The Washington herald., 1911-12-17
4 Remarkable Book by
Il Remarkable Woman
4 Volume of International Importance.

Mrs. Tryphosa tes-Batcheller, of the
old, distinguished Massachusetts, family
Bates, whose new book, Italian Cas-
ties and Country Seats The Wash
ington Herald received last Sunday,
Is a young woman whose career is not
cnly eminentIy successful in the fields
of literature and music. but is as remark
able as II is unusual. In books like
"Glimpses of Italian Court Life" and
italian Castles and Country Seats" the
personality of the author means every
thing, and Mrs. s-BatCheller has
put the same charm into the writing OF
her latest volume that she gives to her
voice. the same clear. well-balanced dis
cernment into her observations and Opin-
ions that characterized her previous
book. Into the young wOman's life have
come some honors that have never be-
fore come to any OF her Compatriots,
and many that have COME 10 but few. yet
her manner remains simple and gra-
ciously charming: and the fact that
sovereiSns have honored her. nature has
favored her. and her own people love her,
only make her radiant optimism the
more iustifiable.
Il am only proud Of my friends; they
are all so kind. so generous in their
confidence in me. so splendid in their
appreciation of my work, and in their
help toward its accomplishment. His
majesty King Victor Emmanuel, her
majesty Queen Elena, and her majesty,
Queen Marguerite have all been so gra-
ciously kind to me-" exclaimed Mrs.
Bates -Batcheller, who expressed not only
admiration but real affection for Italy's
two Queens Her pen pictures of Queen
Elena are Of special interest. as is the
picture of the royal children, auto
graphed by the Queen for the book.
Yes: many of my friends are the
great and famous people in the world.
but ! try in every way to merit their
distinguished Kindness" went on the
young authoress. who is a young and
beautiful woman. fond of society. dane
ing, tennis. and all out-of-door sports.
Yet she has found time to make herself
one of the most accomplished women
of her day. Speaking six or seven
languages fuently, she has not in any
way lost the idiomatic use of her own
tongue, as is often the case with lin
guists but ner prose is delightfully."- eu-
phonius. the sequence of words remark
ably we'll arranged without the loss Of
any of the spontaneity Of style. Her
translations OF bits OF famous poetry here
and there IN her book deserves more
than passing attention and praise. for to
translate, even satisfactorily. the verses
of Carducci is no light task.
Mrs. Bates Bachelor has chosen the one
and only form possible for her book. that
of the letter. which alone is admissible
for a participant in events partaken in
by eminent living people. Were it not
for the delightfully."- intimate letters OF
Nine. de Sevigne to her daughter how
should We ever have had the intimate
picture of the court of Louis XIV, Nine.
de StaeI knew the value also of letter
form, and though 1t is the most difficult
style and requires rare taste and dis
elimination, as we'll as skill in writing,
Mrs Bates Batcheller's letters in her
first book received the highest praise
from the most eminent critics all over
this country and in Europe.
Though The Herald reviewed most fa-
vorably THE italian Court Life in 1906.
we are bound to say that we think the
present volume a better book in every
way The range Of observations is
much wider, the letters are more enter
tanning and more charmingly written;
the same buoyant spirit pervades the
RACES, but there Is a note of deeper
thought wider experience, more careful
study throughout the book that gives 1t
really an unusual place in the books
of the season. and certainly a unique
place in the literature of Italy. Mrs.
Bates -RatcheHer's views and opinions on
Italy and italians are well worthy OF