New-York tribune., 1911-12-17

affairs of eighteenth-century Europe
Thus her history. in the popular mind
is confined to the period from her ac-
cession to the throne 10 the end of the
seven Years War. with a far from cred
Itablc postscript i'm the partition Of Po-
land. on the personal side there is only
q we'll founded but vague general i'm
preston Of her domestic virtues.
What we know of her childhood and
lirlhood amounts to little. but is all
here. the salient fact Of her life during
those days being her firm faith in her
destinv. although her father confidently
expected the birth OF male heir TO his
throne 10 the end Of his days. "rhe
mdkcshiCt hciress" the author calls her
in felicitious phrase. and 'makeshift'
was her education. which did not pre-
pare her at all for crown and sceptre
even when the acceptance Of the Prag-
matte Sanction dominated the diplomacy
Of Austria II was at this period,
when Maria Theresa approached her
eighteenth year. that Foscarini the
Venetian envoy at Vienna. wrote Of her:
She never loses sight Of her future posi-
tion, and when she comes into her inher-
itance those who are summoned to her
councils will find that decisions rest with
her and not with them
The portrait Of Maria Theresa as ruler
and woman is consistently developed.
and. side by side with it. there are CAPT
tai sketches of her father of her future
husband, Francis of Lorraine. and Of
The men of merit. soldiers and states
men and administrators. who, in the
Ncnetian's words. found that decisions
rested with her The bewilderingly in
volved state of international European
policies on the eve Of her accession is
dealt with i'm some Introductory chap
tcrs which require close reading. and
which, in their turn, are prcfaced by
brief survey q the fortunes Of the House
of HapsburG down TO her day. \ Haps-
burg Maria Theresa was from first to
last, the maintenance Of its glory and
power her first WeOccupation. Fond IS
she was Of husband and children. she
was the Empress and Queen even with
them. while i'm the marriages Of her
daughters her only aim was the aug
mentation and Strengthening of her
proud races status Her political mo-
rsiity was that Of her period and neigh
bors, who forced it upon her; it made
her the worthy opponent Of Frederick
the Great. In her own domnions she
was sagacious benevolent despot." an
autocrat ever seeking the welfare Of her
subjects provided the autocracy was
unquestioningly accepted
The author destroys the tradition, in
vented by Voltaire. Of Maria Theresa
appeal 10 the Hungarian mobiles dis
traught and with her child i'm her arms.
she also disproves that other tradition.
~ the Empress's STOPPING TO the writing
OF 4 personal letter TO Ia Pompadour for
diplomatic reasons. Kaunitz. says Mrs.
MoTat. was the Intermediary from first
Ia last. but She admits that the En-
press's portrait was among the gifts To
Louis XV's ravorite in payment for her
services. She ignores the imperial ad-
vice given 10 Marie Antoinetto tp be
tactful in her behavior toward tie
French Kings mistresses.
II is. bowever iu her chapters de
voted 90 tho internal reforms introduced
by Maria Theresa that the author is
most interesting. Education. poor laws
public hygiene. manners and morals re-
,.i"cd her efficient yet cautious atten-
ton Many Of the improvements cred
itcd 10 her son. Joseph II. were in real
iy originated 10y her who was 50 vastly
more practical than hat idcaist and
who. unlike him. rarely undertook more
than she could perform.
Of Maria Theresa's domestic life We
ret many glimpse. Her moments -
leisure we're scant, for she vas an in
defati1a Bile worker IN her social life
she Was great enough 70 oyerstep the
rules Of rank and caste # the Hapsburg
court. and 81 II came 10 pass, for in
stance. that the infant prodigy Mozart
MAS allowed after performing before