The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-11-03
Gaines 1.-The ~
y Eternal City,"

e strength Of this book lies In the
Note given by the author himself. "He
ID for a city which hath foundation,
be builder and maker is God" There
indehnable charm in any book which
ents in pleasing form the splendor and
er OF the old Roman empire. Around
uster the earliest recollections OF every
ent when he first revelled in the leg
Try lore of the classic city; within
historic walls arose the first rebellion
INST milltarlsm aud the tyranny Of "A
arch, the first protest agalnst-the au-
ity Of the pope, and the first cry for
rule Of the people.
n Calne in his Eternal City" covers
of these interesting periods Of Roman
ny. He represents as his hero the peo-
champion, who, seized with an FIRE
sible desire to liberate humanity from
curse OF despotism, attempts to estab-
Upon the fabric of a crumbing kingdom
glorious principles of republican gov
hent. To this work David Rossi dedi-
his life, declaring that not only
8 and princes must disappear but
s and prelates as well.
have two soverelgns In Rome,
Beers, a great state and a great church,
perishing people-we have soldiers
gh to kill us, priests enough to tel
bow to die, but no one to show US
to live"
Calne portrays In the person of Rossl
Samson Of old in his lifelong struggle
the lords of the Phllstlnes. He de-
YES him as man Of generous i'm
IS aud wide sympathies moved to In
stion at the extremes of poverty aud
til and carried away by the promptings
ernal religion in the soul" Rossl pro-
to govern the world by the precepts
be Lords prayer, defining democracy
b attempt at the practical realiza-
OF that prayer. by the decree of
he says, revealed in the history
umanity, the world is marching for
to democracy. 1t is the true evolu-
OF Gods will in natural law"
~
e author considers this Christian dem
DC movement question of vital i'm
hnce throughout all Europe, aud not
out direct bearing upon the great re-
K OF America. There you have a ma
u constitution of surprising justice
nobility, perhaps the freest, most
al, most enlightened constitution that
ever yet governed a nation of men.
YOU have the defects of your qualit es
In America, where arrogated rights
themselves In the realms of capital
individual ownership Of land almost
bsolutely as on the thrones Of the Old
d The Samson Of popular power has
ght the arrogated rights that come
le name of monopolles as we'll as those
come in the name of monarchies."
otlng from the author again Will best
ain the title of the book II would
Il seems to me almost certain that In
great future which is to witness the
Known of so many barriers dividing
from man and man from God. and in
new methods Of settling internal and
patioal disputes, which will take the
of the brutal and barbarous conflicts
ar, as we'll as the cruel and fratrlcidll
kgles OF trade, the old Mother City OF
Pagan and Christian worlds will have
rightful rank Her destiny Is to he
capital of the worlds great congress
court Of the Republic of Man"
to return to the story David Ross
enounced as a nihillst, religious anar-
etc, but knowing these applications
q unjust and that he only seeks 20
d a Christian government, he prose.
his work with upfalterlng faith and
united courage. The lntrlcacies Of the
cause him to cease his warfare against
church, but he succeeds In utterly
blishing the kingdom, and establishes
public In Italy.
e idol Of the people, he is at once elect
,resident, but declines the honor and
es to obscurlty. Here the question
8, why did the hero not wear his we l.
iaurels? Was 1t not his duty to direct
Operations of the government he had
ded?
answer this we must Introduce the
lnce, But truly, in considering the
is of the book, the romance scarcely
ryes mention; for 1t Is one OF those
He'd accounts $50 numerous in modern
Pn) OF an all-absorbing affection which
bntinually leading the hero or heroine
pme rash act resulting dlsastrously to
othhp Yet a review of the novel de-
Is some mention OF the love.story. so
VIII rather notice the dement's of this
lar style Of romancing, and thus EN-.
lie the abiding charm of the old
ors.
mistaken idea of duty upon the part
bvers certainly mars the beauty Of a
lnce. This is undoubtedly true Of
pa Roma and David Rossl. Roma, the
Inc, is induced by the Baron to believe
must disclose her lovers plans in or
to save his life. Notwithstanding the
that she Is pledged to secrecy. She
rs furthermore that the Baron Is Ros-
bItterest foe, and will resort to any
agem to win her from him Although
Confession does not materially AFFECT
as success. 1t destroys for a time his
dence in her, and thus detracts greatly
the story. Besides, the bringing
1 of such a situation fails utterly 10
emit Roma in the light of supposed
ah-whlch Is said TO be the writer s
btion, The analogy does not hold good,
Roma betrayed innocently the man she
cd. and DelIlah accepted bride to
Dyer by her shrewdness the secret OF
Cons strength.
us look further: Rossrs conduct as
yer merits even seyerer censure than
as. Was It noble in him to refuse to
Der share his lot, saying, "Martyrdom
man. not woman?" Strange ne could
reallze that he sacrificed her infinitely
by leaving her to the SCOTS and Ieers
Is enemies and the cruel care of the
n rathar than hv oIioutno har IN on.