Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-19

Sy greatest orator in the world,
va. .~al ne could and did say a good many
good things.
They told a story Of the time that a GER
tain anti-option bill was before 'the United
States senate when Peffer was a member
of that body. The. legislatures of a number
of states had instructed all their represent
tatives to vote in favor of the measure.
1t was at roll call. The senator Of a GER
tain state, who was a big trader in "fu-
lures" and interested in a certain board
of trade, was called on to vote. His state
legislature, too, had instructed him to vote
for the measure. He reclted in mournful
tones how he had been instructed to vote
yea, and with a great deal of oratorical
effect, for he was a fine speaker, began to
dilate on the subject.
"Mr. President" he cried out, Il have
my oath and my duty under II as a sena-
tor. l regard this measure as one PERM
clous in its purpose; 1t would be unconsti-
tutional should It become a law. / an,
therefore. bound by my oath to vote
against IT. The Legislature of my state
cannot instruct me to commit perjury l
will accept defeat, but I will not violate my
oath. / say agin, no legislature shall In
struct me to commit perjury. and vote
No against this bill"
The speaker sat down solemnly and, with
the great air Of grandeur OF a man who has
done his whole duty. II was very dramatic
But the effect was to be rudely disturbed
Senator PETERS name was next on ne
roll. Peffer arose quietly and said, In that
tense, plain voice OF his: Mr.. President
the legislature OF my state has instructed
me to vote Yea" for this bill, and since
nv private interests do not make 1t per
Jury for me to do so l desire to be mus
recorded"
The silence was painful, Everyone looked
for a retort from the senator VINO had
spread-eagled so much. They looked lor
him 10 Jump all over" PETER. But ne
didn't. He Lung stolidly to his chair
PETER had scored a Knockout
ID.O,ration for "QuO Vadiss"
Henry slenkiewicz, the Polish novelist
~ "ouo Vadis7' fame, is sojourning in
vienna. Although SO years old, he is stlll
hale and florld and his eyes sparkle with
boylike vivacity from beneath his black
hound spectacles when he is absorbed In
conversation.
Ha abhors smart society, though he fire.
oueptly lunches and dimes with his high
spirited young daughter on the spacious
terrace OF the big bathing pier, reports the
New York American. Most OF his hours
are spent at the VHlino Elena, which he
has rented, where ne loves TO gaze out
over the Adriatic and to live a simple,
quiet, patriarchal life among his books and
papers.
Sienkiewicz recently tried his hand at a
book on The Venice Of the Doges.' but
he has laid 1t aside because he feels him-
self unequal to graphing with the peculiar
~strangeness and compleXity Of Venetian
history. sienkiewicz reads Italian easily,
does not hesitate to aud d'Annunzio as
the finest literary genius modern Italy has
produced, and "Citta Morta" as the great
est Of his writings, Speaking OF his "
masterpiece, Slenkiewicz said:
my inspirations for QUO Vadis.' that
early and most popular Of all my produc-
tions, had their source In my study OF
three famous masterpieces. First OF all,
In the works OF Tacltus. with whom OF all
the Latin classics / am best acquainted.
Then l was deeply influenced by Chateau
brands Gene du Christianisme,' esDe-
cially by what he has written about the
early Christian martyrs. But ! owe most
OF all 20 the English Cardinal Wiseman's
'FablOla: The Church Of the Catacombs,