Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-23

Nero was greatly panied at this act OF
infidelity. Finally it was suggested that
the Christians, whose doctrines had begun
to take root in the imperial city, should
be accused OF the burning and that they
should be sacrificed therefor. This suited
Nero exactly. and though he knew that
he, and he alone, was responsible for the
awful devastation, he struck tragic atti-
tude and said:
80. Zeus, Apollo, Here, Athene, Perse-
phone, and all We immortalsI why did We
not come TO aid us? What has this hap
less city done to those cruel wretches that
they burnt it so inhumanely."
The city was forthwith rebuilt, and a
reign of terror commenced. The Chris
tlans were hunted down like wild beasts.
Thousands died in prisons and thousands
persisted on the sands of the arena.
Atrocities such as the world had never
conceived began. Men, women, and chill
dren were slaughtered by the hundreds.
The Roman public, appeased by liberal
gifts Of provisions and kindly greetings
from Nero, looked on scenes that are
appalling to the imagination Of the
present day.
A superb amphitheatre Of wood (of
course. not the one the traveller now sees
in Romeo was built, and in this the awful
with Christians" was raised throughout
the city, though such death would have
been mild to what some Of the martyrs
underwent. Hundreds were cructhed In
the arena: others were torn apart bv wild
horses, while the gardens OF the imperial
monstrosity were illumined at night by
burning Christians. saturated with pitch
and tar. Thousands upon thousands were
torn to pieces by the wild beasts In the
circus. and the reader sickens with pc
rusal of the Emperors awful deeds. Ii
Is here that the author is a. his best.
though his descriptive powers are literary
nightmares Picture to your minds the
following scenes:
even tbs populace were astonished
when, after awhile, they saw the
gratings open again. Beasts OF all kinds
were let out this time-tigers from the
Euphrates, Numidian panthers, bears
wolves. hyenas. and jackals. The whole
arena was covered as with moving sea
of striped yellow, fiax-colored, dark
brown. and spotted skins. There rose
chaos In which the eye could distinguish
nothing save a terrible turning and twist
ing of the backs OF wild beasts. The
spectacle lost the appearance OF reality,
and became, as it were. an orgy of blood.
a dreadful dream, a gigantic Kaleidoscope
of mad fancy. The measure was surpass-
ed. Amidst roars, howls. whines, here
and there on the seats OF the spectators
were heard the terrified and spasmodic
laughter Of women, whose strength had
given way at last. The people were ter
rifled. Faces grew dark. Various voices
began to cry. Enough, enough"
So much for the color and action In
"Quo Vadis." Truly the world has never
had ancient Rome so accurately and yet
so horribly pictured. We shudder at the
thought Of those diabolical deeds.
The lovers OF the story--and what story
would be worth reading unless there was
some loving In it2--are Vinicius, young
Roman soldier OF an imperious nature,
and Lygla, pure maiden, who was more
or less insipid She was a Christian, and
ultimately succeeded i'm converting her
beloved, though he was long time
shaking off some OF his meaner qualities.
This pair after going through the con-
ventional vicissitudes which all lovers In
books are required to suffer, finally es-
cape death. and at last accounts were en-
gagged in living happily. although they
had been married several months. Iygla
keeps the reader In continual suspense,
and like most women, is constant
source Of trouble. She finally appears IN
the arena, dashed 10 the horns OF a 81
gantic bullock, and is rescued by JrsIs,
a giant slave. who faithfully attended her,
and generally did the fighting when a
solar-plexus blow was requisite. one
would naturally infer. on hearing Of this
scene In the arena, that the bun was
either very small or Ursus was very
large. Both Of the combatants. In truth.
were enormous, though / doubt not tho
bull was specially arranged for the occa-
sion.
BY far the most attractive character In
the book is Petronius. the uncle OF Vini-
Gus He was the Ward McAllster OF
Rome In those days. and the whole public.
Nero included, regarded him as the cri-
terion OF the modes and the foremost
critic OF aesthetics. He was known
throughout the city as 'Arbiter Eleganti-
arum," which, according to my liberal
translation. signifies Judge Of elegance.
Petronius was bosom friend of Nero's--
that Is, as much OF friend as tho regal
buffoon could have-and his a0vice was
invariably asked. The Arblter did not
hesitate TO utilize his pull ono other
word expresses IT'D for all II was worth.
He literally buried Nero with laiIdatory
adjectlyes: but In his sleeve he laughed at
the Emperor. IL was hts delight 70 goad
the monster on 60 acts OF supreme stupid
ity. He called the monarch divine"
while In his presence. but invariably al
ludcd 10 him as a monkey when behind
his back. Petronious was an exquisite IN
dress. and loved the ladies. or rather
those who called themselves ladies.
though their piety certainly didn't enti-
tie them to this appellation. lie bathed
In perfumes and had his villas scented
with violets. Though cynical and design
ing. this exquisite had his good qualities.