Evening star., 1938-12-18
By Mary.Cd~ter Roberts.

the German by E. w. Dickes
New York: The Viking Press.
1t would be strange indeed If any
writer we're to produce new life
of the great Da Vinci which had in
itself a particular significance. All
that is known of Leonardo has been
said many times already and were
new researches to bring forth fresh
facts as to the progress of his
career, it is hardly conceivable that
these would add to his story in any
but quantitative respect. Yet the
story will always be good telling.
1t is not hard to understand why
biographer, looking about for a
subject, should prefer a superla-
lively good one which has already
been exploited to mediocre one
which is untouched. And so BIZ
ographies of Leonardo da Vinci will
probably continue to come from the
presses for long time, and probably,
too, the public understanding of the
great genius will remain just what
it Is. For neither biographer nor
reader can go beyond his own linn
its, and few of the human race, in
deed, have had the stature to COM
prehend Leonardo But, as said,
the story will always be a good one
1t is a gratifying tale, in sum, to
the common man. For its essence is
the case of genius thwarted and
overridden by stupidity. Nobody will
sensibly deny that cruelty is con-
stant ingredient in fearful minds
and one thing which every one fears
is superiority. At the same time,
however, milleniums of patient edu-
cational cudgeling have brought
about state of ostensible admira-
ton for the superior. The story of
Leonardo offers pleasant gratifica-
ton to both emotions.
1t is possible, reviewing his his
tory, to warm our generous feelings
by paying costless tribute to his
magnificence, now safely dead. 1t
is also possible to exult subcon-
sciously in the reflection that, great
or not, he had to bow to representa-
tives of popular will in his day, and
that his case, for all his genius, was
no better than that of thousands of
forgotten artisans. He made no for
tune, he endured lifetime of stupid
insults, he had to beg, pray and hum
BILE himself before men infinitely his
interiors, and, in general, his whole
history vinoicates mankind's aver
age in superb fashion. For that rea-
son it is likely to be a popular one
throughout more centuries than the
reviewer likes to visualize.
To the thoughtful, of course, his
nfe presents exactly the reverse Of
this Interpretation. Viewed in the
personal sense, it Is unbearably
tragic. And, seen in long perspective,
it is a flaming triumph and adds
immeasurably to the vindication of
the little handful of men and wom-
en- who, by their individual merit,
have led, pulled, kicked, coaxed and
beaten humanity the little way
which it has come along the road
to decency and civilization.
How different would be the situa-
ton of the world today if the Leo
nardos of all history had been the
rulers! But, manifestly, this has
always been impossible. We are
apt to imagine that popular gov
ernment is concept of recent CEN
turies; actually, there has never
been any other kind; government
has always been the expression of
the will of the people and that is
why, in past history, with a most
admirable consistency, it has been
cruel, stupid, gaudy and wasteful.
Genius has never been popular.
Leonardo da Vinci, in his day.
sickened by the constant ravages of
the plague among the populace, de-
signed a plan for relieving over
croWding in the quarters of the poor,
for eliminating slums, for making
all homes sanitary and beautiful,
and for distributing the population
In sensible relation to the land and
It's resources. His plan was rejected
by the administration which might
have used it; it was thrown aside
but he was not ignored-no. He
was given commission to make
mechanical music box in the pocket
of a shirt which would play when
ever the shirt was donned.
Well, he made the shirt. The
people were in the habit of yelling
themselves black in the face with
Joy whenever the duke who ordered
that piece of ingenuity showed him.
self. So they went on yelling and
the plague took them off like flies.
And Leonardo went on humbly beg
ging for an audience. In these in
cidents is the essential history Of
his long and laborious life. In them,
too, is the history of human prog
ress, of government and of public
institutions.
1t is in this manner that Nine.
Vallentin retells Leonardo's story.
She does not sentimentalize, how
ever, as so many Of her predeces-
sors have done; she is perfectly
matter of fact. She follows the plan
of describing Leonardo's various
projects, from their inspiration to
their entrance into his notebook,
dllO VI oCOtlllS pCSluC lilCoC
tudinouS inventions the occupations
to which his patrons actually set
him. The wonder of his mind is
therefore put before the reader in
the manner of an awesome pageant.
His incredible industry, as shown in
this book. will amaze once more
even those who are familiar with
its legend Nine. Vallentins method
of tracing Leonardo's projects to
their origins is particularly happy,
for it brings out with sharp en-
phasis the ceaseless nature of his
intellectual labor. Apparently he
never looked at anything without
seeing how it might be improved,
and without drawing from it con-
clusions as to basic prir4iples. This
habit of his is notatry Drought out
in the story whicn the author tells
Of his visit to famous house of i'll
fame.
IWN1