The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-02
A summary of Hall Gaines Romance
of Modern Rome.
Review in London Mail.

Review in London Mail.
Following NJ Emile lola and Miss Marie
Corelli. Mr. Hall Game has gone TO Rome
and the papacy for the scenes and the in
SEPARATION of his latest romance, though 1T is
of a Rome and a Pope of the future and
not OF the present that he writes.
Here is the opening scene: 1t was the
last day of the last month of the last
year of the century. In a bull proclaiming
a jubilee the Pope had called his faithful
children 10 Rome and they had come from
all quarters of the globe. To salute the
coming century, and TO dedicate 1t, in pomp
and solemn ceremony, To the return of the
world to the Holy Church. one and uni
versal, the people gathered in the great
Piazza OF St. Peter
The piazza was crowded with people from
every country under heaven: I'm that
wide cosmOpolis you might hear every
tongue of Europe. and every tone of En-
gish, from the coo of the pretty pink and
white English miss in her sailor hat TO the
bugle note OF the bright American girl with
her red Baedeker and her short skirt.
While the crowd Is awaiting the papal
procession. which is to cross the square
from the Vatican TO the cathedral, Mr..
Game introduces the three persons who,
with the Pope himself. are the important
characters Of his romance.
the square stands Baron BOnelli. the Italian
anti-clerical prime minister: "A man of
great talents, indOmitable pride immense
courage and enormous wealth" "A
man of implacable temper and imperious
soul. the incarnation of Caesarism and
every pagan ideal OF government. Like
Napoleon. man with a deep contempt for
public opinion. for representative govern
ment and the rights of man. and like
Voltaire an infidel of hard and cynical
spirit and an open enemy of the church"
Mr.. Gaines story, like most modern
dramas, revolves round two men and a
woman. Bonelli il one of the men. and
among his diplomatic and aristocratic
guests is Donna Roma, the woman.
she was tall. with a bold sweep of full
ness in figure, which was on a large scale
OF beauty. Her hair, which was abundant.
and worn full over the forehead. was raven
black and glossy. and il threw Oft the sun
shine that fell on her face. Her complexion
had a golden tint. and her eyes, which
were violet had slight recklessness OF ex-
Down below in the square is the other
man. David Rossi. member of the Chamber
OF Deputies. leader of the people. dreamer
OF dreams.
"A man OF thirty odd years. tall slightly
btilt. inclined TO stoop. with long. clean
ShaNen face large dark eyes and dark
hair. There was imagination and
latent sadness in the eyes. which seemed
usually 60 be looking at something beyond
this life. There was tenderness and senti-
ment IN the mobile mouth, but firmness and
decision as well
Bonelh has been taxing the Deople's bread
70 ouild battleshtps, Rossi and his party
have protested in vain. So on this jubilee
morning, failing i'm the press, in Parlia-
ment and at the Quirinal ne is coming To
the Pope 20 pray of him 10 let the Church
play Its old part OF intermediary between
the poor and the oppressor'
Al last the Pope comes the procession
crosses the square. Rossi attempts TO pre-
sent his petition and, being repulsed
mounts on car and denOuuces the Pope
who remembers his temperatures and
forgets the two inseparable truths. the
fatherhood OF God and the brotherhood Of
man.
We have two sovereigns i'm Rome. broth
ers-a great state and a great church with
a perishing people. We have soldiers
enough 10 kill ~. priests enough 10 tell us
how 20 die. but no one 20 show us how 10
live
Then. turning 20 Bonelli ne inveiehs
against the ministers who allow their
favOrites O. NEEDLE IN public affairs and
enrich themselves By the ruin OF an
around"
His speech concludes with a terrific riot
carabineeTs al BOnellis orders charge the
crowd. and Rossi Is arrested.
Roma. enraged by Rossi's references to
her, VOWS vengeance. This is her plan.