The San Francisco call., 1906-10-21

and so even that one might have
thought they were harnessed abreaSts
a cloud Of dust surrounded them. and
as 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 whirlwind OF dust the
horses breathing flames. The whole
iasSemblage rose to its feets those
who had laid wagers waved their
wells and their green and white cloaks
frantically. and even those who had
lost through backing the blue OF the
Thessalian or the yellow Of the Athen-
tan. forgetfuI OF their recent defeat.
encouraged the two rivals with shouts
and applause. At last IL seemed as
though the Syrian must win the day.
for his horses passed those OF his ad-
versary by head; but at the same In
stans, and as though he had only been
waiting for this to happen. Lucius with
one stroke of his whip drew a bloody
line across the hindquarters of his
horses. The noble beasts neighed
shrilly with surprise and pain: then.
with simultaneous spring. dashing
away like the eagle, like the arrow.
like the thunderbole, they passed the
vanquished Syrian. accomplished the
required distance, and. leaving him
more than fifty yards behind, stopped
at the goal after completing the entire
CourSe-thar is 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 today, was Theseus. was
Castor, perhaps Apollo come down to
sarth once more, but aSsuredly he was
a favorite OF the gods. Meanwhile, as
though accustomed to such trtumphs.
he had leaped lightly from his chariot
on to the wall. mounted some steps Lead
ing to the pedestal. where he exhibited
himself to 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 sill
yer leaves interlaced with purple NJ
lets. AS for the money prize. which con-
sisted Of gold coins brought to him In q
brass vessel. Lucius handed II 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
sign to Sporus, who ran swiftly toward
him, holding in his hands a pigeon
which he had taken that morning from
Nydia's pigeon house. Lucius passed
round the neck of the bird of Venus a
purple string TO when. were tied two
leaves from the golden crown"
Ben Hur" is readily accessible to
every one. and each reader can see for
himself the resembIances that exist. In
both scenes, for example. a chariot
wheel is crushed by another chariot.
being driven into it-and this is a most
important incident In both--and there
are other similarities too numerous to
mention. Including the similarity OF
whole phrases.
In Quo yadis" the "coincidences'. ara
in way even more pronounced. The
fight of Silas with tlfe beasts in "Actes
has its counterpart in Ursus' fight In
the arena in Quo Vadisy And this. like
.the chariot race resemblance. Is All
the more striking because bQth "tha
chariot race" and the fight in the arena
depict crises in their respective books
And Nero is a leading character in both
Quo yadis and ~AcJe." The Nero of
Sienkfewicz's novel rs exactly like Du-
mas Nero.
My conclusion, then. is that. though
only circumstantial evidence exists. it
seems very likely that both Lew wal
lace and Sienkiewicz borrowed whole
scenes from Dumas book: in shorf
made undue use OF It. SienIziewicz ie
still living; accordingly. when these
words come to his attention trust he
will see IL to reply to them