Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-21

As for Lucms. he contented himself with
the whistle with which ne had already
urged his horses on, and, without their
even yet appearing 10 exert their full
strength, kept his position.
|
Then ensued a grand spectacle: the
speed OF the eight horses was % swift and
so even that one might have thought they
were harnessed abreast: a cloud OF dust
surrounded them and in a tempest one
sees the lightning rend the sky and hears
the rattle OF the thunder. so was heard
the rattle OF the wheels: and one seemed
To perceive through the Whlrlwind OF dust
the horses breathing flames. The whole
assemblege rose TO its feet; those who had
laid wagsrs waived their wells and their
green and white cloRks frantically, and
even those who had lost through back lnE
the blue OF the Thessalian or the yellow Of
the Athenian, forgetful OF their recent de-
feat, encouraged the two rivals with shouts
ana applause. At last II seemed as though
the syrian must win the day. for his
horses passed those of his adversary by q
head; but at the same Instant and a.
though he had only been waiting for this
ito happen, Lucius with one stroke OF his
whip drew bloody line across the hind
Iquarters OF his horses. The noble beasts
nsished shrilly with surprise and pain;
then. with simultaneous spring dashinE
away like the eagle. like the arrow like
the thunderbolt, they passed the van
quished syrian, accomplished the required
distance. and. leaving him more than nifty
yards behind. stopped at the goal after
completing the entire course--that IL to
say, seven times the circuit OF the arena
! "Deafening shouts OF admiration rent the
air. and the excitement rose almost 10
frenzy. This young Roman, victor in the
previous days wrestling, victor in the race
to-day, was Theseus, was Castor. perhaps
Apollo come down 10 earth once more, but
W. IA NJ ha a.
Meanwhile. as though accustomed to such
| triumphs. he had leaped lightly from his
chariot onto the wall mounted some steps
Heading 70 a pedestal where he exhibited
himself 10 the gaze Of the spectators. while
. herald proclaimed his name and victory,
and Lentulus, descending from his box
went and placed In his hand an Idumaean
palm and surrounded his head with a
crown Of gold and silver leaves interlaced
with purple hllets. AS for the money prize,
which consisted OF gold coins brought to
him in brass vessel, Lucius handed 10
back TO the Proconsul to be distributed in
his name TO the aged poor and the orphans
OF the city.
Then he Immediately made a rapid Ilgn
70 Sporus, who ran rapidly toward him,
holding In his hands a pigeon which he
had taken that morning from Nydias
pigeon house. Luclus passed round the
neck OF the bird Of Venus a purple string
to which we're tied two leaves from the
golden crown
NOW READ "BEN-hUR."
''Bsn-Hur" Is readily accessible to every
one. and each reader can see for himself
the resemblances that exit In both
scenes. for example. chariot wheel 10
crushed by another chariot, being driven
Into N-and this Il a most important incl
dent In both-and there are other Similar
tiles too numerous 10 mention. Including
the similarity OF whole phrases.
| In "Quo Vadls" the 'coincidencss" are
in q way even more pronounced. The
I night OF Silas with the beasts In "AotS"
has It's counterpart In Ursus' fight In the
arena. In "Quo Vadis." And this like
"ths chariot race resemblance. Il all
the more striking because both the
chariot race" and the fight IN the arena
depict crises in their respective books.
And Nero u a leading character in both
| "Quo Vadis" and "Acts." The Nero n
senkiewlezs novel u exactly like Dumas'
Nero.
! My conclusion, then, u that. though
only circumstantial evidence exists. n
seems very likely that both Lew Wallace
and sienkiewicz borrowed whole scenes
from Dumas book; In short. made undue
use OF n. Sienkiewicz Is still living; ac-
cordinRly, when these words come 10 his
attention. trust he wiz So NJ 70 rsply
70 them