New-York tribune., 1907-12-29

from which We have already quoted but on the
other hand his experience of men and countries
must have contributed greatly to the formation
of his character and prepared him for the long
labors of his reign. On the opening of that
reign he had to deal with seemingly uncon-
querable situation The great mobiles of the
realm had become so powerful that the for
tresses from which they dominated their differ
ent provinces resembled the seats Of so many
independent governments They seemed at the
outset to be favorable TO his rule, and for mo-
ulent he may have fancied that he was going
to be free to foster the peace and develop the
industries which he considered essential 10 the
welfare OF his people But the moment was fleet
ing He saw enough that he would have
to fight his way against the selfish interests OF
his vassals and he acted accordingly That IS
10 saw. he did the things which not alone in
Quentin Durward'' but in the pages OF many
an historian have been used as the basis Of that
legend which represents him as one Of the
grimmest of European rulers He placed heel
of iron upon the necks of his barons. punished
them when they were treacherous with wellnish
ferocious severity, and. in the building up OF
his army and his civil state, extOrted from the
people all that taxation could be made TO wiring
from their hard worked hands
His rule was harsh but who shall say that 1t
was unnecessarily drastic? Besides the 1oes
within his borders he had to reckon with Charles
of Burgundy, whose opposition moreover was
sunported by strength of numbers and BY mill
tary genius II is to the lasting credit OF LOUIS
XI that throughout the long and bloody str'lssie
with this formidable neighbor he constantly oenl
his efforts toward honorable peace. and n
deed kent always before him the ideal OF
France freed from wars and aided in every way
TO live in security and prosperity He went 70
lengths hurniliating to himself as IN the Ia0uS
incident of Peronne. TO accomplish MS purpose
He made concessions He spent vast sums oI
| money. and when the public interest relulreu
all the available funds spent next to nothlhs oi
his personal needs 1t may be noted IN passing
that in financial matters he was honoraoie Oe-
vond the point which satisfied many Of his con-
temporaries. What he had promised 20 pay nc
paid. To his subjects likewise. he could De gen.
erous when there was good cause FOr ue1
magnificent defence Of Beauvais he gave tns
citizens rich rewards In short, he was a hisn
minded and resoIute king. a man who knew MS
duty and fulfilled it. leaving behind him s'4e
stronger and happier than the one 10 "hieH r x
had succeeded on the death of CharIeS VIZ
Christopher Hare thus summarizes the ri@'e'-
advantages he procured for his Kingdom
His great desire was to bring oE4eT 1ce i9 8hies
he frs created ana improve in every 1rss5 way sf
administration of justice lie deNO'eQ .s-~s So
thought and labor TO the advancement o. t az
and the establishment of new industries, ar- $50
silk and woolIen manufacture and We IeLae- ei-t:-y
the ENCOURAGEMENT which he gave 10 tIle YIei--
of mulberry trees. The invention OF 'Ie c.
OF printing and setting up OF printing P.T.
received from Louis the greatest enco-t '5eL -
one was set UP at Metz. 1+1l Lyons I4.S u
If7: Poitiers I419: Caen. 1tS,, and Iro|tS 100
delighted in the arts OF painting ana ue -
which enriched the beautiful manuscripts Ot a+ -
time, and liberal patron TO Jean rO-4-C -
who painted wood well as N i'uIes - %
parchment. a FIorentine Francesca FIoFio d So So
admirer of Fouquet. speaks of Louis as JuSi,
princeps-" He also spread the taste lor +a Il1
by introducing organs into churches ana
rieS. In the way of science ne encouFSIseu . g
serious study OF surgery. and he gave every 70.
cilfty for the working OF mines He tooh sIeas
interest in the making OF ports and harDOrs. a--
also the building OF dikeS and other pubilc NOIAs
his the royal library was greatly me-
ne sought learned men and encouraged tIsh1 ,
his universities: in short. We may & "a,
that he prepared the way for the French ftehass mas
sance of letters. OF which Charles of Orleans anu
Villon among the earliest poets
Judged as man Louis VI may seem a hard
bleak and even sinister figure Judged as
king he is type of true greatness Coulnlines
who knew the shortcomings of the man ne
served nevertheless came to the conclusion that
he had never a better prince. The yerulct
is only confirmed as history searches out the
truth