New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-18

tory. ny william VI. Sloane, MeHusI
Of the American Academy, Professor
of History I'm Columbia University,
with Maps. limo, pp. viii, S22 Eaton
~ Mains.
II In in n certain respect gratifying
to discover in this generally capital
book some strange errors and state
ments which must provoke sharp chal-
lenge. Why. for example, should the
author, writing in 1914, say that the
capture Of Mics stone by Macedonian
brigands occurred less than ten years
agot The date was September IDOL
Surely chronlcler should verify h's
dates. Again, why should he so COCK
surc3y declare that "sorvians' mems
"alaves." and that the name was given
10 them 70 express contempt FOR their
aerv1le status? There are many eth
nolozical philologists who would be
nt,ch Interested 20 know the grounds
for that statement.
These are perhaps minor matters. out
for that very reason they are the less
evcusablc. Yet they are gratifying.
since thcy give us authority and en-
coura cement for DOUBLING the infall.-
bllity OF other portions Of the work
which we should be very sorry 10 be
compelled 10 accept without qualifica-
ton. The volume is so well written
and contains so much information that
n would be wholly convincing 4 u
were not for some o. these indlsputable
slirs. And il would be pity for II 70
he entirely accepted because the net
result would be almost indescribakiy
depressing. The view OF the author -
that OF q pessimist. He sees. Indeed
some good qualities In some OF the
Balkan peoples, but he secs ever so
many more faults. He recognizes some
achievements for good, but much more
tho difficulties OF the Balkan problems.
At the end, he leaves us with feeling
Of almo7t utter bopeiessness.
There Is some proyocation 10 this
attitude, for the history OF that region
has been hideous. The Balkans are
well named n laboratory Of history. fer
in few comparable regions has more OF
the worlds history been made. Much
Of the horror We can Justly charge
against the Tribe Of Othman. Yet be-
fore its coming, in Byzantian times,
there were tragedies which the world
shudders 20 recall: while as for the
later days. we cannot dispute Pro-
lessor Sloane's declaration that the
Christians have done worse things than
the Turks. It is notorious that much
Of the worst deviltry that has been
charged against the Turks in the last
score Of years has really been the work
OF Christians.
Some individual judgments concern
ing the Balkan peoples attract atten-
ton. The author appreciates the
superb qualities OF the Rumanians,
and records the truth-too often ig-
nored or suppressed-concern their
heroic deeds in 1877, when they saved
the Russian army from destruction,
and when they and not the Russians
were the real victors at Plevna and the
captors Of the mighty Osman. But
surely we cannot agree with his opin-
ion that they are little TO be blamed
for their oppression and prescription
OF the Jews. The very reasons which
ne gives for their animosity against the
Jews are condemnatory OF their policy.
lie takes the view that Alexander Of
Bulgaria was kidnapped and deposed
by the Bulgarians themselves because
OF his subserviency 10 Russia, in which
he may be right, but in which he GER
tainly runs counter to the general be-
lief OF the world which is that Alex
ander was the victim of Russian in
trigues because Of his indomitable 10y
atty to Bulgaria and his resistance OF
schemes for making the country a
Russian province. His generally poor
estimate Of the Serbs does not appear
to be justified. though ne is probably
quite right in holding that the abom-
inably savage butchery Of Alexander
and Draga was instigated and directed
by Russia.
Despite all points to which we take
exception. the book is in some respects
n brilliant production, OF immense util-
fly. If its known errors embolden ,he
reader to use his discretion in discount
ing il wherever il becomes too de-
pressing in its outlook upon the Bal
kans, and in dissenting from its judg
ments when they do not accord with
the views Of other authorities, there
will be left a residue of information
and suggestion such as we shall scarce
~ find elsewhere in so compact and
attractive form, and such as will mark
this as a singularly valuable con-
trihutio1 10 tba Vtaratuca Of ono Cf