New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
Ell SUPREME

tator o. Paraguay by Lucas Edward White.
l2mo. %. 700 L. +. Dulton n co.
This is, indeed. n remarkable piece
Of work, picturesque as fiction and no
less colorful as a page OF practically
unknown American history. or the
congeries of revolutions which in the
early part of the nineteenth century
turned the Spanish dependencies in
South America into republics of a sort.
INTO the Independent foundations, at
least, of the great and growing COM
monwealths of to-day, we know only
the barest outline; little more, in
fact. than the name of Bolivar. II is
the least known. then as now, Of these
republics. Paraguay, which is the
scene of this ambitious novel, planned
on generous scale and carried to
completion with perfect command OF
its innumerable ramificatiOns.
Jose Gaspar Rodriguez Francia, die
tatOr of Paraguay from 1913 TO 1S41,
was a man Of the type Of Porfrio
Diaz, with a touch in his intellectual
equipment Of Peter the Great. be-
nevolent despot, that is, who under
stood his people and their backward
ness, their ignorance, their unftness
for all but the outward semblance OF
self-gOvernment, an autocrat who ruled
with an iron hand. who sought TO de
vel0p the national wealth Of the cOun-
try. who executed whoever dared to
oppose him, and who, amid endless at
tempts at assassination, bore
charmed life. A man of genius far
greater than his opportunities of time
and country. whose services have been
too generally forgotten in the remem-
brance of his ruthless seventies.
L. d a. ,tn4t II
Understandings. sympathetically, but
without c0ncealing his weaknesses, his
political crimes. his ferocious destruc-
ton Of the lives Of those who disobeyed
his commands. A lonely man, AFRO
CANT. with a vein Of vanity which wei.
coined flattery. yet humbly aware OF
his own deficiencies IN knowledge,
anxious always to learn for the great
er benefit of the country he ruled.
Thus it came 10 pass that he well
coined an American adyenturer. one
William Hawthorne, who had fought
with Bolivar, a fanatic believer in re-
publicanism and liberty for the people.
He had heard of Francias tyranny,
and proceeded 20 Paraguay 70 organize
a revolution and depOse the dictator
lie had plans for the development OF
the country, too, for his own benefit,
but also as the necessary explanation
Of his coming Ii was these plans
which made him welcome to Francia
and won his confidence.
Hawthorne, the author informs us,
is one Of the few inventions Of this
fiction. which is almost entirely woven
of historic facts and of traditions still
surviving in Paraguay. The adventurer
is skilfully used to bring out all that
was best and all that was worst in the
battling character of truly remarka-
BILE man, a faithful servant Of his
people and country according to his
lights.
Hawthorne, taken at the same time
into the confidence Of the Spanish
aristocracy. planning to overthrow the
dictator, learns TO appreciate the
mans aspirations, and serves them.
The conspirators, he finds, are entirely
incapable Of carrying through a revo-
luton, much less of governing the
country. delightful though they be
personally. And here word must be
said about the atmosphere Of the book,
which is enchanting. The daily life
and manners and customs of this arls-
tocracy are delightfully."- described.
The adventurer's travels into the in
terror in search of iron and other
minerals and products have no less
exotic charm. Romance blooms every
where under the eyes of parents and
duennas-in short, as a vivid compre-
hensive picture Of a period and life
gone beyond recall the book deserves
attention. 1t will hold that attention
of all who venture into the enchant-
mont Of its Oppning pages.