The age-herald., 1897-08-01
BOOKS THAT ARE READ -.
 QUO VADTS.
QUO VADIS.

time in California many years ago, and that he has paid his respects to the American girl and has written a number of short stories with the American girl as heroine. Tho Vadis is an historical novel of strength and dramatic beauty. It deals with the time of Nero, and 1t is no surprise to the readers to learn that SienlShewicz always visits the localities mentioned in his works. for here he seems almost as familiar as was Nero himself with the scenes he describes in the book. Tn the first place, in Inc Yadis the author has a story to tell, this fact impreSseS Itself upon the reader from the very opening page. In addition to this hrst essential of the successful novelist, 1t fol- lows that the relation of this story in- cludes many interesting events, and the portrayal of widely divergeH personageS and scenes. He dreams with equal skill the greatest and the least. Proud, con- cefted, self-willed Nero, luxurious and fattered amidst ths pomp and withering gayety and licentfousness of his imperial court his nobles, the Augusta Poppaa ard women are drawn with accuracy and presented to the mind of the reader with such broad, local eororing that they ap- pear to be flesh ard blood and the ener- vating mists of such feasts and luxury seems to issue from every page entering the mind and heart of The reader. Then with the sure touch of genius for charac- ter delineation he turns to present the crafty Chilo-the superstitious and in- trigufnlg mendicant-one of the finest dream cha racterS of the book. Tn the homes of the nobles we seem to learn as if by actual personal contact the state and abject servitude of the slaves, whose sole ambition in life was his masters whims and wishes. The local traits are painted with such sure knowledge of men ard scsrles that we watch mary glimpseS of beautiful, luxurious, imperial Rome, breathe the perfume of dainty flower laden marble bath triclinim
 in strong truthful contrast is drawn tfr tense. rugged, tempestuous life of tho early Christians When the mighty Peter ard bold Paul resisted the scenes of their e1rl;er o,nvrsrs CTS and labors to exhort the brethren to steadfastneSes and faith. Of cours4 the book is a lengthy one, con- taiiiing something over 500 pages. Il Is a. history of the heroic conflict between organism and Christianity. and especial ly the conflict between the insufficient pagan belief in the hear. of the noble young Vinicius, and the life-giving puri- flying religion of Christ. A beautiful spir- itual climax is reached in the story when this noble young heart surrenders the pa.- gan beliefs, 1uxuries and disspaItions of Nro's cou1ft a nd in simplicity and humble beauty of faEh is led by the great apostle Peter to the feet of the Masten
 Jygfa is the most beautiful crea ton of the book noble, true, pure young woman- hoo1 She will ever stand out in the readers memory as an ideal creation, wcrhy to take her place among the noble characters Of woma nhood, the develop ment of which in fiction seems to cha rac- terize what we may not inaptly call the Victorian woman. There are many scenes described i'm he book which the mind of the reader will love to finger upon: many that are dramatic and powerfully de- ptcted as in th= vivid descriptions of the burning of Rome, and the suffering and prosecutions caused the Christians in wrongfully bearlrg the blame therefor. The threads of the story and loose ends are caught up with wcndrous skill and power in 9i chapter where Lydia, as a condemned Christian, is borne into the arern befoa's Nero and his assembled court on the head of the German au- rlochs. If any finer piece of dramatic d'a- scriptiye work can b. cited, I would like to know where it can be found
 There ifs TO. a tedious page In the book. The setting of the story is wonderful Dn it's strength and picturesquensss and pre- sents the ststaind power and sweep of narrative only possessed by the grea test re@i'ie Ino Vedis eo1d oriv have been written by :he hand of master.
 PAUL PRY,