New-York tribune., 1905-02-26

lands triumphant maintenance and expan-
sion. Sir RenneH Rodd. while acknowledging
the mystery which, in spite of mass of bio
graphical matter, still surrounds the character
and career of Raleigh, is disposed to palliate
most of his hero's mistaken not wholly in
genuous proceedings. He is just enough to quote
Gardeners severe expressions in dealing with
Raleigh, but it is apparent that he is reluctant
to note the shadows in his picture.
He fingers with picturesque recital the
youth of the witty and handsome son of the
ancient West Country family-on his military
service on the Continent, where unconfirmed
legend sends him for safety to the house of the
British Ambassador the night of st. Bar
thoomew-on his early exploits in Ireland when
at the ford in the Balineurra. for example he
did a deed like those which in later days have
won a great queens praise.
Here there lay in ambush. waiting for his pas
sage, n certain Fitz- Edmunds. a rebel of Barry's
faction, known as the Seneschal OF limo Kelly, with
numerous horsemen and 1ootmen. His little escort
reached the rivers edge accompanied only by an
Irish guide. when suddenly the whole company of
the ford He cut his way through and had crossed
in safety to the other side, when he became aware
that one of his followers was unhorsed in the mid
die of the stream and crying to him for help.
safe to land and then with his pistol cooked stood
firm on the opposite bank, waiting for the OF
his party to come up
liant thing and in some sense typical of the man,
and to his service in Ireland both with sword
ana pen it is reasonable to attribute most of his
immediate consequence iE the Queens eyes
Perhaps his handsome face, his stately figure
and the new plush cloak spread for Elizabeth's
substantial feet in "a plashy place" had as much
effect the recommendation of his kinswo-
man at court, Mistress Katharine Ashley; but
putting these things aside we may at least Won
der if his brains and his energy would not have
conquered a place for him without appeal to
the Queens less statesmanlike qualities The
author is inclined to put faith in the cloak cpl
sode which other commentators have scorned
and ne dwells on the young officers impressive
physique, quoting Aubrey: He was a tall
handsome and bold man. He had an
awfulness and ascendency in his aspect
over other mortals" Whatever it was that
most moved Henry's masterfuI daughter
the perception of the sovereign seeking ef-
fective servants the vanity of susceptible
woman, it must be conceded that he used not
unwisely the amazing powers which her par
tiality insured to him. Rodd admits that the
favorite displayed somewhat graspfng spirit
in his accumulation of wealth, but holds that
it had no mean miserly element, and that
he spent the money not only royalty in the
realization of his ilimitable dreams" of colonf-
zation in the New World, but also in generous
benefactions to persons and public objects Yet
the man was not popular. nor even fully trusted,
by his fair BelphGbe-Or by his admiring biog-
rapher. In spite of his dominant personality"
says the latter, there in Raleigh some in
tangible characteristic which qualified confidence
if it did not actually inspire mistrust and while
he could command the devotion of adherents, he
was never able to compel the regard of his
EQUALS.
no ffo N,ifo
strip all competitors was an offence to his would