The Indianapolis journal., 1893-09-03
BY The AUTHOR OF "BEN-HUR"
General Wallace'S "Prince of. In
dia" Now Ready for the Public.
1t Deals with Fifteenth Century Events
and Describes a Clash of Races
and Religions in the Orient.

"Ben-Hu VIII inevitably compare and
contrast the two books. Owing, perhaps.
TO this tendency. or perhaps to the atmos-
phere of the ''storied sea" which envelops
both tales, il is difficult to be rid of the
feeling that flavor of the earlier story
cllngs to the new one. IL is only when the
reader has advanced to a point where the
interest In the fortunes of the Prince" and
his associates becomes keen that this long
heTalded novel can be considered inde-
pendentIy OF the other. and even then
suggestions of "Ben-Hur" now and then
thrust themselves upon the consciousness
Certainly the faint hint of resemblance
does not lie III the theme. nor. if similarity
really exists in the books and not merely in
the fancy of the reader. is it matter for
criticism. Although tho Primes of India"
deals with conditions and events of the
fifteenth century, it is in one sense supple
mentary TO the other work. "Ben-Hur"
was story of the Christ. The Prince OF
India touches upon the progress of the
religion founded by Christ. and of the
schisms and disseDsions into which His
followers had been drawn in fourteen hun
dred years. The theme Is a lofty one. The
leading character. the Prince. is animated
by purpose no less ambitious than that
OF uniting all religions under one creed,
which shall consist OF single word. It Is
his desire to bring the followers of Con-
fuclus. of Bu6dha. of Mohammed. OF Christ.
together under civil rule which shall
give those prophets" their proper place in
the back ground and shall permit each class
TO worship In it's own way the Almighty
who. with all the minor differences of be-
lief. each and all recognize as supreme. He
thinks the time ripe for preaching God as q
nN NVlIa lkwn I'D nd hs.Iw frE hr
sects TO stand upon in compromise OF their
disputes. This Prince is no other than the
W anderInR jew. In usin z him the author
does not show originality. but his treat
ment and conception of the my ythical per-
sonage differ from those with which the
world IS familiar. and have the merit of
novelty. With all his knowledge of the
curse that fell upon him for the ind entities
no offered TO Christ on His way TO Col
gotha the Jew ~ still Jew. and refuses TO
accept the crucitied one Sas the Messiah.
Nevertheless. he hopes TO obtain pardon
from the Lord by putting into operation
bis scheme of universal brotherhood. 1t Is
the working out of this scheme that pro-
duces the events OF the tale.
Notwithstanding the seriousness of
the central idea the story Is far
picturesque account of visit TO the tomb
OF Hiram. King OF Tyre. friend OF David
and solomon. Although the King had been
buried long before the Jew was born. yet
in the centuries of his life he had learned
the secret Of that hidden sarcODhsgus
and tho way To IL. lie knew th8tl In It's
recesses were concealed coin, and cloth of
pearls. and gold, and precious stones
enough TO enrich u kingdom. They were
given by King Solomon out of his abun-
dance and great love for his friend. The
Prince wanted wealth in order TO carry ont
his new project and came away from the
tomb laden with II.
HOW THE PRINCE LOOKED.
of Drf-
came afterwards 10 take up his residence
in ConstanrlnODle reads thus
They described him of uncertain age.
He might be sixty. he might be seventy
five. While rather under medium height.
he was active ana perfectly bis own mas
ter. bic sat In the shade of the awning
cTOss-legged. Ills rug was a marvel of
sheeny silk. He talked Arabic. but with
an Indian accent. His dress was Indian
q eilken shirt. snort Jacket. large trousers.
and tremendous white turbsn q red
taroOuschc. held by ON algrette In front
that was n dazzle of precious stones such
Rs only "A rsjab could own. His attendants
were few. but they were gOrgeOusly at
tired; wore shlntysn swung In rich belts
from their shoulders. and waited before
him speeohless and in servIle posture. One
at his back upheld an umbrella of immense
spread. lie indulged in few words. and
they were strictly business. fie wanted
full OUTFIT for the Hail; could the contractor
furnish him twenty camels OF burden
and four swift dromedarIesl Two of the
latter were TO carry a litter Tor hlmself;
the other two were for his personal attend
ants, whom he desired furnished with we'll
shaded shugdufs. The camels he wonId
load with provisions. While speaking he
would keep his eyes upon the person adj
dressed with on expression uncomfortably
searching. Most extraordinary. however
be did not once ask about prices"
As might be expected. there is much
vivid nd
matic in the book. The authors descrip-
tive powers are good. he rejoices in the
gorgeoasDess of Oriental life. and loses no
dramatic opportunity. Woven in with the
thread OF the story and often interrupt
ing its movement, are innuIerable PIC
tures of the people as individuals and in
mass, OF their ramuseIDents, their religions
gatherings and their conflicts in civil life
and IN
a description of the meeting of the Mos
lem caravans on their way ncrOss the Ges-
ert To Mecca IS most effective piece of
work In this and later IN the account of
che assault upon the CITY. are shown the
instinct aud skill OF the soldier. General
Wallace loves the evOlntiOns of large
bodies OF men. and gives has fancy play IN
the instances named In the passing OF the
Caravans he says
The pilgrims dill not attempt to keep
the road. Having converted their march
INTO race. lDc1 rS-cdu IlkuS anu Iolb ONOE
the country, each seekIng a near way.
Sometimes the object was attained some
tunes not. The end was a confusion beyond
desert ptlOn. The very Inequalities OF the
ground helped the confusion. y group was
one moment visible on the height; then IL
vanished in . hollow. Now there we're
thousands OH level; then. Us IL sinking.
they went down. down. and presently
where they were there was only dnst or g
single individual. Afterwhile. so wide was
ths InTOllIng tide. the field OF vision over
nOwed and the eye was driven 20 ranging
from point TO point. object To object Then
10 was GIscerDIblc that the mass was mixed
of animals and Inen-hcTe horses. there
camels: some with riders. some without
oil. the burdened "a we'll as fhe nm bur
dened. strainIng foTw ard under urgency Of
shrek and stick forward for lite. forward
as II of the two comforts success beok oned
them IN front and despair behind piled
them with spears.
such was the sDectacls in what NAV be
called the second act. Presently 1t reached
third. and then the fury OF the move
meat 90 iucOnsistenI with the habits and
patient natnIe of the camel. vas explained.
In the midst OF tho hurry buTly. governing
and directing it. were bOrseuen. Oh army
OF themselves. Some rode IN front. ana
The Leading straps on which they pulled
with the combined strength of man ana
horse identified them drivers; others
rode as assistants Of the drivers. and they
WeTH armed with goads which they nsed