New-York tribune., 1918-03-30
rance and England
a Noble and Just Tribute of
High Appreciation

FRANCE. S;SStg -. ENGLAND AND EUROPEAN DE-
MAogRAGY A.l1,d C By Charles cestre, Transated BY
Putams Sons
Let us say at the beginning that
on one point we must take issue with
Professor Turner He quotes the old
Iraduttore, traditore and anticipates
application Of it to his own work. We
dissent. Some translators are traitors
and should have traitors doom. But
to DR.. Cestre the present translator
has been loyal friend and ally. to
whom we are confident the author is as
grateful as should be the multitudinous
readers whom we wish for the work.
For Professor Turner has rendered the
fluent and fascinating French of Dr.
Cestre into English which is not only
quite accurate IN both letter and spirit
but also sIngularly graceful and sonor-
Gus in style. The book thus conveys
TO the English reader precisely the i'm
preston which the author desired TO
convey, and 1t goes SO in a manner
which assures it's lasting rank as
classic of English prose.
So much for manner. When we turn
to regard the matter of the volume
we confess a certain en- barrassment.
To characterize suitably its merits
would require the ability of the author
himself, or of his translator. We can
only say that as z critical, searching,
discriminating review of Anglo-French
relations during the last seven CEN
turies, and Of the development of
democracy in Europe-or in the chief
two democracies of Europe - in the
same period. it stands. so far as our
knowledge extends, without a superior
n ali the range CT French and English
literature. It would be impossible to
imagine an historian of one country
writing Of the relations Of it with
another with finer inpartiality
more sensitive sympathy, or a more
unfailing appreciation.
The chapters which dominate the
book are naturally and most welcomely
those which relate TO the passage of
generation, from "Splendrd Isolation"
10 Entente Cordiale,' perhaps the
most significant and important move
.nent o. the kind IN it's relation to the
worldwide welfare of humanity that
Europe mas seen since the time OF
Charlemagne. In view Of the superb
elimination of that process. how utter
~ detached from present interest seem
the pin pricks" and petty chickering's
of 8 generation ago! They are as much
relegated to the category of "old, un-
happy, far off things as are the wars
- the Plantagenets.
To-day those two nations of Europe
which since the fall of the Roman En-
pire have been incomparably foremost
II progress, in enlightenment and in
he enlargement Of human freedom and
the rights of man stand side by side on
the ground Of identical principles. with
Identical ideals, striving in a common
cause against dark and sinister power
compared with which Nerxes in his
invasion of Greece was unassuming
Attila the Hun was enlightened and
Genghis Khan and Timour Leng were
nerciful. Such an alliance deserves
the most eloquent commemoration Of
which human genius is capable, and in
the present volume it finds one which
we shall wait long TO see surpassed.
To America its message, though only
by implication, is direct and should be
IRRESISTIBLE No other nation in the
world is 50 closely related to those
cwo as IS this; no other can be in so
complete accord with the sacred prin-
cples for which they stand, and no
other could so sympathetically and
logically unite with them in world
saving trinity. To whatever extent the
noble volume before Us may contribute
to that consummation, therefor, we
nGmbly offer - author, translator and
publisher our grateful homage