New-York tribune., 1910-06-01

This series OF biographical sketches
describes a number OF extraordinary
characters whom she author has dis
tributed not very logically into four DIFF
ferent groups The first tells of Three
Travellers Of the Renaissance" the Sec
end of "A Group Of Actors or Witnesses
of the Revolution and the First EN-
r,s,e" the third OF +'Sorne Silhouettes Of
Criminals" end the fourth of 'Orig'-
nals OF Many Conditions" The mate
rial OF the authors work is not alto
sether new. for the several chapters
are simply reviews Of books and other
documents already published. Two Of
his sketches are borrowed from studies
by Andrew Lang. Of historical mysteries
the story OF James de la Cloche and
that OF Gaspard Hanser. Other chap
ters relate 10 more or less recent pubh-
cations in English, French, German and
Italian. Although for the most part
coupilation. NJ. wyzewa's book makes
excellent reading. Here, for example,
are TO be had authentic accounts OF
those clever nssassins. Eugene Aram
end Thomas vainewright, OF Krapotkin,
the nihiiist; cf the eccentric Prince
clovis Won Hohenlohe, and Of Lavater,
the mystical theolorian. Even those
who dislike this sort Of bookmaking
from borrowed materials can hardly fail
70 Re entertained ct the gallery Of un-
common people whom the author here
presents TO us.
Leaving cut of account those narra-
fives which have bcen already published
for English readers. one finds first the
story Of an Italian canon. Antonio
Beats. rho accompanied the Cardinal
Luis of Aragon on his travels in France
early in the sixteenth century. The oD-
seryations Of this priest give graphic
view Of the manners and morals OF the
reriod Beats devotes pages 10 depict
ins the social. intellectual and religious
iise Of Paris-a city which die not please
him. He preferred Lyons. At Ambrose
he accompanied the Cardinal on visit
10 Leonardo da Vinci- The latter. 'one
Of the most excellent painters of our
time" showed the visitors three pict-
urss. the portrait OF a certain lady OF
Florence painted from life by the order
of the magnificent Julien de Medici, a
Young face OF St John Baptist and a viz
gin with the child seated on the knees or
St Anne. It is true that henceforth no
beautiful works can be expected of the
said Master Leonardo, who has been at
tackled by paralysis of the right arm.
This gentleman has composed
treatise Of anatomy applied to the use
Of the painter, where. in an entirely new
vsv. he has studied on the bodies Of
men and women, all the reciprocal rela-
tions Of their members, such as muscles,
nerves, veins. tointS, intestines and the
rest He showed US this treatise and
told us he had dissected more than thirty
bodies Of men and women Of every age.
Tie has written. besides. a multitude OF
books OF the nature OF liquids. on differ
ont machines ami other subjects, and ali
these books composed in italian will be
&. precious source Of pleasure and profit
when they shall have seen the light
In another biographical sketch an ac-
count is given of Magistcr Lankbard. a
German Sans-C -Culcttr.r whose career
was a strange mingling OF great stUdi-
business. debauchery and military ad-
venture. He left behind him a volume
of cynical 'Souvenirs' which for their
frsnkness are probably unequalled in
the annals Of autobiography. He was
born in 175S. and at the age Of ten be
came a drunkard. notwithstanding this
he had a brilliant career at the univer-
sites. al Halle enjoying the friendship
Of the great Semler. and himself be
coming a professor Of Hebrew, Greek
and church history. In theology Lank-
hard. because Of his philosophical
studies was a Deist and a free thinker,
and long years Of dissipation in the
lowest resorts OF various German towns
made him 81 suited TO his sacred calling.
His boon companions were a BaVarian
tippler snd an unfrocAed Jesuit. While
professor OF theology at Halle he was
several times found dead drunk in the
streets. TO the great modification of his
university colleagues. The quiet life Of
2 scholar failed to satisfy him, and he
went into the Prussian army. After
short experience he deserted. and during
the revolutionary period wandered about
France. meeting many men Of distinc-
ton who were attracted by his scholar
shir although he never rose above the
rank or private soldier. He then re-
turned TO Halle. but WAS driven away by
the opportunity OF his creditors. He
lived "a dreary life" until 1922 as "a
pastoral supply. A professor without
pupils. above all irunkard and a vaga-
bond
Among ether eccentric persons noticed
by II. wyzeva none is more interesting
than Professor Georges Frederic Parrot.
the confdsnt or Alexander / of Russia
The Gar made his acquaintance in 1902
while at Dorpat- Within a year Parrot
had become an intimate and privileged
member OF the imperial court. giving
his advice freely and fauliliarly, both in
perscn and by letter. He opposed
granting a constitution 20 Russia in a
Iaper far more statesms mike than
might have been expected from an OBJ
scure professor Of physics He opposed