The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-04
EE:sfsI11Js
. " irving Bachelor, Pub
lished by Harper and Brothers, of New
York and Lond on.3 II For sale by Mil
Ter and Rhoa DIS. 4 49, ~


}'VERGILIUDs.5 o. Irving Bachelor. Pub:
lished by Harper and Broth theirs, 8of New
York and London.3 t5 For sale by Mil
Ter and Rhoads. 81 ss b:
It is regarded as "a strong proof Of
the versatility Of Mr.. Bachelors talents
that he should be able to turn from the!
scenes Of sue h books as Eben EIoldenf
and 81 Dri and MI to the period NJ OF Au-
gustus Caesar An Rome and that Of Herod$
Sin j udca.3 which elnbody such ontrasts
S In life, manners and social Gus toms. is
Mr. Ba chel lers 81 lows grea Hartls tic per-
$ception In the fact that he does not .at-
tempt the imp possible. He does not spend
his force in very ella borate descriptions
4 Of private or co urt living In Rome. sf He
does not crowd his III terarys canvas with
too many figures nor does he deal with
confusing complexities. His plot is Sim
sple and his story flo WIS smoothly! and 4
Suninterruptedly from beginning to end 3s
He draws q strong picture OF Galus
Augustus Caesar. g Roman emperor and
ruler, who. perhapA less than any other
has been correctly estimated and por-
trayed. His smoothness OF manner, his
astuteness viii ch supported his. 4 ID fluencof
with the people in Rome, his wonder
full knowledge Of human nature In y dis
corning the hearts of men and being able .
to anayse heir /: mo iYes ;$5 his II love OF
domination and his very real Kindness OF
heart and bencficence have been thor
oughly apprehendcd and clearl " present
ed by Mr., Bachelor. isS IS 81 We
Antpater, the 4 CAN ilean prince, 4 the
son of Herod, who had 3 come Is B see
life in the Roman capital and fms h his
education there appears prominently IN
the book, his cruelty Vicousn ess, and
tiger-lke nature coming !. into play
against the darker background OF IIerod's
fiorcer. yet less ignoble ma ure. III & 5s$S
trPC g, ,ty fa1,o
Rome to Jerusalem and the splendor OF
the seven led mistress of the world
4 Is set against the decadent glories5 Of
Jerusalem, where tho trumpets silver
clarion still called worshippers daily to
Solomon's temple, and the magnifcencoi
OF Herods great white marble palace still
/ had power TO dazzle the'eyes of tVergilius,
"a young Roman tribune and the herofof
the book, sent hlther by the mandate Of
Augustus, "A '5as Ss Il M
The love story OF tho book is one OF
Its greatest charms for 1t Is utterly; and
entirely pure. ARIA. tho sistergo or Appius,
4 Is young patrician maiden OF Rome and
beauty and unselfish devotion was an
inspiration leading her lover to all better
and higher things, II awakening in n Ethl
spirit a revolt a against the cruelties and
expressions which regulates d In his day,
the conduct Of the strong towards the.
>rule of love that was inaugurated by the
coming of Christ, the marvel OF whose
birth Is eloquently pictured in the last
chapter OF the book, where a. cOhort . (
Roman soldiers Ia & commanded by tho
tribune Verglius and he in discharge Of
into the presence OF the Holy Motile r and
the Infant Christ. The eloquent and beau
&tlfu description OF tho Impression pro-
duced on the Roman officer Is given In
these words: n Ii 81 Z n XXI W. sss
Just beyond the entrance Of til e cave
Virgilius and his lieutenant! David, Y halt
ed A man stood before them. his face
full of high authority, his hand ralsad
as If to command silence. Il Fie was garb-
eu like a toilers and som eWhat past MID
die age, his beard and eyebrowss long and
gray. A lantern hung near his n head,
and We'll beyond him. resting peacefully
on the farther floor Of the cave. were
horses, sheep ana oxesN. The man spoke
not save by the beckon Of his hand.
Without a word they followed him, 81 The
$lightGof tho lantern now seemed to- glow
with exceeding brightness heyn Stop
ped, On the straw before them lay g
beautiful young maiden, g child upon her
breast, Her arms, which encircled !. the
babe, her hands, her head, Is her " hole
body and the soul within had a glow OF
fondness, In her soft blue eyes they
SAW that peace and love SWhlcll.are a part
of the ancient. common miracle 81 God,
They saw more, even the light Of the
world but were nat able to und erstand,
Calmly she looked up at them. Waving
strands and masses OF golden hair lay
above her Hhoulders and about the head
Of the child upon her bosom. What was
there In the tender peaceful look OF the
mother, what In the breathing Of the
child. what In the $str Of those baby
hands tt make the soldier bare and bow
his head? He leaned against the rock
wall OF the cave and covered his eyes
and thought OF his beloved ARIA, Of his
dream Fl o. home and aeacs and little