The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-09-27
sOAfE NEW 0


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suRaboan.
A comprehensive study Of Mirabtau and
the French Revolution has been undertaken
by Dr. +. NJ. FLING, professor Of European
history n the University OF Nebraska
Nutnams). The author tolls us that the
plan Of writing a life Of Mirabeau wa
formed by him nineteen years ego. when he
~ Q student at Leipsio. Subsequently
biographies Of tho central dramatic
figure OF the early years Of the French
Revolution appeared In French, but the-e
Il. still no full and scholarly life OF Mir
absau In English. q fact which justified
DR.. Fling In adheriDg to his purpose,
The author has conceived his task In q
largo way and has striven TO write tho
life OF Mirabeau with an historical Getting
that will make Il Ineligible. He has
endesvorsd to present his subject 90 q
product of eighteenth century France
but u at the same time possessing o
marked individuality and reacting upon
his environment as Q leader In the great
est revolution Of modern times. In mar
rating his life Prof. Fling has tried. hs
tells us. TO avoid the role Of an advocate
and to attain to q striotly scientific point
Of yiev. His aim has been not to stand
any moro than In absolutely necessary bo-
tween the reoder and the evidence and as
fer a. possible to reveal In the text the
nature and value Of the facts. w should
mention that OF tho three volumes pro-
jected only the fret 10 now published.
This 10 devoted to tho youth Of Mirabeau
and closes with the year 1774. whom he
legally came Of age. The second will
follow his fortunes during his confinement
In French prisons az a victim Of lettrss dc
eachst and during the period Of his o
tivity as q writer on political subjects
and Of his residence In Holland. England
and Germany. This second volume will
end in 1883 with tho preparation for the
slootiohs to the Statss-aenersl The
third and concluding volume will deal
with Mirabsau and the National Assembly.
describing his double role of parliamentary
leader and adviser Of tho King up to his
death. in April, I7sl.
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L.
Il o well known that Mirabeau the
orator was the descendant of o family
named Riqueti, the history of which has
long been falsihed and has only been
Get forth correctly in our own day In q
letter addressed to the King Of France
by tho subject Of this biography when
he was q prisoner at Vinocnnes the Flor
sntine origin Of his ancestors was af-
Armsd: Il bear a we'll known name.
Five centuries ago your ancestors re-
csived my family. which the fury Of fac
lions had hunted out Of Italy According
10 the tradition thus treated - well
fou nded, the forefathers OF Mirabeau.
driven from Florencs in the thirteenth
century during the struggles Of the
0uelfs and Ghibellines. took refuge In the
little town OF Seyne In southeastern
France. Still according to tho legend.
they were OF noble blood and bore the
name OF Arrighetti. which In the course
OF time became transformed into RI
quet. In the sixteenth century the
family purchased the noble estate OF
Mirabeau. on the DURANGO. Such 10 tho
story which with slight variations 10
repeated In all the lives OF Mirabeau ex-
cept the most recent. The evidence.
however. on which the tradition rests
Is chiefly q memoir published under
name in 1884. but really the
work Of his father. Tho researches made
by Prof. Stern. by M. Charles de Lom6nie
and by M. Alexandra Mouttet have shown
that the evidence on which the Florentine
origin of the Riquetis rests ID practically
worthless. Tho P~rovencal Riqueti,'
writes NJ. Mouttet. -has nothing in oom-
With the Florentine Arrighett, not
even the name.' The Conclusions reached
touching the early importance Of the
Riqueti in France are equally ioono-
elastic. Theirs wa not the uncommon
story OF q family that began In obscurity
but through the energy, Independence
and intelligence of the members
became in time rich and important.
Having raised themselves above the
masses they became ashamed Of their
original obscurity and labored untiringly
to make the beginning seem commensur-
able with the end.
The earliest trace OF the Hiauetis M. de
Lomenie has been able TO And is in a doc
ument dated June 20, 1s4s. From this IL
q that a certain Pierre Riuueti was
at that time one Of the three consuls or
mayors Of the little town of seyne in the