Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-12-22
"OUO VADIS," :"

"QUO VADIs."
By request, Rev. j. C.. Johnes has
kindly furnished THE ENQUIRER with
the following comprehensive review Of
the historical novel, "Quo Vadis,"
dramatization of which Is to be pre-
sented in the Yorkville opera house on
the night of December 2S:
Quo Vadis is an historical novel by
the celebrated Polish writer, Henryk
Sienkiewicz. It deals with the time Of
Nero,-one Of the most dramatic pc
riods in Roman history. The author
depicts with astonishing exactitude
and marvellous power, the life, man
ners, customs, social amenities, the
emotions and the everlasting intrigue
Of Nero's court. We have unfolded as
in q panoramic view, Rome, the mis-
tress of the world, then in the zenith
of her power. It's inhabitants, instruct
i've with life, brimful with passions.
replete with political chicanery and
fraud, ETC., pass before us, revealing to
us their innermost thoughts and living
their every day life Of barbarian and
aesthetic splendor. The licentiousness
Of this period and the awful immoral
ingly portrayed, as Is also the magnif-
cent and extravagant, the effeminate
and voluptuous mode Of life.
There are scenes and descriptive
passages in this book, that for power
Of representation and dramatic enthu-
siasm are rarely excelled. The terrible
conhagration in the imperial city,
whereby three-fourths was destroyed,
and thousands upon thousands rem
dered homeless, are 80 vividly and
realistically pictured that we almost
see the actual fact staring us in the
face. We almost hear the angry cry
Of the ungovernable multitude raised
against the Christians as the monster
of iniquity (Nero) endeayors with the
aid Of his devilish satellites, to throw
suspicion upon these poor, helpless in
dividuals. Then, again, the scenes In
the enormous amphitheatre, where the
poor disciples Of Christ are horribly
mangled by wild beasts, and which
reaches it's climax when the "auroch,"
with Lygia's naked body fastened to
its horns and back, Is encountered in
mortal combat by that phenomenal
embodiment of physical strength, Ur-
sus. The description of the human
torches Illuminating Caesars imperial
gardens, while the fiendish emperor
and lascivious companions, in drunken
bestiality, parade the grounds, Is ex-
cruciatingly heart-rending and full OF
terrible pathos.
The hero Of the book is Marcus Vim
icus, a young Roman soldier and noble
Of good family, a relative Of many
prominent friends of Nero, who falls
desperately in love with Lygia,
daughter of the king Of the Lygians.
She was hostage given sometime be-
fore to Claudius, as guarantee, that
in the civil strife then raging in her
unhappy country, the belligerents
would not violate the sacredness Of the
Roman borders. At the time the story
opens, she was making her home with
Aulus Plautius, grim old warrior, and
his wife, Pomponia Gracina, who had
embraced the new Eastern supersti-
tion-honoring q certain Chrestos,-the
Christ. Lygia had also become con-
vert. Thus are we at once introduced
to Christianity in it's embryonic stages,
and the marvellous victories accom-
plished by it's devoted followers, des-
pite the fearful, fiendish and fanatical
prosecutions to which they are subject
ed.
Petronius, the arbiter elegantiarium
Of the times, receives in his sumptuous
elothesium, Vinicius, his nephew, fresh
from the Parthian wars. He discloses
his love for Lygia and endeavors to
enlist his uncle's powerful influence In
his behalf. Through Petronius's mach
nations Nero sends to Plautius to
deliver to Caesars household the beau
tiful hostage. She is tearfully and re-
luctantly given up. Accompanying
her is Ursus, her fellow compatriot and
devoted slave,-"the man who breaks
iron as wood" Lygia meets Ceti-
Nero's discarded concubine-who pre-
walls upon her to grace one of Nero's
magnificent orgies. Vinicius, under the
influence Of wine, endeavors to possess
himself of her person; but the faithful
Ursus interferes and Lygia escapes.
On her way to Vinicius' household she
is freed by the aid of the Christians.
Chilo Chilonides Is employed to find
her retreat, which Is discovered with
the Jewish sectarians. An attempt at
rescue fails. Vinicius Is himself
wounded and Is nursed back to life
and strength by Lygia. Opportunities
are afforded for him to see the Christ
ians, to hear and converse with Peter
and Paul, to be converted and Ultimate
ly baptized by them. Incidentally are
narrated Caesars visits to Atrium and
Ostria, and the magnificent pageantry
and licentious brutality Of the times
are dwelt upon. Visits to the Christ
ians in their secluder and sacred meet
ing places by Vinicius are described.
Lygia and Vinicius meet again, pledge
their troths and arrangements are be-
ing made to place them all in safety,
when Rome Is burned. The suspicion
fastens itself that this intolerable sect
is the cause of it all, and all processing
Christ's name are caught and impris-
oned. Here follows thrilling accounts
Of the sufferings Of these poor martyrs,
detailed attempts at rescuing Lygia,
with the conflict between
Ursus and the auroch. Lygia Is saved,
the lovers are united and the book
ends with the pathetic suicides Of Pc
tronious and Eunice and the miserable
demise of Nero.
The book is absorbingly interesting,
brilliant in style, improving in mate
lials and mastery in handling. Every
chapter is eloquent with meaning. Tne
feasting at the imperial palace, the
contests in the arena, the burning Of
Rome, the rescue Of Lygia-the Christ
ian maiden-will hold their place In the
with unfading color, and are
to be reckoned among the significant
triumphs Of narrative art.