New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-12

memory and ris diary the anecdotes and
the comments ON men and affairs which
lie before us rev books of the kind are
a. uniformly entertaining as this; 1t
holds not a lin which the reader would
willingly miss.
DR.. Poumies was born of an ancient
bourgeois family of Perigord which had
for centuries held a manor of conse-
quence. His father was magistrate of
the best type, just and honorable man
whose name was long revered in the
country side. and one who while up
holding the principles of the Revolution,
used his great influence to maintain law
and order and to save life. 1t was the
misfortune of France that so few men of
his character had his courage and his
tact. and that the conduct of affairs was
so largely gripped by scoundrels and
"grafters" The author describes in his
first chapter the provincial existence of
his childhood with care for which we
are grateful: such details are invaluable.
Concerning the dramatic events of the
Revolution. also he has much to say, al
though he was too young in the fateful
9Os to know much of the CONFUSION,
s:.ve as il affected the daily course of
lie, in his fathers house. But in later
DAYS he knew intimately many of the
men and women who had borne a part
in that drama, and he heard their stories
from their own lips. One of the great
yriefs of the elder POumies was the eX-
ecution of the King and Queen. He
thought the sacrifice unnecessary, and
he had n deep respect for Louis XVI, be-
5 lieving him To he honest and well inten-
Hrioned. Dr. Poumiess brother physician,
fNicholas Chambon, who was Mayor of
Paris at the time of the Kings impris-
onment and condemnation, and had lot
known Louis at all until then, felt all
his prejudices disappear when he was
! brought in contact with him. He rec
ognized in him man, simple kind af-
fectlonate." says Poumes speaking
never a word of hate against his en-
3emies. rendering justice to all, advancing
his opinions on people and events in a
,perfectly disinterested manner" Cham
bon. ardent revolutiOnist that he was,
was amazed at the Kings good nature.
He said TO Poumies repeatedly: IF only
the poor Kings enemies could have
spent two days with him alone not only
would their prejudices have evaporated,
hut they would have learned TO love him.
His was not merely the personal mag
ne;ism of a Louis XIV or a Napoleon,
hut the fascination Of a warm heart and
sound intellect. He inspired affection
quite unconsciously. If twenty years Of
my life could have saved him he should
have lad them willingly"
Another intimate of DR.. Poumies was
the surgeon Souberbielle, who was one Of
the Jury at the Queens trial and voted
for her execution. The old man told his
young colleague that they were all mad
for liberty at the time OF Marie An
toinette's death. II myself" he would
add. could easily have been Decius or
a Brutus. Since those days age has
brought reflection, and j no longer think
as | then did. If it were all TO happen
over again / should not condemn her to
death" He thought that her faults had
been fully expiated by her sufferings.
This apparent regret hardly rings true
10 one who remembers the horrible ac-
cusations against the Queen made dur
ing her trial, the lies which in their UNI
speakable beastliness, were worse than
death 10 the unhappy woman. The mad
ness for liberty Of a Decius or Brutus
could not explain or justify the use of
these lies which all men knew to be lies
Our author says that all who knew
Marie Aptoinette well have praised her
warmth of heart. She was always
cheerful, pleasant and unaffected with
her friends:
Old Mime. d'Aurival, who also knew
,he Queen well spoke OF her TO me ,di IN dne
esnoe terms. "The Queen wos lluuiseL't
"a Kind Although quick tempered. she
bore nc III will and was ess"y oo n,sstu
Ter manners were happy coi"Din"u'"