The Washington herald., 1913-02-16

ers of a former generation. The obvious
the commonplace, and the trivial are
not found in the literary output of to-day.
THE Former Countess" may be said 10
make its chief claim upon the intelligent
readers attention because it is a return
to style in fiction that flourished in
the latter half of the past century. Here
is an instance:
That evcntful night a Janobn leader satisfy
ing himself that be was well disguised. re-
msined in ambush expecting that the count and
his valet would shortly APPEAR. Suddenly foot
steps ale heard as they emerge from a dense
thchet leading from the Navarro mansion. On
their approach the william at once sprang upon
the count, and stabbed him effectually. At
early dawn the wounded valet found family
brCathing by the side Of his noble master 4
retiTIe of srvants were hurrcdly DISPATCHED I"
the scene Of the tragedy where they found that
the count had been fatally silenccd beyond all
power of human skill The valet EiQuet gradual
II reCOEercd consCiOCsness but from excessive
loss Of blood had become extremely weak A
small flask Of spirits was quickly resorted 10
TcsusCitative before they considered il safe 10
disturb him. which soon had the effect OF reyiT-
Ing his memory quite much his physical
condition. Then Suddenly he appeared to nal
Kc the situation and muttered between his
teeth: lie demon. Lsssassin. We shall
arain!
1t is not told that the faithful valet
and the Jacobn leader did meet again,
but the inference is that they did. Two
chapters further along the Villains
dead body was found near the chateau.
and il was recalled that Riquet. the
faithful valet, had been given a day of
This passage stands out as almost the
only exception TO the authors rule that
all has TO be explained and nothing left
to tho ina gination.
THE EFRANCO-PRUssIAN WAR AND ITS HID
DEN CAUSES: By Emile Olivier. former Prime
Minister Of France Bostnn-Little. Brown & CO.
The veteran statesman. now in his
eighty-e'ghtb year, for the first time
lifts the veil from some of the plottings
and counterplottings of Bismarck, the
French, German and Spanish diplomats,
kings, emperors, and princes, that led
to the terrible war OF 1Sf0-1. Much that
he tells, since II is written by leading
actor in the scenes described, will be a
revelation 10 students of that war and
TO historians. But IL must be admitted
by all fair-minded observers that any
statement coming from that quarter
must be colored and prejudiced. No one
will expect the French premier to utter
sentences or to record happenings friend
ly tc Bismarck.
No wonder, then: that the chronicler
shows us the Iron Chancellor as the
prime nstigator OF the war who. by
means of German cash. perfected an
understanding with Marshal Prim. the
dictator of Spain. to put forward as
a candidate for the throne of that coun-
try prince of the Catholic branch Of
the house of Hohenzollern. Leopold. the
eldest son Of Antony of Hohenzollern-
SiSmaringer. Mr.. Olivier cannot deny
the fact that King William was op-
posed to the candidacy. for that has been
often told and recorded publicly. France.
OF course. could not stand by quietly
and let a near relative OF the Kaiser
occupy the throne OF her southern
neiGhbor.
Leopold from accepting the Spanish
crown, and his disclosures, while they
contain nothing that is really news,
describe in detail every move on the
between the contending
parties. He relates the sending of the
French Ambassador Benedette to King
William who was taking the waters
(''Kraehnchen'D at Ems in Rhemish
Prussia and the Kings refusal to meddle |
IN the affairs OF his South-German kin
folk; but that he would not interfere, |
glad. il the father Of Prince Leopold |
would persuade the latter to withdraw
from the candidacy.
This should have ended the entire con-
-roversy and in reality it did please |
he French Emperor and his cabinet who
had been working for peace, but 1t |
-edoubled the activity of the French
ingoes and-accoTding to Mr.. Olivier
" Bismarck who was bound to have
war at all hazards" But it is here
where the distinguished chronicler is in
he wrong. There wasn't any activity
IN the part OF Bismarck at all. 1t was
he French Chamber which asked the
government to demand" OF the King i
" Prussia that he would never per-