New-York tribune., 1911-03-18

respondence. Edited by Desmond Mac
Carthy and Agatha Russell Illus
trated. Svo, PIP 32j. The John Lane
Company.
Il recollect some years ago wrote
Sir Henry Taylor in his autobiography,
going through the heart of the City,
somewhere behind Cheapside, to have
come upon courtyard OF an antique
house, with grass and flowers and green
trees growing as quietly as if it was
the garden Of a farmhouse in Northum-
berland. Lady John reminds me Of it."
The reader Of this memoir will turn it's
last page with an admiring acknowl
edgment Of the justice of this impress
sion. AS the wife of statesman whose
days of public service were strenuous.
Francis Russell was a figure in "the
worlds most crowded ways" She was
his loyal helpmate. deeply interested in
ing in the performance of every duty
which his position imposed upon her.
But in the midst Of those crowded
ways" she kept her heart unspotted
from the world. preserving to the end
the sweetness of nature, the simplicity
and the ardent sympathy which made
her one of the most lovable English
women Of the Victorian Period. Those
who dc not care to retrace the story Of
Russelrs political career may skim the
graver portions of this volume and take
pleasure in the story Of a rarely bcauti-
ful and harmonious welded life. His
Wooing was not without its troubles;
Lord MintO's young daughter was un-
certain as To the state Of her heart, and
she let Lord John suffer not little sus-
pense and encouragement. But she was
a Rachael worth serving for. and his
reward was great.
Lady John was always in close agree
mcnt with her husbands policies, and
took special pride in the part he played
as Foreign Secretary in the liberation OF
Italy. 1t was part in which his wife's
enthusiasm counted for much in fortfy-
ing his sympathies. There was a mo-
ment when her little hand helped to push
open the prison door Of Italy. When in
1860 Naroleon III had put pressure
upon Victor Emmanuel to compel him
to stop Garibaldis proposed attack upon
Naples. Lord John had taken the King
Of Sardinia at his word. and was pre-
Yared to frame English policy accord
ingly:
Cavour determined to appeal TO the Rus.
sells personally through a secret agent;
With this object Nj. l.acaita, aiterward
Sir James Lacaita, who had been eXlled
from Naples for having helped Gladstone
TO write his famous letters upon the state
Of the NeapOlitan prisons. which lacalta
knew from inside. WAS instructed 10 call
upon LORD John i'm London and TO tell him
that. In spite Of her official declaration,
Piedmont was desperately anxious tina,
Garibadi should drive the King of Naples
from the throne: fcr Garibaldi's cXtraor-
Ginary success IN Sicily had made his fail
ure on the mainland far less likely ana
CaVOur was now certain that there was not
much power Of resistance lef; in the Nca-
bed. got up ard went "a deliver his mes
sage lie was told that Lord John was
clOseted with the French and Neapolitan
Ambassadors a ana could not see him. La
caita guessed that Lord John was at that
very moment talking over the means OF
preventing Gariba!dis expedition ana he
Immediately decided to ask for Lady John
When informed that she was seriously H.
he Insisted upon being t9ken up into her
bedroom, and adimed her for the love Of
Italy to get Lord John away from the Am
laSsadoTs al once. \ scTibblcd note beg
Eing her husband 10 come 10 her immedl.
atelN brought aim upstairs In some alarm
And there he learnt iiOm LacaIta tnat Vic
tor Emmanuefs letter Of July - vas
blind. that united ltalv must bc made nov
OF never. aid tnat nc would never be for
given If England stOpYcd Garibaldi
The consequence was that England
Gid not act with France in preventing
Garibaldis action-and Italy j. free
The Hussclls We're in Venice in 1866
when after Austria's ccssion Of Nenctia
Victor Emmanuel entered tho city as
King Of all Italy. : letter OF Lord
Johns quoted here recalls a touching
scene Thousands OF Nouetisns saw tho
flag Of Italy raised Tor the first time
There WAS not cheer 10 be heard from
the crowd They could not speak for
weeping and sobbing
There is q picturesque gimni 20 ~ Ma
po!oon | in this yolume-it is drawn