Evening star., 1934-04-15
10y SARAH 9. BOWERMAN
The Presidents Me7U Book, ''Ou Our Way,
and Another ON |'7He Roo5eveH Year. %
Messages and photographic Record.

ing the midget on his lap Mae West in picture
hat, curves and hustle; a nudist wedding. and
the three little pigs in their safest interior.
with one playing the piano and picture of
mother on the wall. Mr.. Lorentz's explanatory
text and page captions always apt and
often brilliant The book is one which will soon
be found in all the Libraries and on many
home table.
LOUIS XIV AND HIS TIMES. BY Pierre Gax-
otte Translated from the French by j.
Lewis May. Philadelphia: j. B. Lppin-
colt Co.
Turing the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis
- XIV the French Revolution Was preparing.
1t broke upon Louis XVI and foolish Marie
Antoinette, who deserved it less than their
predecessors Pierre Gaxotte, writer of pop
ular biography, attempts to show that LOUIS
XIV has been somewhat unfairly treated by
historians, and does show that during his resi-
dence as master at Versailles and the other
royal palaces and chateaux both the popula-
tion and the wealth of France increased greatly.
But the wealth did not keep pace with the
population, it not used for the benefit
of the population. Louis XIV came to the
throne at the death of his grandfather,
Louis XIV. He only years old at the
time and he inherited system from which he
was never either far-sighted or strong enough
to break away
The picture drawn of him by NJ Gaxotte is
that of a weak, ease-loving man, whose inten-
tions almost always good but rarely
fulfilled. He was one of those Bourbons of
whom Napoleon said they never forgot and
never learned anything" He ruled as despot.
He went step further than Louis XIV in
abolishing the Parliaments. both provincial and
Partisan. By wars-the War of the Polish
Succession, the War of the Austrian Succession,
and the Seven Years War-he tried to enhance
the greatness of France, but his chief inter-
est in domestic government was the extortion
of money from an already overtaxed people to
spend on his pleasures. Though processing de-
votlon to his Queen, Maria Leczinska of Poland,
and his many children he was the worst of
husbands and the most scandalous of princes"
His amouIS, which have proved so tempting
to many chronclers were numerous and of
short duration. The sickly but vivacious and
charming Nine. de Pompadour and the in
famous Nine du Barry were the most famous
of his mistresses. M. Gaxotte is much more
lenient in his judgment of Louis XIV than
are most historians. He makes much of his
kindness of heart but kind-heartedness which
does not often demonstrate itself in action is
not enough of virtue for the ruler of nation.
NAPOLEON AND HIS MARSHAtS. By A G.
MacdoneI. New York: The Macmillan Co.
TWENTY-SIX men were made marshals of
the people, was Napoleon himself, sons OF
farmers, butchers. innkeepers, brewers, coopers,
merchants. millers, masons tanners. or of SOL
ders, petty lawyers, doctors and landowners.
One, Grouchy, was the son of a marquis, and
one, Ponatowski, was the son of prince.
Never before have they collectively been made
the subject of book, and it is surprising how
varied in personality and interesting in their
careers they we're. Mr. Macdonell relates in
brip ba Of Nam
their point of view. The usual point of view
is that of Napoleon himself or more recently,
that of historical critics who attempt to hold
the balance evenly between the good and evil
effects of the Napoleonic era upon what is
called civilization. The different marshals are
presented at the points of the war story where
they came into prominence and sketches of
their lives are then given. The narrative pro-
ceeds, gathering to itself more and more mar
ShalS. Napoleon planned his campaigns; the
marshalS carried them out. He rewarded them
by making them diplomats, governors, viceroys,
even kings. The last chapter outlines their
careers after the overthrow of the superman
who had discovered and shaped them all.
By decree of May 19, 1904, Napoleon, EN-
peror of the French appointed 18 officers OF
the army to be marshals of the empire Four
were honorary marshals from the Senate
Kellermann, Lefebvre, Perignon, Serurier; the
others were on the active list. Among them,
those who became most famous were Berther,
Murat, Massena, Bernadotte, Soult and Ney
Eight more were added in 1907. Some had
military ability of high order; others excelled
chiefly in intrigue. Massena, son of a tanner
and soap manufacturer, began as a ships cabin
boy and became the most skillful of Napoleon's
strategists. whose ability was matched only by
his greed Ney was probably the greatest of
the generals; he was responsible for holding
together the remnants of the forlorn army on