The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

makes It without doubt the great pop
ular work of this writer, whatever the
Judgment of literary professionalism may
be- Not that even the most technical
and analytical judgment can or does de-
cry the merit of "Romola." 1t is one OF
the great novels of the world. It's liter
airy style is high. Its depletion of char
aeter is mastery. Like most historical
novelists the author takes liberties with
history; but they are the liberties of one
who knows history-in which she differs
somewhat strikngly from the mass Of
the historical novel school.
~ n a morning in the mid-spring OF
1892 the shop of Nello, the learnel
~ barber of Florence, was filled a:
usual with the notabilities who gathered
there. partly to enjoy the clever ministra'
lions of the owner and mostly to GOSSIP
with each other when stranger was
brought in by Nello and introduced as a
young Greek who had been shipwrecked
on his way from the far Orient
''This young man has unlimited Greek,
Latin or italian at your service said the
barber, land has lost store of precious
manuscript that might have contributed
some correctness NNti ~ J'N-
editions. Domenico Cennini. He will in
terest you further because he has antique
gems of great value, and l have told him
that you would advance money on them.
Domenico Cennlni, son of the Bernardo
Cennini who had introduced the new Ger
man printing process into Florence some
years before, looked with slow, grave eyes
on the young stranger.
Tito Melema is my NAME said the
Greek, slipping off a great onyx ring and
presenting it, Il would pray you TO hold
the ring till can redeem it, which l will
do as soon as 1 can sell other gems that
l have about me-"
He took a case from his tunic.
"These are curious and valuable in
taglios, young man." said Cennini.
"They are worth a mans ransom"
Tito gave start at the words and
looked sharply at the printer, but re-
covered himself Immediately, realizin g
that the words were used merely in IN c
commonplace meaning of the pbrase
Meantime Piero di Cosip6a. tha
famous and eccentric painteps had kept
his eyes fixed on the young Greek. Now
he said abruptly:
young man, I am painting picture
of Simon deceiving old Priam, and
should be glad OF your face for NY
Simon If you would give a sitting"
Tito Melema started again and looked
around with pale establishment. Hii
answer If he intended to make any
was anticipated by .Nello, who burst
into a half-angry, half-humorous
TRADE against the artist.
"Nello," said Piero, "if thy tongue
could leave off its everlasting chipping
thou couldst see that the face OF
Messer will suit my traitor, because a
perfect traitor should have a face
which vice can write no marks on
lips that will lie with a dimpled smile
eyes of such agate-like brightness and
depth that no infamy can dull them
cheeks that will not look haggard
after murder. I say not this young
man Is a traitor. I mean he has the
face that would make him a most per-
feet traitor IL he had the heart of
oneP
Here Cennini interrupted and asked
Tito to follow him, much to the
Greeks relief. Domenico's brother
Pietro was no less impressed with the
value of the gems, and after showing
them to some of the great patrons of
art they were able to pay Tito the sum
immense for those days, of 500 golden
forms.
When he was alone with his wealth the
Greek looked at the shining pile of gold
with the smile slowly dying out Of his
face. "a mans ransomp' The three
words came again and again to his ears
If now, under this midday sun, on some
hot coast far away, a man stricken II
years-a man with high thoughts and 9
most passionate heart-a man who hai
rescued a little boy from beggary, filth
and wrong many years ago and reared
him tenderly and been to him father
IL that man were now under this summer
sun and toiling as a slave, hewing woot
and drawing water, perhaps being smit'
ten and buffeted because he was moi
young and active? If he were saying tc
himself: "Tito will find me. He had but
TO carry my manuscripts and gems tc
Venice to raise my ransom; and he Will
never rest till he rescues me!'
.'of course" thought Tito, II would risk
myself for his sake If it were certain that
he is In captivity" Yet nothing could
be further from certainty. All that was
known was that his galley had been taken
by a Turkish vessel bound for Delos
What kind of search would this not bel
He would most probably find himself
seized or spend all the forms without re-
suit and be destitute wanderer again
with no more gems to sell.
Surely, thought he, 1t would be an In
Justice that one should turn his bacA on
wealth and promised distinction in his
ripe youth. And STILL said he to him.
self, eff l were certain that Baldassarre
Calvo were alive / would free him, what
ever might be the exertions and the
perils."
The next day Tito invested the forms
BY that step he chose his color in the
game He made it Impossible that he
should not thenceforth f.sire that 1t were
true that his foster-father were dead
All the little rills of sefshness that had
hitherto meandered harmlessly enough
through his sunny, laughing nature, wer.
united by that one act and made one
great stream that cut an abiding channel
The joyous, handsome. clever Greek hat
fallen into a pleasant place. Florence
prouu of her learning proud Of her repu
tation as a patron city of the arts ant