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f BEFORE # THE $ LANIER 4 CIRCLE. $
ifc m
U/ “Quo Vadis." the Most Wonderful Historical Novel of Recent
Years Criticised and Brilliantly Reviewed Jrm
At the meeting of the Lanier Circle
last Monday night Mr. Fred G. Govan,
after a brief mention of the great po
litical and national events of the world
occurring during the past month read
the following brilliant and
hensive review of one of the most re
markable and powerful novels of the
century:
But what shall we say. of ‘-Quo
Vadis” by Mr. Sienkiewicz? The
work is a narrative of Christian per'
secution during the reign of Nero, A.
D. 54—68. It is more a historical des
cription than a book of fiction. The
heroine. Lygia. is represented as a
most beautiful Christian of the Lygian
tribe, the daughter of a king. Her
father was killed in a predatory war
with the Roman soldiers. Lygia is sent
as a hostage to Rome. In this city her
charms incite thejadmiration of count
less admirers. Petronius —who is no
one else but Seuacca the historical
philosopher and literary adviser of
Nero—and Venicius a young patrician
and member of Caesar’s court were
attracted early by this fair Lygian.
Petronius soon persuaded Nero to sign
an order commanding toe removal of
Lygia from the home of Aulus to His
Highness’place. The pagan Venicius
forces this modest, retiring maiden to
attend a grand bacchanalian feast in
honor of Caesar. The author repre
sents senators and courtiers attired
in the full panoply of royal magnifi
cenee. Ladies of the queen were ar
rayed in gaudy silks trimmed in lace
of priceless value, while diamonds and
rubies, sapphires and garnets flashed
the elegance <>t the occosion. Sweet
perfumes from rare flowers ladened
the atmosphere while an orchestra
lent its symphony to the profligacy of
the symposium. Wines and liquors
were drank with Epicurean gluttony;
speeches delivered in panagyrie ful
someness of Nero. Dancing girls with
unblushing cheeks and remorseless
conscience and in shameless garb
posed before the guests. - While be
holding these disgraceful scenes Veni
cius pays court to Lygia. He insults
this lovely girl by bis importunities
and advances. The revelry of de
bauehery and nameless indecency
came to a climax when men and wo
men reeled from the table in a maud
lin condition, and most of the guests
were carried from the palace by their
slaves.
bach is an epitome of the opening
pages on this drama novel. But to
continue a little further. Lygia is res
cried by a faithful servant named
Ursus who is represented as-a Her
cules in muscular development. She
is carried in disguise to tbe home of a
friendly Christian *n the suburbs of
Rome where she is guarded with
clandestine secrecy. Petronius and
Venicius are greatly aggrevied and
greviously insulted by the arrogance
of the plebian Coristians who could
dare interpose an interception to
their princely desires.
In order to please Nero a syco
phantic member of bis royal household
gives another entertainment. Thou
sands come to a lake which forms the
theatre for tbe immoral display of
utter abandonment. In this vivid and
picturesque description Mr. Sienk
iewicz quite forgets the modesty of
legitimate portrayal. The lowest
brothel in New York slums, save its
penury, could not equal the depravity
and dissolntenees of this panarama
depicted by the author. Yet we can
not forget the writer is telling ns of
Neronian times -and inorder to l?e true
and graphic he details minutely the
wanton Epicurean desire for pleasure.
We must not forget Mr. Sienkiewicz
in “Quo Vadis” pens a history. He
does so in language polished, metaphor
brilliant and rhetoric, in part sub
lime. We almost forget the scenes, de
serving our execration as they do, in
the reflection that an artist truly s
talking to us.
Then, too, we should remember the
primal object of the book is to cont rat t
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How to produce Laxarlaat Hair,” mailed free.
SKINS ON
the rectitude of the Christian with the
degradation of those who believed in
Paganism. To show that the religion
of a lowly carpenter of Nazereth revo
lutionized the world, even the m>gtiy
Caesar with his invincible legions could
not stand before the mollifying influ
eunce of this dispised Nazarine who
came without crown at-d without sword
or ‘ ‘the pomp of pjwer. ”
Venicius institutes rigid search for
Lygia and finds her after months of in
ces-ant vigilance. But his ignoble pur
poses were not to be gratified so quicsly.
Venicius and his gladiator slaves were
fought by the invincible and faithful
Ursus. In the melee one of Venioius’s
gladiators is slain and the young prince
is himself severely woutded. Venicius is
nursed through his Illness by the tender
maiden he sought to betray. So gentle
and forgiving are these Christians that
this callous atheist is impressed with
their kindness. He meets the apostle
Peter andthe evangelist Paul. They grad
ually reveal to him the wonderful love of
Christ and Peter declared he witnessed
the life, trial, cruoifixon,resurrection of
this Saviour. Veniciue’s adamant heart
of malignant cruelty and sin melted
before tbe inspired words. The author
represents Peter administering baptism
to Venicius by placing a few drops of
water from a basin upon the converts
head in the name of the - ather, Son and
Spirit. Herein Mr. Sienkiewicz com
mits an unpardonable indiscretion.
He has been assailed by a number of
critics representing thousands who
never will and never did believe Paul
and Peter baptized by sprinkling. !•>
is very evident Mr Sienkiewicz is a
Roman Catholic in faith. Noone should
object to his particular creed, but when
an author seeks to propigate his faith
through the pages of an historical novel
it is both unfair and reprehensible. If
a writer should desire to proclaim his
creed it is perfectly legitimate to do so,
but in all fairness to the worid he should
place his readers upon notice what to
expect by an appropriate title.
Such indiscretions as depicting Paul
and Peter wearing crosses and blessing
the multitude through them and with
them and describing these men of God
practicing a certain form of bspMsm by
a chroniceler of history will engender
denominational bitterness and unalter
able animosity for the book. “Quo Va
dis” resembles strikingly “Ben Hur,”
but General Lew Wallace, whatever he
may privately believe as to certain reli
gious rites, did not by intimation how
ever so delicate seek to impress his
readers and convert them to his opinion.
Tbe description of Rome in flames is a
masterpiece. While it does not rank with
the storming of the castle in Scitt’s
“Ivanhoe;” the chariot race in “Ben
Hur” nor the grandest of all descriptive
painting, the battle of Warterloo in
“Les Miserables,” yet it deserves a high
place in literary accomplishments for
Mr. Sienkiewicz. Nero institutes an im
placable persecution against all the
Christians in Rome. These poor
hapless creatures are thrown in
prison; then hundreds are brought
to the circus or ampitheatre where
fifty thousand blood thirsty pagans
sit and applaude the ravinous beasts
as they munch an arm or sever a head
from the body of a naked defenceless
believer. But for its horror this picture
cannot be excelled in its graphicness.
Not content with this murderous perse
cution, Nero devises other tortures to
gratify this people of modern Soddom.
The wild cheering multitude assembles
again to see the arena filled with hun
dreds of crosses, and upon them the
quivering bodies of Christian martyrs
The third place of torture, byway of
diversity, was an open air spectaonlar
of death. Along the Appian way for a
mile believers in Christ were bound to
stakes and consumed in flames which
made the bit light as day, while count
less hundreds like nobgoblins from hell,
sing peans to Caesar and called him
divinity. Be it remembered—God save
the mark —that Peter and Paul accord
ing to Mr. Sienkiewicz saw all these
attrocities. They went to the arena, to
the c'rcus, to the Appian way incognito
like pusillanimous cowards and craven
curs and heartless devils. No, Mr. Pol
ish author, it is inc imprehensible to
lovers of truth that these men, one upon
whom the church—Christ Jesus is
founded, the other the noblest character
in all tbe Bible, except Christ, could be
witnesses to such diaoolical crimes.
Lygia and Ursus languish for weeks
in the miasama of a Roman dungeon.
Finally arrangements are made for their
execution. Petronius and Venicius tried
in vain to rescue' them. Venicius is
thoroughly doctrinated in the Christian
belief. He loves Lygia devoutly and she
reciprocates the affections, for she be
lieves in his reformation. Tbe hour
oomes. Ursus is conducted upon an im
mense stage and all 'Rome howls with
delight at his mammoth form of brawn
end muscle. They imagine he is to flfifht
THK ROMS TttIBDNE SI NDAY. NOVEMBER <2l, 18V7
a gladiator and in breathless silence
they await the outcome after the first
burst of applause. Suddenly a wild bull
of mamoth proportions rushes in with
the unconscious body of the sweet Lygia
tied to the beast’s horns. Peels and roars
and acclamatio is encircle the amphi
theater. The giant Ursus springs with
the agility of a tiger and fury of a cy
clone upon the animal. Tne contest is
fast and furious and fatal. A deathly
stillness pervades the rpeetators. Every
muscle in the mighty arms and huge
veins in the strong man’s neck is dis
tended. But Ursus triumphsl Lygia is
uuimprisoned from her perilous position
and is taken in the Simpson arms of
Ursus. The people rose and demanded
the pardon of these Christians, and Cae
sar granted it. Paul and Peter shared
ere long the fate of other martyrs.
The title of on’’ book originated when
Peter with other Christians were flee
ing from Rome, a voice from clouds
spoke to him and the apostle fell npon
bis face crying:
“Quo Vadis, Domine? To Rome,”
came the reply. He obeyed. Nero and
all his court met untimely deaths Veni
cius, Lygia and Ursus fled to Sicily and
lived in tbe Christian faith, doing good
to hundreds.
Shall we approve “Quo Vadis?’ Un
doubtedly yes, as a whole. Chronologi
cally speaking he is in error perhaps in
saying Peter was crucified at Rome and
took such active part in the work, for
it must be remembered the apostle was
hardly less than a centenarian in [the
last days of Nero.
The book contrasts the virtue and
peace of the Christian with the tumul
tuous rottenness of paganism. Mr. Sien
kiewicz shows a believer tn the crucified
Christ fears not death, aud his patience
endureth all things and awaitetb the
call of Him who knew Gethsemane.
Yea, the chief end of “Quo Vadis”
teaches that truth alone can prevail.
Amid the clashing of arms, the degra
dation of woman, the relentless tyrany
of corrupted hearts, the chaos of morals.
Gave Back
My Health.
There is no reason for being despondent
•nd considering diseases of the Hood
incurable, simply because the treatment
of physicians and many so-called blood
remedies fail to effect a cure. Though
it is naturally disheartening to the suf
ferer who faithfully takes the prescribed
treatment of the physicians, often at the
expense of hundreds of dollars, to find
himself, no better as time goes
by, still a cure will result from the right
remedy, S.S.S., no matter what other
treatment has failed.
The reason that S.S.S. (Swift’s Spe
cific) has so successfully cured even the
worst cases after other treatment had
been tried in vain is that it is the only
remedy which forces the poison from
the blood and permanently eliminates
it from the system, which is the only
correct principle,of curing the disease.
Mercurial remedies bottle up the poison
and tear down the system, while S.S.S.
forces out the poison and builds up and
adds strength and vigor to the entire
system. It is nature’s remedy, and con
tains no harmful ingredient.
Mr. Charles Glenn, of 1563 Dudley St.,
Cincinnati, is one of the many who
constantly praise S S.S. for giving him
back his health. He says:.
“From childhood I was afflicted with
a terrible blood disease, and have
taken almost every blood remedy on the
market, bnt my case was deepseated,
and one by one they failed. The large,
red blotches increased in size and num
ber, and soon covered my entire body.
“My parents had me treated by a num
ber of physicians, but the disease was
too much for them, and after their tem
porary relief was over, I found myself
growing steadily worse. Thus I grew
into manhc jd, handicapped by a terrible
disease and having tried so many reme
dies without relief, when a friend urged
me to tike S.S S. I had little faith in any
medicine. I was happy to find, however,
that I had at last gotten the right remedy,
for one bottle of S S.S did me so much
good t hat I soon had hopes of being cured.
I continued the remedy, and was cu: id
completely, the unsightlv spots soon
disappeared, leaving iny skin perfectly
clear. My general health was also built
up, and lam robust and strong. I be
lieve S.S.S. will cure the worst case of
blood poison in the world.”
S.S.S. is a real blood remedy, and will
cure the most obstinate cases of Cancer,
Eczema,Catarrh. Scro ula, Rheumatism,
C6ntagious Blood Poison, old sores,
or any disease caused by impure blood
It is
Purely Vegetable
and is the only blood remedy guarantee
to contain not a particle of mercm
potash, arsenic or otuer mineral. S.S.S
Is sold by all druggists.
Valuable books and on blood and ski:
diseases will be mailed free by Swifi
Specific Compaay, Atteatat
the decay of principle, the depravity I
of coals, and over this mass of sin and
“confusion worse confounded,” rose a
star in the East, silent but grand; radi- I
ant but simple; sublime but tranquil; 1
majestic but guilless; It is Love, it is I
Christ.
Tortured For Mouths. ,
“I was tortured for nine months with
nettle rash. I found no relief until ihe
g-iu taking Hood’s Sarsaparilla. The firs’,
few I. ottles relieved me and I continued
i’s use until I was cured. I am now in
better health than for years and my skin
is soft .and smooth.” Mrs. Lucy W.
Bigetow, Bushnell, Florida.
Hood’s Pills are ti.e only pills to tak<
with Hood’s S rrsaparilla. Ail druggists,
25c. ~ .
A FEW OON’TS.
Advice That Bas a Direct Bearing on
Health and Happiness.
Perhaps you have all heard or read
the advice contained m the following
“don'ts,” but it is good enough to be
repeated over and over again. We take
them from a paper that seems to think
as we do about it.
Don't catch cold. Catching- cold is
much more preventable than it is gen
erally supposed to be Keep your feet
warm and dry, your head cool, your
chest well protected. Avoid exposure
with an empty stomach Take care not
to cool off suddenly when you are heat
ed Keep out of drafts, wear flannels
and be careful generally
Don't sleep in the same flannels that
you wear during the day
Don t wear thin stockings or light
soled shoes m cold or m wet weather
Don't neglect personal cleanliness,
but use the bath with moderation and
in accordance with your general health
The daily cold bath is all right for the
rugged, but it is a great tax upon the
vitality of weak persons and should not
be indulged m if the results are at all
doubtful Tepid water is always better
for those that are not in robust health
Judge for yourself
Don’t keep the sun out of your living
rooms and your sleeping rooms. Suu
light is absolutely necessary to put in
proper condition the air that we breathe.
Don’t neglect your house drainage
The first condition of the family’s
heath is a dry. sweet atmosphere.
Don’t forget that Dr Good Habits,
Dr Diet and Dr Exercise are the best
doctors in the world.—Philadelphia
Times.
Free of Charge to Sufferers.
Cut this out and take it to your drug
gist and get a sample bottle free of Dr.
King’s New Discovery, for Consump
tion. Coughs and Colds. They do not
ask you to buy before trying. This will
Show you the great merits of this truly
wonderful remedy, and show you what
can be accomplished by the regular size
bottle. This is no experiment, and would
be disastrous to the proprietors, did they
not know it would invariably cure.
Many of tbe best physicians are now
using it in their practice with great re
suits, and are replying on it in most se
vere cases. It is gnaranteed. Trial bot
tles free at Curry-Arrington Company.
Regular size 500. and SI.OO.
For the Writing Desk.
A handsome case for a writing pad is
of white linen, mounted on a pasteboard
foundation 12 by 8 inches. The front is
daintily decorated with pink clover done
in water colors and a pink moire ribbon
holds the pad to the cover, which has a
bow at the top to correspond. Attached
to the lipper and under sides are loops
of leather for bolding pen and pencil
and for bind’nc' tbe covers together.
J C. Berry, one of the best known
citizens of Spencer, Mo., testifies that
he cured himself of the worst kind of
piles by using a few boxes <>f DeWitt’s
Witch Hazel’Salve. He had been troubled
with piles for over thirty years and had
used many different kinds of so called
curse; but DeWitt’s was tbe one that did
the-work and he will verify this state
ment if any one wishes to write him. Cur
ry-Arrington & Co.
There are now 27 societies in the
United States membership in which de
pends ou descent from ancestors who
distinguished themselves by coming
over to America at an early date or by
being officers, in American wars prior to
1861 Most of them are in flourishing
condition The old aristocratic (Jincin
nati leads them in age.
’ To Cure A Cold in One Day
Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets,
All druggists refu d the money if it
fails to cure 25c. The genuine has L. B.
Q. on each tablet.
CASTORIA
For Infants and Children.
The fte- /J
llaila j f if »
dgMturc/ S J 77-f 2 ‘ ’’•fl’
Os
That Awful Child.
The Dear Child ‘Oh Mra Peek,
when did you get back?
Mrs Peek Bless you. dear. I was
not away anywhere What made you
think so*
The Dear Child—l thought you were
1 heard my mamma say that you were
at loggerheads with your husband for
over a week London Tit-Bits
WARNING:—Persons rbo suffer
from coughs a..d c- lds should heed
the wsrumgs <-f danger and save
> hemselves suffering aud fatal results
by using One Minute Cough Cure
U is an infallible remedy for coughs,
colds, croup and all throat and lung
troubles. For Mate by Curry-Arring
tonite.
HAWKES’
W GLASSES.
I iO 1 I
& Only Gold Medal Awarded. Es “
For superior lens grinding and excellence in the manufacture of spectacles
and eye glasses. Sold in 11,000 cities and towns in the United
States, Most popular glasses in the United Slates
OoiYiirtg;.
A. W. HAWKES, the famous Atlanta Optician, diiftct from the’
home office of this Great Optical Hoose, or one or his special Opticians
who will remain at the store of his agents, Curry-Arrington Co ,
Five Days Only
beginning November 15th. This will give the citizens of Rome and
vicinity a rare opportunity of having their
Eye Sight Tested Free.
By one of tbe most renowied and euccr ssfnlas well as reliable Opticians
in the United States. Mr. HawktS has the modern appliances for scien
tific adjustment of glasses to the eye. There is no Optician in tbe United
States who enjoys ihe confidence of the people mere than
This firm was established in 1870, nearly thirty years ago,
EYF STRAIN
Is often’thc cause of headache, dizziness, nervousness and dm nees of vis
ion. This can be cured in many cases by the coriect fitting of our Cry a.
talized lenses to the eye. Call early, we jositiveiy remain but a few
days, as we have other engagements lor later dat<a. Q IF
CAUTION. —I would taution the public against buying spectacles
from peddlers going from bouse to he use with a lot of qci-iachs repre
senting them to be Hawes’, or sehing the same grede of teods I posi
tively do not emphy peddlers. Hawkes’ spectacles art NEVER peddled.
Many of the inferior g asses that floed the market are p< sitiveiy injurious
to the eye,
I
NOW IS THE -TIME TO BUY YOUR
FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS
AND i
RHUDY, HARVEY & COMPANY
IS THE BEST PLACE TO GO.
We have added many new and artistic goods to our stock the last
few days—lß97 patterns—no old second-hand goods. We want your
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win. Below is a few of the many articles just received :
Parlor Suits, Dining Sets. Bed Springs, Bedroom Suits, Fancy
Rockers, Mattresses, Hall Rockers, Side Boards, Stoves,
Window Shades, Rugs, Book Cases, Curtain Polls, Etc,
lIkinCDTA VIM P O ur Btoell in th ’ B dep artm ent is equal to any in
UnUCn I AM" □"""North Georgia and in charge of Mr. F. L, West,
an experienced and practical undertaker. Cails promptly attended to
day and night. Day’Phone No. 9; Night ’Phone No. 182.
REPAIR DEPARTMENT-
of onn-Repair Department and
can repair any broken furniture at small cost. Give us a trial.
RHUDY, HARVEY & CO.,
337 Broad Street, ROME, GA.
i 8 WsJi’W®lF IT're
•
The leading tourist and commercial hotel of the city.
American and European plan. Free ’bus meets
all trains.. Prompt baggage delivery. Most
desirable location. Corner Peachtree and Ellis
streets, adjoining Grand Opera House.
Jas. E. Hickey, Manager.
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