Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-24


something horribly degrading about human
being torn or, worse yet, partly devoured by
lower animal. The mere thought IS hum1l1at-
ing conveys an idea of a lack OF moral d1sc1-
the wild beast ought to shrink instinctively
from attacking creature made IN God I'M
age. Most of them do according to the tales
of naturalists.' He glanced at her sharply.
Does this sort of talk make you uncomforta,
BILE? 1t does; l can tell by your expression.
Nevertheless, please go on 1t IS interest
ing, and expresses what have often felt with
out precisely thinking it out Even in my lion
dreams, | call them, the actual terror has
always been modified by an intense feeling of
shame and anger and disgust degradation,
did you say? That precisely expresses it.
THEY had reached the entrance of the Col
l osseum and stood for a moment in silent
contemplation of the massive ruins reared be-
fore them. Ragged splasheS of shadow shot
with spear-shaped flames of high light lay on
the crumbling walls, which were the color of
porphyry and salmon pink, and their outlines
very soft in texture against the background of
cloudless sky.
Think of the spectacle when all of Rome
came trooping in here for the games!" said
Griscom.
Il can think only of the games themselves"
answered the girl with little shudder.
mo doubt they fitted their epoch, just as
football game fits ours. l doubt if the gladiator
wound up in net with trident through his
the bitter dust of defeat under the heaped up
bodies of his competitors. hearing that the game
is lost. The race was cruder in those days.
Defeat usually meant death; but life itself was
a stake for which they played so often that its
They passed through the massive entrance
and halted at the foot of the stone steps lead
ing to the galleries above.
"Shall we go to the top and get general
view of the whole thingl' asked Griscom.
Eyes" Miss Wellesley glanced into the
arena then quickly; turned her back on it.
They climbed the huge steps, and at the top
walked to the edge and stood for moment
looking down into the arena, now bathed in
warmest shadows thrown by the northwestern
wall.
ut is smaller than thought and looks diff
ferently." Miss Wellesley was staring down
through narrowed lids at the eliptical Enclosure.
Her face was slightly pale, and her breath COM
ing quickly.
EDO you like it7" asked Griscom.
Il don't know. 1t is wonderful, and it fas-
cinates me-
Don't give yourself to reverie. Let's walk
around and I'll deliver an illustrated lecture,
and you can look bored and when m finished
say, How interesting!' and give me tip.
Come on
TN his pleasant tones with their slight tinge of
the pedagogue he promptly entered upon a
classic description of the place, sketching
lightly the different details of historic interest.
touching all with an accent OF dry humor UNI
usual in the antiquarian. which quite relieved
the lecture of any trace of pedantry. Once or
twice the girl laughed.
"You don't seem to be imbued with the
spirit of veneration one might expect in pro-
fessor of ancient history" she observed at
some rather fippant remark on the personality
of Nero.
Don't 1? Perhaps it's because feel secretly
awed. like the scoffer at spiritualistic seance
Besides, l want to get you into properly
profane state of mind to rob the arena of its
sentimental horrors
You have quite succeeded Let's 60 down
there while it lasts.
THEY descended the awkward steps and
turned toward the eliptical inclosure AS
they entered it the girl suddenly paused, staring
about her with wide and interested eyes.
do you like it," asked Griscom.
She did not answer. Side by side they
began to walk slowly toward the center. At
the end of dozen steps the girl paused.
"What was that" she asked
WHAT"
"That noise-that rumble? Did you hear
it,"
An odd thrill swept through Griscom, and
with it the fleeting, battling sense of familiarity
that had recently affected him so many times
mo, l did not hear anything. Let's walk
out in the middle and get the whole effect"