New-York tribune., 1910-03-26
The Causes Of fkc Fall Of Louis
SirfccRfh.
Paris March 10


Paris. March 10.
10 mere luminous informing on con-
sincinF study cf the GoNnfsn ~ the
yTcnch monarchy unde- Louis XVI could
he pointed 90 IN the vast mass Of his
torical literature that has already np-
ssared upon TIE subject thsn tho volume
entitled "Au Couchunt 10 "a Mon
archie" which the Marquis de Segur has
susi published through Calmann-Levy.
Ths Marquis Do Segur makes no pretence
of throwing a new light uPon The
dramatic incidents which preceded the
French Revolution hy The help OF un-
published documents ~ any Importance
~ thc presentation ~ startlingly orig
lrnl views 10 steers clear ~ oontre-
Aersial rocks and. in spite ~ the legiti-
mist Traditions associated with his name.
Dis judgments are strictly Impartial
De Ssgur makes u quite clear that n
fhe monarchy fell r. Nss due 20 the
state Of utter internal rotteuness that II
had reached The good instincts ~
Ilouis NVl were uf no avail in view ~
his mental and moral impotence. - ar
res, tho consequent disaster. n. de
Harne une. vigorous hand the circum-
stanoes which offended the gradusl 10
litiCal extinction - the well meaning
prince, who. starting on or q campaign
~ reform inspired Nv hts ministers.
Tungot end fsecker, VAS little by little
tncuced By court intrigues 10 abandon
hts pFoErauame. nnd from that moment.
6isiiluEonizsd snd disooUraged, fell into
q chronic condition ~ apathy. mingled
with despair. The fnsl oataclysm vac
az inewtseis outcome 81 such a situs-
ION.
The Msrouis de Segrr is particularly
happy IN the portraits which he draws ~
ths chief actors IN this somhre drama.
10 ether historian has made Louis NNI
live before us with such vivid touches ~
realism. Universally considered 20 ne
the weak King par cTocliCRoc. tho casual
reader ~ history has. in the great ma
lority 81 cases. no doubt. formed hy as
Eociation of ideas The impression that
Louis KNE Was q fabhN. obese. prema-
surely aged mar. with q physique as
poor as his mind and as unresistinE as
las viii IN poin; ~ fat. Louis was a
Eentleness and dulnsss we're just those
chara acieristics which have 50 frequently
been noticed in giants and persons n eN-
csssive muscular development So strong
Was ne thaf he would amuse himself in
the strict privacy ~ the family circle. in
giving exhibitions ~ his powers. which
n repeated nowadays would stsrtle the
habitues Of cur music halls. one Of his
fsvorite faUfs de force was 20 carry
around the room ~ arms length q long
kitchen shovel on which vas plaoed q
Youthful court page In the midst ~ q
hunting trip n VAS not unusual for him
90 dismoUnt from his horse snd cut
woed. Constant physical exercise ~ the
most violent description was essential %
he wellbeinE Louis was shortsighted.
hui his eyes often wore q gentle expires
sion, and deep down in them there was q
hook - melancholy. Naturally 50 ro-
bust man had oorrespondingly big
appetite ON tho day preceding his
execution Do devcured three entire
'hickens Still he had the temperament
20 an artist or. rather. Of an artisan oi
genius. Though Obliged by the sneers ri
lis courtiers. and OF the people. too, il
must DO confessed. 10 temporarily sban
don ms lockSpthy. he was never -
happy as Mben working in il. and $.
thoroughly had b. absorbed tho artisan
spirit that he would leave his tools an,
50 into the Queens presence. unkempt
WITH black hands and his clothes GOV
cred with dus,
The re6ued and dainty Marie An
toinette frequently reproached him Wit
these lsPses from decorum That Loui
owed much a. CANAAN. the looksmit
who taught him his ART. may be &C
corded. Canaan ultimately betrayo
IN him under circumstances which proNe
III hist he was q man ~ the lowest IDEAL,
- Bur sdmitting Louis 20 have really bee
rhe author ~ the work which has hee
sttrihuted 40 him, notably the ironV-or
or certain of the windows ar Fontaine
hlesu. n is interesting 20 note that th
fFst suthorities N such matters now re-
ognize that nothing better ~ its kin
has been produced IN Europe even n
the most EiustrioUs artists Of the Rensis
ssnoe Perhaps the Marquis de segu
would have made his portrait - Loui
even more pOtently interesting than 4
the case had ne insisted with greater Dc
vail upon this curiously nttle stu6ie
creative SIDE ~ the n1onsrch's Chsrac
Ter. II Is not the only mysterious feat
ure eonnected with his life. Some tim
hsfoTs the crisis of the Revolution va
reached the KiEg appears 20 have los
al control over the general expenses a
ne own household. and though the eK
fraVagance Of the royal upkeep. unde
the direction % the great state officials
VAS as greet ss ever. Louis himsel
seems 10 have been hard put 60 n 10 I'm
fOod ana the ordinary neoessaries ~ lif
for himself and his family How else d
81 possible 20 explain such entries as m
Following which occur In the account
which the KING made out for hhmsel
every day In his oW'n handwriting. ant
which CcTnte de- Besuchamp has ius
published For a new ham. 2Ol
Cfrsnos). fer The month - tle wsshe
and the little hov. isl. for having th'
kitchen clesned up. 81" other entric
are Tor fhe Sleeps trotters. ll lss
fE0usl. for water Cor tho haths 81 fo
boots. 81" A. ~. d. Beauchsmp re
marks N the King - France was al
fH-s rfr,~ rr~.~a a.. E.rsrF 49, ...r.., -