New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-10

Of Rheims would not have been de-
TERED by any considerations of ro-
nance or sentiment from wrecking
finally any one Of the great houses"
described i'm this book had they been
able to get near them. When the sacred
Zane which sheltered Joan Of Arc and
saw the GROWING of 50 many Kings OF
France has been so barbarously ruined
il is but a fortunate accident that none
of the historic monuments described in
these pages has yet been shattered by
the yandals who have invaded France.
Chambord alone can show definite
mark upon its history due TO the war;
and. luckily that mark is left. not on
its architecture, but on its ownership.
For Chambord was bequeathed by a
prince Of the Royal House Of France 70
Prince Ellie de Bourbon, who was a
staff captain i'm the Austrian army when
the war broke out. the husband OF
Marie-Anne. Archduchess OF Austria
ard brother-in-law Of the heir TO the
Austrian throne Until the end Of
April. 1914. his alien agent lived in the
heart of the Loire country, the hostile
despot over 2S9 inhabitants Of the
Sologne estate, some twenty-three
miles i'm circumference. The govern
ment Of France has turned him out.
and the most characteristic building OF
the most French of all her Kings has
now returned to its true owners.
Obviously Sir Theodore has the right
spirit for his task, the spirit of lover
oil France. lie has knowledge, too, and
plenty OF it, but he has had the tact TO
leave the technical, architectural SIDE
of his subject to the skilled hand oil
Mr. ". II. Ward. architect and author,
who. i'm not too extended introduc-
ton. says all that needs to be SAID TOT
the benefit of the professional student.
In the text at large emphasis Is placed
upon the builders Of the chateaus ana
the guardians of the latter, something
is said about styles, but more ABOUT
Anne Of Brittany at Langeais, Agnes
Sorel at Loches or Diane de Poitiers at
Anet The pictures are delightful. hun
dreds Of them, reproduced IN perfect
/ half-tones from perfect photographs.
But this remains d book 10 read as well
as 10 look at, and to read as one more
| stimulus TO a fine emotion. What ls
tho France Of those lordly mansions but
: the France of spiritual. intellectual and
artistic glories which are the possession
/ of the world, the heritage OF mankind
+ for which the France Of to-day is shed-
/ ding her blood like water?
Many Of US know the supreme monu-
mcnts which Sir Theodore here eulo-
/ gizes. and we know his warrant for re-
/ fusing to consider them a. examples IN
stone and mortar Of this or that his
/ toric STYLE. II rs "A wonderful initiation
/ into the mysteries Of the old military
architecture of France TO wander, say
/ within the battlemented walls of Car
cagsonne, but II is not 70 thoughts OF
builders alone that the imagination Is
stirred by the great towers silhouetted
sgsinst = red. wintry sky--it IS also 20
/ tbough.s Of ancient fights, OF old woes
and ga,lsntries. We know just how our
antbor is led 20 cite there, not Violet
/ /, Duc. but Aucassin. stalking Paradis Sc
| ;,eoIf FOR his Nicolette, my sweet lady
,hst : love SO we'll" Away with pro
Cos.ors. or that enchanted scene! IL IS
| Inc troubsdoUr to whom we must go ior
| he kew to IT'S secret. The uoubadouT
and the artist. Here. as IN the eigh-
| ,centb century engravings &c which we
80 referring In these columns week
- we are made free Of world oil
| bea,,ty. A. Anet. where We foregather
- humanity, thanks 20 the authors IN
,ornretatiye gift. with the Incompatible
name. We are also IN the company OF
| Go',ini and Goujon and Philloert de
l,o,me. How Characteristic OF France
. ~ = 49,. a. f-~r-f = fn