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6 * 6 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 HAIR HUMORS Itching, Irritated. «ealy, crusted Sculpt, dry, tbln, and falling Hair, cleun.ed, purified, and beauti fied by warm shampoos with Cvtioura Soap, and occasional dressings of Cvticuba, purest of emollients, tbe greatest skin cures. (yticura Treatment will produce a clean, healthy scalp with luxuriant, lustrous hair, when all else falls. Bold throughout ths world. Potri. Dau. aitd Chbk. Cobp.. Sol. Props., Boston. 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 trade and mean to get it if nice goods, low prices and fair dealing "will 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. 13