The Indianapolis journal., 1893-09-03


classic mode. Outwardiy II consists of but
two garments-a robe of fine white wooden
stun. and over IL mantle of the same tex
tnre and hue. hanging from q yoke OF close
httlng hesh-colored silk. richly embroid-
cred with Tyrian floss. A red rope loosely
twisted girdles her body close under the
breasts. from which, when she 10 standing.
the gown IN front falls 10 the feet. leaving
a decided train. The mantle begins at q
point Just In front of the arm, under which
and along the sides It hangs like q long
open sleeve. being cut away behind about
half down the figure. The coDtrivanoe Of
the yoke enabled the artist. by gathering
the drapery. To determine the lines In w hich
lt should drop. and they were few but posi-
tive. In movement the train was TO draw
the gown 70 the form so its outlines could
be easily followed from the girdle The
hair. of the tint OF ola gold. Is dressed in
the Grecian style. and its abundance max
ing the knot unusually ample there was
necessity for the two fillets of pink silk TO
keep it securely in place"
1t is unfair TO the author OF a novel to
discount the interest in his story by giving
It's plot and denuement publicity before it
has been generally read. 1t is enough to
say that the tale is historical. and that It
shows evidences of very careful study of
points of history. 1t is declared by per-
sons we'll posted on the events of the period
that there Is not an anachronism in the tw q
volumes. This accuracy and the equal
Care taken in representing the mise en-
scene and the leading characters Will make
the work valuable As supplementary au:
thority for students engaged in historical
or theological research.
The principal personages In the story are
made very lfelike and attractive In their
several ways and have much Indiyid ualty.
The Prince of India Is a power behind the
scenes until the eliminating event, the
capture of CoDstantinople by MOhammed.
takes place, when he comes TO grief and
Vanlshes from the pages.
SOME LITERARY NUGGETS.
Crowding close upon each other through
out the book are bits of description, elo-
quent speech. keen philosophy and
satire that tempt TO quotation. Some of
them will linger long in the memory.
There. for instance. is the legend of the
desert. AS the Arab tells II:
In the day the Compassionate set about
world-making. which Is but pastime with
. Him, nor nearly so much as Iest-buiIdlng
TO mother-dove. he rested. The mount
aims. and rivers, and seas, were in their
beds. and the land was variegated TO please
Him. here a forest, there grassy plain;
nothing remained unfinished except the
sADd-oceaDs. and they only wanted water.
He rested. Nor if, with their sky, n sun
field In the day. gallery of stars at night,
and their winds flying from sea TO sea. but
gathering no taint. the deserts are treeless
and unknowing the sweetness of gardens
and the glory of grass 1t was not by accI-
dent or forgetfulness; for with Him, the
Compassionate. the Merciful. there are no
accidents or lapses of any kind.
He VITO walks in a garden thinks of it
only; bus ne who abides In q desert. want
ing to see the beautiful must look into the
sky. and looking there he shall be remind
ed of me. and soy aloud. and as q lover.
There Is no God but Him. tho Compassion
ate. the Merciful.' Therefore. 10,
the need of deserts. There shall never
be forgotten. And out of them. out of
their hardness ana heat, ont of their yellow
distances and drOuth religion shall arise
again and go forth purified unto UNIVERSAL
lty; for i shall be always present there. a
life giver. Mine are the sons of
the desert. the wordkeepers. the nncon-
quered and conquerless For my names
sake L nominate them mine. and alone
am the High and Great"
Some of the authors sentences have the
force of epigrams. He says:
"A wise man wishing to know another
always attends him when 10 narrative
'In the days of the last byzantine En-
pire. centuries ago, humanity In India W as
as now. n clock stopped. but stopped IN the
act of striking. leaving q glory in the air
ImaGinable like the continuing sound Of
cathedral bells"
Indian genius analyzed beauty before
there was n West. and taking suggestions
from spark and dewdrop applied them to
architecture"
TO warm the blood there is nothing after
all like the pIaudits of a multitude looking
on and nightly concerned"
He shall write with pen wondrous fine
who makes the difference between love and
sentiment clear"
Thine Is q mil. and to-morroWS are the
dust of Its grinding"
When time goes afoot his feet are OF
lead"
But 1t is better that each reader should
DC left to discover the gems for himself
The Prince of India" is not book to be
read iD dsy. nor as pastime. Although
romance and Oriental imagery are deftly
woven into its pages. the historical and
theological features make IL work for the
thoughtful and cultured mind.
Although it's literary style IS an improve
ment on that of ben hur." which has b cen
severely criticised, il is yet easy to detect
lspses. There Is. for example. "a trifle too
much millinery in evidence. There is the
excuse. OF course of needing historical ac-
curacy In describing the Garb of his char
acters, but many details could hove been
omitted with advantage. Such minute and
numerous descriptions of costumes in n nov
el relating 10 the present period wOuld make
it ridiculous. There are visible signs here
and there that composition was a labor.
preston is found. He uses "plundern IA a
synonym for luggage. when the property
is not spolls of war nor OF thievery. Dis.
embarkee' and "Invitee' are awkward
The door ready TO be rolled 10" and quit
taking on so' are coIloquialisms that lar
upon the critical reader and are the more
Objectionable from their contrast with the
stately phraseOlOgy which is adhered to
eisew here in the book.
Bnt these ore minor matters and NAV
well be overlooked. The WORK a. n whole
js great one. and will undou btedly add
Dinch to General Wallace's literary fame
Will it equal "Ben-Hur in popuiarityf
Probably not. bat that is n question Tor
time to answer The Prince of India" does
not appeal TO the multitude as does
the other. The people who read "Ben-
Hur' because /: told of Christ will not go
surely be attracted TO "a tale touchlng upon
the dIssensIons among Chrst's followers
BuI the new book Will find high place for
itself.
THE RED CROSS IN INDIANA.