New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-07
4 METHODICAL KING.
Some Curious Entries IN the Diary of
Louis XVI.
Paris, July 80.

Paris, July 80.
A curious and interesting book comes from
the Librairie Henri Leclerc. entitled LES
Complies de Louis XVI" written by Comte de
Beauchamp. who some years ago Reconstructed"
the personality of Louis XIII from the diaries
and archives found at Chantilly. M. de Beau
champ is one of the librarians OF the Biblio-
theque de PArsenal. and the note books and
lists Of expenses jotted down by Louis XVI
that he has been enabled to unearth there
show that the King had very accurate notions
of the value of money He spent enormously.
He recorded vast sums expended for political
purposes with the same minuteness with which
he noted trif1ing spent for the crystal OF
a watch or for a shoe buckle. The entry made
by the King on Tuesday, October 6, when the
popuIace went to Versailles and brought him TO
Paris as a hostage, is thoroughly characteristic.
It reads as follows: Departed for Paris at
half after noon Supped and slept at the Tuil-
cries" The famous and perilous flight to
Varennes is thus recorded: Left Paris at mid
night" Later on, Arrived and arrested at
Varennes'; again, Left Varennes for Paris at
6 o'clock I'm the morning. Lunched at Saint
Menehould: supped and slept at Chaons." We
have here Louis XVI fatalist, endowed
with extraordinary sang frod
The stole pessimism OF NJ Paul Marguerite
contrasts vividly with NJ Victor Margueritte's
fervid optimism. This may perhaps explain the
recent literary divorce Of the two brothers. The
dazzling sunbeams Of lie Talon" find a strange
but fascinating counterpart in the twilight gloom
of lie Flamme." amid which NJ. Paul Mar
gueritte places his fraH and fair heroine GIL
berte. who while retaining thoroughly up-to-
date form. has something about her Of an Ophelia
of a Eurydice The psychological problem
dealt with is that of love marriage where the
wife gradually becomes insane and has 10 be
Ff, h his
band forms a union with another woman. with
whom he shares his mellow autumnal hours
Unexpectedly the light OF Gilberte's intellect
ia hamme"-burns clearly again, owing to
surgical operation, ut is SO fragile that It IS
extinguished by the nervous shock caused by
contact with the lips of her husband. in whose
embrace she dies from the effects of the bursting
Of a blood vessel This seems for the best. for
her place was 10 longer intact. and the husband
vanishes to find consolation in the roseate glow
OF his twilight Iaison.
Les Mascran." by NJ Louis Delzons, better
known by his former nom de plume Of Louis
Estang." presents strongly drawn. vigorously
colored picture Of the life Of the French landed
aristocracy amid prosperous farmers and thrv-
ing tradesmen. The romance is well conceived.
and the characters-especially that Of the old
notary. the "Pere Mascran." whose sudden death
discloses the fact that he has committed forgery
are admirably composed. Another book OF
fiction Just issued by the Lbrairie Calmann-
Levy is "Petale dc Rose ~ Quelques Bones"
by Nj. Charles Petit. whose philosophy Is point
cd with playful irony. much enhancing the
graceful and lmpid dialogues in which II is
presented. The book comprises forty short Chi
nese fairyland tales. The dainty. pert little
heroine Of each IS the Maynard Petale de Rose
daughter of the aristocratic woman Of letters
Nine. GU Tsong Ling. who with frank and logi-
cal perception discloses the hypocrisy. fallaces
and corruption Of social Chinese ceremonials
and IN doing so adroitly deals with many OF the
conventional tyrannies and social problems that
press for solution in the smart social circles OF
New Lork. London and Paris. The book is re-
plete with drollery and insidious sarcasm. sug-
gestive now and then Of the happiest fances OF
NJ. Anatole France. G. l. B.