royal family was in the
Temple. Its transition thence. and the catas-
trophe that followed only too soon. are TO he ev-
pia1ned IN great measure by the failure Of those
political transactions which Miss MacLebosa has
nade It her first duty TO describe and to anaIvza
Yet 1t is impossible 10 relinquish her bool, with
out rejecting, as every historian of the r.,