New-York tribune., 1905-11-10
literary .Nese,s and Criticism.
1even of Troy, Henry the Eighth
oud Some Famous artists.

md Some Famous artists.
-. secretary of the English Goethe Society.
Ih- -,'.~sne s~s oswald. has published in The
No ~. of Fair Helen (E P Dutton Coz
Ns. --b,ch we infer was first in part delivered
s''o' Corr, of an address. and then worked UP
IN u'o an out a volume 1t sketches the legend
20 . Nv Homer, Goethe "and Others" There
- 20. -,orId of meaning in that phrase. AS a
~ fact this is not precisely well bal
na'' ..udv with beginning, middle and an
ano'N - "a rather a mass of notes on all that
s'1 IAN said about Helen by authors, artists
hA' .,escians of consequence. miscellany of
o ,,oriously erudite, picturesque, poetic or
H.; ,+;c Open the book anywhere and you
'0N' ,-on messages like the following:
tho Phrvgfan, who probably followed cur
DaTes sI,jon AZ describes her two brothers and her
esnl ~ one picture Their likeness was perfect
self u - "a" s,iT hair large eyes. white complexion
Ihst hsts-e re faI Helen. like them, was heautlful OF
snepte sne m mind sweet disposition, well grown with
feniLe eI;Tnbs she had mark or mole. between the
SAP E EpeTIebrovs and very small mouth; Dares d9
stsov so or ned nothing 10 say about the colour od
not hmu' ms Roito says they were brown, and ne
M Mss5ud know he loved her SO much hose nfoSa
eyes, and ardent as the sun" Vaga com Ia
tn, sas srdente come il sole9 r,.,, ,,o-o,aos
on @ eneaks of her rosebud face and the girls
.sssressing Meneiaos' sing oil
Helen in whose eyes
lIe ioNeS AoiN'O' f'"'-
description of 4 woman who was supposed to
N I've traditional idea of Helena. the mass GI
ies.a1 sair large eyes, and warm expression are
That eaF fhs of fan is well attesed
q laH .hs noetg Pindars tribute has already been
Landor ndeed nGt eyn any kind Of
=, question, speaks, in Achilles and n heleha: 10, oI
her g3 gG,oN Neneiaos on her murder intent, say;
.Iox glossy is that yellow braid my grasp selIeo I
sfmed snd g Menelaos threatens TO toss it and IT'S
lsnnrs 10 the rust and flames. Perfumes are no5
he Gay 0afygrsI Beauty We are Informed by Pliny
Iho had 10 so many things.tnaf dfde dcs
sessed cosmetic with Wnich she o0iii'"'e0
sns rirreparable outrage
Asa work of scholarship Mr.. Oswalds pooK
,s sscrappy. but as a kind of anthology 1ilustraI-
ing the literature of Helen it is deserving OF COIL
s;d.-ation The reader who wants TO know What
she has meant to the wise men of ancient india
or 70 the Mongols is here supplied with hIhtS
and for those who are content with simple
suggestion of something beautiful there is also
abundant matter Mr.. Oswald wisely gives hlin-
self the widest possible scope when 1t comes 10
making quotations. His one infeilcltous cholce
Is that of Rossettis Helen of Troy for
frontispiece. a charming picture, but scarcely
me 10 which we would dream of affiXlng Mar
loves memorable query.
Was this the face that launched thousand ships
And burnt the tOpltSS ioHSiS VI ''iN-
There is much to be said in praise of the
Goupil series of magniicently illustrated mono
graphs on salient figures in history. and one
thing especially which must appeal to the reaaer
with q slender purse. Some time after the ap-
rearance of one of these royal books a popular
edition of il is brought out by Longmans, Green
& Co. giving the full text, and, in fact, proVlo-
ing the student with everything save an array
of portraits. In this way larger audience mas
already been enabled to enjoy the late Blshop
Creighton's Queen Elizabeth" MI Gardner
"oliver Cromwell and several other important
works and now it may have access to one OF
the best contributions made 10 the series. This
is Professor A F PollaId's Henry VIII which
the Goupils first published in 1902. The Long
mans edition. though inexpensive, is adequately
printed: il has one illustration, and that Is a
good one, the portrait of Henry, in chalk by
Holbein. which is preserved at Munich. Pro-
fessor Pollock's book. as We pointed out in re-
viewing 1t at length three years ago, has the
merit of impartiality- II says all that can be
said in Iaudation of the king, and it leaves no
scrap of evidence against him neglected The
sum and substance of the authors conclusion
is that Henry's aims were selfish. but that his
personal influence and personal action averted
greater evils than those they provoked" The
~ON~N-
stated than it is stated in these words:
without him. the storm OF the Reformation would
.tn have burst over England without him It
might have been far more terrible Every drop OF
river under feebler King Instead Of stray
execution here and there conduSted f always win
ligion might have desolated the land and swept
away thousands of lives LONDON @ i saw Iad m ay usa
envy the Catholic capitals which witnessed the
new; for ali Henrys iniquities multiplied manifold.
would not equal the volume of murder and sacrl-
lege wrought at Rome in May, 1927 From such
orgies OF violence and crime, England wos saved by
The strong right arm of the iron will of her Tudor
prince of royal courage. and he hath princely
heart; and rather than he will miss or want part
OF his Kingdom" But Henry discerned more clear
he stood; by accident, or by design. his appetite
contormed to potent and permanent forces: ano
wherein it did not, he was in spite OF Wolseys re-
mark, content to forego its qualification.
II was not he but the Reformation. which put
pronounced her riddle 10 all nations alike. and
all were required to answer; Should they ceave
pressed forward. others held back. and some. to
their own confusion. replied in dubious tones Sur
VIII never faltered failed. He ruled in ruth
lent crisis by methods of blood and iron. and his
measures were crowned with whatever sanction
Prince in action He took his stand on efficency
rather than principle and symbolized the prevail:
England entered into his thoughts, if at all. as
minor consideration. but. for her peace and mate
!isl comfort il was well that she has as her King
N her hour OF need. man and man who counted
the cost who faced the risk and who did with his
might whatsoever his hand found 10 do.
The school Of writer's committed TO digging
for motives in the very earth of England, per
sonifled most triumphantly in recent years by
Thomas Hardy, is strengthened every day il
one way another. The minor poets do theil
share. and occasionally do IL very we'll as wit
ness these lines contributed 10 the London Out