The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-02-08

The FIRST twenty-One copies, and
$500 each for the remainder OF the
edition OF 1000 copies. The Century
has acquired the right OF reproducing
dozen Of the finest Of Tlssot's pic
lures, and these accompany Mass
Coues' article. The writer says. In
the Paris Of to-day q great religious
work has been slowly accomplished. un-
touched by the lnsidlous influences
about Il. In the production OF this
work. which externaliEes bis full de-
velopment as man and artist. NJ. lis
sot has been impelled by a desire to use
his art for the purpose Of presen' & a
truthful Idea OF the figure Of Chrlsi aud
the personages Of his time-to Olsen
gage the whole. as far as possible. from
the mass Of conventional legend aud
inaccuTaoy which surrounds that pc
Rod. and through which We are accus-
toned TO view lts events With this
Idea he made. In 1856 the first Of two
journeys 10 Palestine. beginning a
serious study OF lts topography. and az
The various races which have from time
10 time taken root there-their man
ners. customs, dress, gestures, arehi,
Lecture. gOYernment-endeav "a
siit through the everything mass OF
foreign influences (Arab. Turkish, Per-
sian and LATIN tho true elements Of the
Did Jewish civilization. and essaylnE. a.
Gar as possible, 10 enter into the mental
aud moral attitudes Of that race OF
ludea. 70 unique In its design and des-
tiny. With this end IN mind Il was
necessary 10 reproduce with some de-
gree OF exaotltude the external setting
Of the events recorded In the Gospels.
and he has thus reconstructed the
architecture OF that period With great
mlnuteness. pToportioned after dlmen-
slons and descriptions given In old his
ioric and religious works. Tie rebullds
Tor us the ornate temples and houses Of
the Herods. and the simpler and more
harmonious lines OF older structures.
We see. too. the little Syrian villages.
With their narrow. winding streets and
square. low dwellings. lighted through
the door, and faithfully pictured are
the varying types OF the Syrian LAID
seapo the smiling hilisldes Of Galilee.
the severe beauty Of samarla. and the
barren aud melancholy wastes OF Judea.
A devOut Catholic, AZ. Tissot had.
among other opportunities for study.
the privilege Of entering old m0nas-
ierlcs and CHURCHES. generally inaeces-
sible. where. Jealously guarded from
profane eyes. are 10 be found ancient
and curious manuscripts. carvings. and
relies which throw new light on the
history OF that time and the early cen
turtles Of the Christian era. Apart from
what would seem almost special powers
OF Intuition where bis work Is con
eerned. NJ, Tissot has been greatly
aided by a study OF the Taimud. Joseph
"a. the early fathers OF the church.
and the works OF the celebrated &C.
atatlcs among the last those marvellous
volumes Of Katrlne Emmerich. almost
unknown and now out Of print, which
,te among the most curious revelations
OF the human mind. In connection with
his work NJ. Tissot has made q new
translation OF the Latin text OF the
Vulgate. To those occupying them
selves with the history Of that period.
and specially 70 the student OF mystic
lore. the detailed catalogue OF the pic
lures. accompanied by explanatory
notes. will prove OF the highest inter
est. as NJ. Tissot Is deeply versed In thar
symbolism which made the smallest Of
the Jewish rites and customs pregnant
with meaning. lie has thus a signlf-
cance for everything. from the jewel on
the breast OF the high prizes, 10 the
color and shape Of the garments OF the
participant az feast. II would be
dihicult 10 Overestlmate the dOcu-
mentary value Of N. Tissot's great work
apart from Is high csthetic merit
Scene after scene Is restored with what
would seem almost the power Of a seer
Each act u set In It's peculiar and
+ fllting environment OF place and con-
dltion. and the great drama unrolls
itself before rs with strange reality.
In the minute cxactitude OF the por-
trayal one may follow the events with
something Of the Intensity OF an eye
witness The diversity Of types repre-
sented h. most interesting In It's ethno-
/ logical and historic fidelity. being
drawn directly after those found there
to-day. and which are presumably the
3 same now as then, enduring through
the inevitable changes Of governments
and customs the centuries have brought
In their train. One sees the Jew. tho
Pharlsee. the scribe. the Greek. the
Egyptian. the Arab. the Roman. the
arlstocrat. the slave. each type made
familiar by the Gospels, standing GU,
/ distinct. unmlstakable even to the
casual observer The Syrian woman,
too. has been faithfully pictured Ia her
dark-eyed lovellness and isnguid grace,
reaching her highest perfection In the
beauty OF Mary the Mother and Mary
Magdalen. Specially Interesting from
this point Of view Is the picture Of the
sanhedrlm. whore every possible mOdl-
foatlon Of the Jewish type is repre-.
sented In tina, famous assembly which
90 lightly pr0nOuneed the sentence thai
haa brought down on It the maledlc'
a.. - 81 go. 49,. -.