New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-02-04

OCCUPY the author for but a page or
two. His history properly begins with
the rebuilding of the city and its choice
as the capital of the Eastern empire by
Constantine. who called 1t New Rome
In reality it bore his name practically
from the beginning Of his reign.
In the course of his narrative the au-
thor rehabilitates many n reputation
besides that of Theodore, the public per-
former and cOurtcsan who became an
empress, and he rescues others from uh-
merited oblivion. Indeed. 1t is western
Europe that he places on trial. Here is
his pcn picture of the first Crusaders:
They were mostly barbarians OF type
not at all above the Teutonic invaders OF
the empire IL the fifth century: their lead
ers were as illiterate, as nearly as cod'
and brutal as their followers. Thsy y,,,, led
peace and order: they were 80 poor tl ae
even had they been willing 10 Duy lheH
food they had not the means. Inc leaus' ,o
some of them al least-Were ANXIOUS "
keep the peace; but even the best OF tnem
could III comprehend a state or thinss III
which life was sacred and property secure
The civilization OF the West was but
little better n century later. when the
Crusaders under Baldwin Of Flanders
and Bonifacio Of Montserrat sacked Con-
stantinople at the instlgation OF the
| crafty Enrico Dandolo, the doge who
was the real destroyer Of the Byzantine
Empirc. and whose shortsighted policy,
hencnting the power OF Venice Tor
the moment, ultimately placed the re-
public ut the mercy OF the Turks. He Is,
and dcscrvcdly. the bftc nCirC Of Mr..
Foord's narrative. Italians and French
alike" he adds. showed that in 1904 they
we're harbarians- and barbarans OF {
very low type
ThrCughout indeed. there is prcscnte1
| in these pages evidence OF the superior
/ itv of the civilization Of the Byzantine
( Empire over that Of Western Europe
Tho author rccapitulatcs II In the end.
There was cruelty. there were immoral
| nv and luxury and frivolity, trcachcry
and Cowardicc, but not in such measure
as To he named as the distinguishing
| features Of the civilization OF the En-
plre Of the East. Neither can incompc-
tenCe or COwardiCc he charged against
It's pe0uIe and rulers as Unfortunately
as has been often done. Life and prop
erty were secure. and commerce Hour
ishcd Notwithstanding Its inCessan:
wars. the empire never became military
| state: education was fostered, hospitals
| and urphanaGcs were found throughout
the realm. And when We find a Post
master General and Minister Of Chari-
table Institutions among the officials, We
feel that We are indeed I'm a state which,
with all it's faults. IL civilized In the true
sense of the word" For eight hundred
years. thus Mr.. Foord conclude. the
Byzantine Empire was the shield Of Flu
rope. II beat back tho invaders from
the East. while the Western states Ncr"
making progress toward strength and
| soliditv. I'm an age Of utter darkness
II preserved the traditions Of science. art
| and literature. though constantly en-
Gagged I'm n desperate struggle against
| pcrsIans. SaraCens. Seljuks and Otto
,nans-thc enemies Of all that Is best in
the world The Byzantine Empire died
as IL had lived, deserted and betrayed
| but I'm It's last agony, as In the days "i
its splcndor and glory. the rcargudrd
| Of Christian civilization