Evening star., 1933-12-24

AfNR. BELLOC Is con0rmed and uncon-
&tRu strained believer In kingship, even in
Nv this day Of advanced democracy. He
! has supported his conviction IN some of his
other historical studies. especially in james
II" and "Richelieu." In introducing this biog-
raphy Of Charles I, he states his monarchical
theory. In most places and in most times
men hare agreed to be governed by kings
having found in such government something
consonsnt to their nature. I" Today all
Christen6om is hungry for monarchy. In the
United States : the principle Of an execu-
tive in the hands Of one man was preserved
But in Europe it was gradually lost, and
placed by the rule of few; in practice Of the
rich under the guise OF representatives That
experiment Is breaking down before our eyes,
and monarchy Is returning" Charles l vas
the last King of England to possess real kingly
power How and why did he lose it? The
answer to this question is the story of his life.
Circumstances and character together made in
evitat,e the fate of Charles Stuart and Eng
lish kngship.
In the last days of Queen Elizabeth, "a
bastard in the eyes of Europe" the monarchy
still retained its outward pomp and power, but
was declining toward downfall. The last three
sovereigns before the Stuarts had been a sickly
child, Q morbid elderly woman, and then the
dominant but capricious Elizabeth 1.-The Office
required man, and for over SO years there
had been no man." Mr. Belloc does not sgree
with the historians who write eulogistically
about the illustrious reignp of Elizabeth, but
far lower ebb in English history had been
reached under some Of the men who filed the
kingly Office. After Henry VII power un-
doubtedly fell more and more into the hands
Of the landed gentry. supported by the lawyers.
Under Elizabeth. the Cecils ruled England.
James I. son Of Mary. Queen OF Scots, who sue
ceeded Elizabeth, was abnormal physically ana
mentally and was the pawn Of factions Of the
nobility. His son. Charles ], after ! sickly
childhood, grew to q manhood characterized
by personal uprightness and q stubborn belief
in the tradition Of monarchy. He met almost
Immediately threefold rebellion on the part of
. his subjects: the struggle Of the gentry .or
power, Of all classes against heavy financial
burdens. and Of religious 7ealots who were
gradually mobili2ed under the leadership of
Cromwell. Charles went down to defeat before
the enemies Of the crown, and ultimately to
the scaffold. not only because Of the force OF
circumstance. but also because his character
was too honest. too incapable Of the falsehood
on which human negotiation is based To
Mr.. Belloc, Charles Is q king who worked
conscientiousy for the interests Of his subjects
and was murdered by factions working for their
own interests. He has little of good to say OF
his enemies. Sir John Eliot, Sir Harry Vane,
Hampden, Pym. and especially Oliver Cromwell,
who exempted himself from the Self Denying
Ordinance and compelled some of the commits
aoners to sign the death warrant of Charles
by force Mr.. Bellocs interpretations are open
to dispute, as in all his historical work. His
style is. as always. delightful
NOTES ON CELIAR-BOOK. BY George
Saintsbury. New York: The Macmillan Co.
q AINTsBURY, one Of the foremost Of
~ English critics. died in January. 1888,
at the age Of %. He was rs when he
permitted himself the pleasure of writing this
book of connoisseurship. He q subtle and
discerning literary critic. Similarly. he savored
his wines; he did not merely drink them.
Owen wister. also an epicure. and the possessor
of select library Of works devoted to civilized
meat and drinks" has written the preface to
this first American edition of the wine book Of
Q famous scholar. Saintsbury states his creed
at the beginning, one which demonstrates his
belonging to the twentieth century; in an
earlier period it would not have been necessary.
There is absolutely no scientific proof, Of
trustworthy kind that moderate consumption
Of sound alcoholic liquor does . healthy body
any harm at ALL" His cellar-book was started
as q mere mottled paper exercise book, when
The entries in 1t cover period Of 81 years. be-
ginning some time after the cellar was started
by "scanty but careful selection" As the
cellar grew. Saintsbury delighted in selecting
fastidiously the wines, spirits, and hqueurs to
serve with the epicurean meals he presented
to guests. Not all guests were deserving Of
the best from his cellar. "Notes on Cellar
Book is not q catalogue, but collection Of
delightful whimsical essays on the contents
of the cellar. from sherry and madeira. through
port, claret, burgundy, champagne. hook and
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