The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-02-08


She might have been less relentless and more
patient with her husbands faults.
The nature of the woman 10 essentially noble
Hereditary traits of pride and honor were strong
but her early discipline In her ministry to her blind
father taught her. not patience, but liberation and
herein lay the defect of her nature.
She conld not make allowances for the oontfD'
gencies OF 1ito's early environments. the variety
of his experiences and temptations and his natural
regard of good and evil mere negatives. Vel
she struggled bravely against herself. subduipg
every impulse of her hear, 10 the demand OF duty
long after love had ceased to exist. The perfection
Of Romola's life came not directly through her
suffering. IL that her life and desires were
to interpret the language Of suffering. to apply its
demands TO her owm acts. and TO cast Der lie ia the
mold that was presented. Hes after discipline
came not from without, but from within.
| All Titos misfortune hinged upon his desire 20
| spare himself trouble. The day when he decided
| that because he did not know that his benefactor
| was alive lie would keep the jewels That were in
tended for his ransom the first silencing of the
| voice Of duty. After that personal struggle IL be-
| came comparatively easy TO take other and grnver
| means TO preserve the outward unity of his life.
| There might have been a time when he could have
been redeemed had lie been married TO another
| woman; for Tito not nj first thoroughly
| wicked, only impulsiveiy DESTROYS TO promote a
life of ease The first real crime was his wish that
the old man who had nurtured him might really
be dead. This hidden wish gradually chan ged tho
entire attitude of Tiio's mind. and, coupled with
! political intriguing perverted naturally plastic
/ nature. --''' ~ ',
HIS popularity among the higher Forsntines es-
tabiished sefcontemplation that was fai al 10 the
him dare things that sank him into deeper jeop-
| ardy.
His domestic life began TO be n burden because
he feared his alienated wife, whom he had deeply
offended by betrsying the solemn trust of the dead
| Bardo and disposing of his cher shed library. It
Is to BE- regretted that in Tito's early life lie had
won memories Of seIfconqucst and perfect
| faithfulness from which he could have sense Of
| falling"
schismaiic Snvonarola, who, surrounded by unscru-
puious papish enemies. dared to uphold In the face
of the people the truths he felt to he vital the puri
cation of the Church and It's separation from State
| the only form of Government which nearly attRins
| 10 the Fl test. "A wicked. unbelieving Pope. who
has gained the pontifical chair 10y bribery. Is not
Ciiri,t's Vicar. His curses broken swords; he
| grasps "A hilt without q blade. His commands are
contrary the Christian life; IL is lawful TO dis
| obey them-nsy.it is net lawful TO obey them"
The beginning of his career was characterized not
| SO much by desire TO control popular admiration
as by an earnest purpose to preach the truth. IL
WAS his success in this. the leaning of the people
toward him, that inspired him with the desire to
retain their HOMAGE 1t is the ultimate conse-
queDce of high public position. His teachings
were noble, and Of National import striking at the
| root OF vice. which he recognized one of the
chief ailments of the Nation:
Sorrow end joy have each their peculiar mar
rownsss; and a religious enthusiasm like Savona-
roia's which ultimately blesses mankind by CIV
ing the soul Il strong propulsion toward sympathy
with palm and Indignation against wrong, must
always incur the reproacb of great negation."
His mistake lay in the fact that in order 10 pre-
serve certain phases of his obvious life he had been
compelled to yield TO moral tenn ptatiens. His in
tenlions were noble. but they demanded ignoble
means. There WAS, la his later days perpetual
psycho,nachy. q strong conflict between the in
wsrd and the outward, and many times the out
ward. ..f
He a merciful man. yet there was some-
thing else lie held to be greater than mercy, end
he demonstrates this in his answer ~ Romola,
when she pleads for his influence to save her god
father: ~ There is mercy which is weakness. and
even treason, against the common good"
courage was not iHcSing he was willing TO
truth lie proclaimed, but he felt that there
some important fscior missing in the faith he
owned. and that through his failure TO endure the
test unframed the cause would be brought to tgno-
niny. .. -- -. .
of this great and martyred man the author has
said: Ii WAS the fashion OF old that when an
was led out for sacrifice To Jupiter TO chalk The
dark spots aud give the offering false show of
unbeniished whiieness. Let fling away the
chalk, and bodily say the victim spotted but
IL was not therefore, in vain that his mighty heart
was laid on Tie sItsr of mems highest hopes" ~
The question of Baidassarre's responsibility of
set arises betwe that Of the justice injustice OF
his motive for vengeance. With a mind shattered
by public il-nsage and filial ipgratitude the one
CLEAN OF intelligence lie possessed poiated TO
tslauon. This grew TO be his life his religion.
VINO snail put his fagsr the work of Justice
and say, 1t IL there? Justice 10 Xix the sdoa
OF God; 1t is not without Us fact ii is within US
a. a great yearniag'
Tie authors portrayal of Florentine life shows
an Intimate Knowledge of Details. The purpose Of
her work seems TO have boon twofsid-to shed a
clearer light upon the motives OF the prophet Savo-
nHrola, and TO justify In the life Of Romola, q
personal offense AZ sinst tbe laws of sasn. ,g- r
Georgia A Martin. Louisville, KY. !
HISTORIC GLIMPsns OF RoMoLA.
The plot of RoInola is laid in Florence in 1892.
just at ho end OF the reign Of Loren the Mngnif-
cent. The first chapter is tax en- up by discussion
in the crowded streets of Lorenzo his Government
his untinely death. and the vision of the flaming
sword seen by Savouarola.
In the first chapter we meet Tito Melenla; Tito
the beautiful. with his wonderful eyes and his long
dark curls; Tito the learned, with his sharp wit
and his iiqui- voice; Tito the indoient, light
hearted pleasure-oving Greek, whose life was so
brilliant whose death WAS 20 gnominious
He has come to Florence penuiiess. but with
some rare CONS, which he soon converts into
money. His beauty and his talents, together with
his unfaiI;ng gosd hunor. win for him q
place I'm the best circles of Florentine society.
In the Via di Rxrdi lie goes 10 have interview
with the blind scholar, Bsrdo de Bsrdi, where lie
meets Romola. This visit is followed by many
others, in which he devoies hinselfto the old man.
seeming scarcely conscious Of the fair girls pres
ence, yet noting every movement OF the graceful
young form every glance Of the clear hazel eyes.
III the innocent girl could have read the character
OF her lover would she have trusted her happiness
TO him? Unfor unste IL WAS for her that she csud
not look iho his heart and see that though he was
powerless TO hate. he WAS just ns unable TO love.
he said he thought that lie loved Romola but |
had some great trouble come upon her, som thug
from which he could have rescued her but at great
pain and Inconvenience TO himself he would have
persuaded himself that IL was not his duty, md
would have banished her from his thoughts. She |
did not know I'LL 1t too late that the who
had rescued Tito from life of poverty and pain,
the man who had been father to him. was toing
poor slave. waiting Tor ms beloved son to ransom
him.
True. Tito did not know tina, his father was
alive; there WAS far more chance that he was dead
but truly noble man. who was capable Of
feeling deep gratitude, would have risked every
thing and gone in search of him, even though he
knew 1t to be n wild goose chase.
Here WAS Tito's first wrong not but may not
Judge him TOO har.hly. Naturally of q disposition
which loved Supremey its ease he had this
liking augmented by his foster father Bald assarre
who could never bear too the pride of his heart
in the least unhappy.
But Rsmoia could not know of these things; |
she loved the handsome Greek, her father we'll
pleased with one who was so seemingly noble, aud
who would require no marriage dowery, and the |
betrotha followed by simple marriage ceremony, |
soiemDized.
Meantime the Florentines were getting greatly |
dissatisfied with their Government Piero de Med |
lei was more arrogant than his predecessor, and |
was hoaliy banished The French King came, but |
staid only short time.
Then came the triumph of Savonarola He was |
In reality the Governor, although lie held no pub
lie Office. twas his mind that directed everything
One wise thing was his counsel of 3, 200 m-m In |
this way the people had some voioo their Gov
erUment.
And now pieasure-ioving Florence experienced |
change OF heart. Her feast days were no longer
scenes OF ribaid mrtb. Ia every procession foated
the banners of Christ, and hymns OF praise took |
the place OF the licentfous songs of Lorenzo's |
reign. Boahres made Of the wick cd ornaments
OF tho hosh, impure books and defiling pictures. |
Even the children bsd been bro gbl in nd shouted
Nive 0esu" as vigorously they had before |
called out less sacred words.
IL WAS great day for Savonnrola, who con- |
inued pfesosias his powerful sermons and seeing |
his wonderful visions He had work ed for the SAL !
walton oil Florence, he had yearned her with
unspeakable longing, and now that he saw her
Al n IN tfsf lodi al fail