New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-27

could be called romantic in Isabel's lie. y
The critic who made this objection
would be not merely captious but stupid.
she never had, as far as is known
we are told. sentimental love affair.
Is a love affair the only possible source
Of romance? The fact is that Isabers
life was one long adventure, full Of the
dramatic issues which react upon char
acter and emotion. The story Of ii GER
tainly makes romantic reading. Miss
Klingenstein tells ii charmingly Much
of her space has necessarily 10 be given
10 political and military transactions, in
the course Of which the Infantas purely
feminine traits are pretty we'll obscured,
but the balance Of the narrative is well
preserved, and not even when she is
most gravely historical" is the author
dull.
II is one Of the cruellest ironies Of his
tory that the favorite daughter of Philip
II Of Spain was perhaps the saddest VIC
tim Of his warped genius for govern
ment She worshipped him, but from
beginning TO end she was sacrificed to
his political system, feeling its painful
pressure long after his death. If she
never blamed him II was clearly for the
reason that Miss Klingenstein brings
out-namely, the Kings determination
Of all his acts on absolutely cOnscien-
tious grounds. To our modern eyes
Philip is a bigoted despot, criminally
egotistical. To his daughter he was not
only wisdom incarnate, but the whole
hearted defender Of the Church and
hence impeccable. Herself profoundly
religious by nature she bowed unques-
tionably TO rule having ecclesiastical
sanction, and so she grew up a more
than willing martyr TO a false concep-
tion Of the state. Only two years old
when her mother died, she was at very
early age made free Of Philips compan-
ionship Miss Klingenstein has some
thing 10 say about the girls lighter oc-
equations, about her delight in gardens
and in the chase. but more significant is
this passage on her daily sessions with
the King:
AS quite a child she was admitted into
his study. % bring him the sheets TO be
folded up and put into packets 20 be ad-
dressed 10 his secretaries Later. when
she began 10 read. books Of history formed
her special delight. Philip took pleasure
In acqudintiug her with matters of ncgo-
tiatiOn and government, in which she
proved an apt pupil; though perhaps her
panegyriSt was guilty Of slight cNaGger-
elton in declaring that graybearGs were
struck dumb by the words of wisdom
which fell from her young lips. Father
and daughter would spend many hours to-
Gcther al the same table. engaged IN the
Kings favorite occupation Of writing.
whereby, according 10 contemporary
He despatCheth more than three secre-
taries: and in this manner with his pen
and his purse, governeth the world
She was. as Miss Klingenstein OBJ
serves "the one being whom he loved TO
the end of his life" but that. Of course,
in no wise affected his sense Of her value
TO him as a possible pawn in the game
he was always playing in the interests Of
the empire. He resisted IL is true, the
overtures that the young King Of Port
ugal made for her hand, and when his
policy led him 10 acquiesce it was with
reservations which we may be sure
would have been twisted 10 suit himself
had Sebastian lived Isabel was then
not even Philips statecraft could with
stand the appeal Of her sweet innocence.
Besides, as has been said, he genuinely
loved her. She had, therefore, some
years Of carefree youth. pursuing happi-
ness with the Kings entire good will.