Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-30
NEW BOOKS
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JEFFERSON, FRIEND OF FRANCE,
1898: The Career of Edmond Charles
Genet. Meade Minnigerode. g. p.
Putnam's Sons.
Despite the implication Of its title,
this Is not primarily study Of Thomas
Jefferson and of the early United States
as these, together, bear upon the politi-
cal situation of revolutionary France.
Here is, first and foremost, the story
OF "a young man who, during George
Washington'S prudently neutral adj
ministration, still believed In the sancti-
ty OF treaties, who stu looked upon
France in America, and who still put
faith In the popular republican clamor
of American affection for revolutionary
France" "A deluded young man." AN
impetuous, ironical, terribly persistent,
very magnificent young man." Edmond
Charles Genet.
Here rests the keynote Of this clearly
unusual study. Here both Washington
and Jefferson, institutional and sacro-
sanct 70 the common American mind,
are required to step out for appraisal
and Judgment. To be sure, such temeri-
ty is exercised by the disillusioned and
disappointed Genet. That he should so
arraign and, in effect, condemn does not
constitute the establishment of this rec
ord. That quality lies in the fact that
Meade Minnigerode Is q native of one
OF the Southern States, where the name,
ferson. is Of the very essence Of political
democracy itself. The two words run
together. They are one and the same.
Both command equal tones Of rever-
ence, equal tribute of something very
like alteration. The wonder rises out of
the fact that this Meade Minnigerode.
ancestored in South Carolina, should 60
along so faithfully under the guidance
OF Edmond Genet, Frenchman, through
the experiences OF the latter without
ever breaking out into q fiery cham
plonshlp OF the early builders of the
republic. And that is q good sign. A
clear token that through wide expert
ences in other lands and localities this
author has shed the disqualifying hmi-
tations Of purely local outlook and point
OF view. Breadth Of mind and a clear,
unolas OF opinion provide Mr.. Min
ntgerode with the intellectual point of
departure in this deeply interesting pic
ture OF political development by way of
the remarkable and gifted Genet. Only
80 years old when, having already
served France officially at various courts
OF Europe. he came to this country in a
similar representative capacity. Ardent
for the cause Of democracy. Impas-
relations between France and the United
States, this brilliant and very magnifi-
cent young man" passed, gradually, in
the course OF long and futile years into
the tragic state of O self-pitying and
troublesome old man.
Life has not more than three real
stories. This is one of them, a pattern
which innumerable humans help to fill
out. Less pictureSquely than this young
n afrk,a rxI, =
the start, OF course. But it Is an old
and familiar pattern.
Luck Is these days turning over to
many an author fresh material in the
way Of hidden and neglected documents
Letters, diaries, off1cial reports and
other authentic records. A godsend, too,
since without some such renewal the old.
old stories Of the historian become I'M
rellabIe through the natural dilutions
that many repetitions bring of neces-
sity. In this case Mr.. Minnigerode has
practically the whole story Of Edmond
Charles Genet through a recovered
correspondence handed down, one whose
intimacy OF disclosure, whose free ex-
preston OF the various feelings induced
by many years Of persistent labor and
equally persistent disregard and denial
from high sources Of American Official
dom. come out here into . new day in
3,
immediacy Of effect.
1t Is stunning thing to read "he
trusted Jefferson, and Jefferson betrayed
him." Stunning enough to rouse q
WhlrlWind OF denial from the simon
pure Jeffersonian. Well, let that go for
the moment while you move out into
this vivid book for the political urgen-
cies. in both France and the United
States, OF 1856 years ago and thereabout.
Many problem OF perplexing intricacy
opens out here to something of SIM
plicity. A king losing his kingdom and
his life, revolutionists appearing in the
open and disappearing with the swift
action OF the guillotine, now and then q
Minister Of the United States to France
coming under the shadow of question as
TO his real relations with England Many
point Of clearance and many a pro-
foundly impressive picture of that period
are set out here In this personal ac-
counting OF young Genet, steadily grow
ing older and less confident both of
himself and Of the integrity of states
men, both French and American. Born
IN London, Schooled in France, grow
ing up in various parts of the European
world, Meade Minnigerode has lost the
restrictive outlook of the one-country
man-lost 1t to good advantage for the
rest OF US. AS writer he first sees his
coherent whole, stressed at this high
point and that one. mounting steadily
TO higher and higher interests to the
final summit of action and impression.
This art in the use of words he has ap-
piled IN this case to the study of Ed
mond Charles Genet. A useful line of
historic action Is here made to serve
the uses OF q deeply absorbing story Of
excellent substance projected in the
form OF o finely intuitive study of one
mans lie as authentic record offers it
to the authors hand.
MONTROSE: A History. John Buchan.
Houghton Mifilin Co.
John Buchan has q new book out.
You viii be sure to read that one. Be
equally sure to read this one also. His
tory done over into adventure, the story
would be II, as matter of fact, all his
tory were not adventure-the most of
1t gone dead under the limp hand of the
professional annalist With John Bill
chan, the vitality Of past events may
be counted 100 per cent alive. An old
story OF q very dauntless young warrior.
Two and q half centuries old, the mat
ter counts by calendar. In effect,
though, as new as youth and bravery
and loyalty ever are. A story of warfare
between Scotland and England and of
this heroic leader, whose name alone
carried victory-for a while. Then,
disaster and betrayal. Then the exc
cution OF MontroSe in old Edinburgh
An absorbing adventure for any ones
reading. Not more interesting, how
ever-not so interesting as its author,
John Buchan.
If you have read "Greenmantle,
"The Dancing Floor" witch Wood"
you realize that John Buchan Is q pure
adventurer. He is an adventurer and
a Scot. That Is clear past doubt, the
stories named being plain and solid