The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-03-08

subject under discussion was Book
TX, Bottinius. In the absence of Miss
Reese her paper was read by Mrs.
John Beard.
Review of Book W:
In the first division of Book TX
Zines 1-15) Bottinius expresses his
preference for oral debate and imag-
ines himself swaying the court with
his eloquence.
The second division (16-1Ss) consti-
tutes the eXorduim of his speech. He
Celebrates with many details the pro-
cesses Of painting a great picture,
The Holy Family, by the artist Giro
Ferein. He shows that though the
many details that enter into the pic
ture must be studied separately. the
main central truth and soul of the
picture must be born in the brain of
the artist.
Having prepared the minds of his
hearers with this exordium, he fol-
lows it up by outlining his plan of de-
Tense of Pompilia Zines 119-211) that
he will paint her picture for the
court, a portrait life size, "a fau1tless
nature in a f1awless form" He
classes this division of his speech
with a sustained and beautiful
simile, where he likens Pompilia's in
fancy to a pearl, her childhood to a
sapphire and her wifehood to the
opal.
Then, in line 211, he begins his ar
gument. Passing lightly over her
childhood, he presents Pompilia after
marriage, and through line PA pic
lures her in the first few months of
her married life, FESTIVE under her
husbands discipline, but justifiably
so, since he. says dissatisfactions
even companions change. He blames
Guido for his Impotence and says ne
does not show the philosophic mind.
In the next division Dimes 275-42OD
he shows that Guido did not follow up
the advantage of having Pompilia' S
parents out of the way, of being free
from this cause of domestic trouble.
Instead he grows jealous of Capon-
sacchi, and without any cause what
ever begins his persecution of his
wife. He never goes so far as TO
threaten her life, and so to save hec-
self, to save him, she determines to
Fly the fool by any means at any
price"
From lines (420-595) he shows that
she employed the only means within
her reach-Capansacchi Her beauty
had inspired his love-at least his
letters so declared Why should she
not use this weapon bestowed on wo-
| man by nature? Why should not the
priest, because of his love for her,
become the instrument of her saliva
ton? Bottinius thinks her course here
is justifiable. He adds that her love
in return was necessary, even if
feigned, since how could she proffcr
anything but love to him who was 10
make such a sacrifice for her.
From 596-653 he admits for argu-
ment's sake that Pompilia drugs
Guido, and takes his money He con-
tends that even if she did this, and
he feels sure she did not. that she is
really doing Guido a friendly office,
relieving him of woes or real or
raved about and by insuring herself
safe journey through use of his
money she is guarding Guido himself
from accident
Now in lines 654-726. he pictures
the journey and replies to the point
made by his opponent that Pompilia
and the priest had embraced and kiss
| ed each other on the journey. He says
the only proof of this are the state
| ments of the driver and he had made
them only after long Imprisonment
But, if such were true, Pompilia did
no wrong since she only used loves
means to keep Caponsacchi her ser.
want to the end. Here he insists
| again, if we admit the end we must
admit the means.
! He comes in the next division ia
| the incidents at the inn Zines 927-
$3.50. He characterizes Pompilia'a
| rude awakening by Guido as worse
than Pagan license. He shows that
the crowd seeing Pompilia spring up
| and attempt to kill Guido are con-
WINGED of her innocence.
In the next division (939-1161) he
| meets the objection of Archangelus
| that even if innocent the means she
took for escape has blackened her
| good name. He cites the story of
Peter, John and Judas to show that
Pompilia left to starve in her wretch
edness could do nothing else but take
the barley bread the priest thrust in
to her mouth.
From 1161-1227 he reviews the pun.
| ishment of the court melted out to
| Pompilia. This he considers an error
but one that good flows from, since
| Pompilia returns to her parents
! cleansed from her fault-a dove that
has moulted its dingy feathers.
In 122S-1291 he admits for argu-
ment's sake that Caponsacchi visited
| Pompilia secretly, and says if it were
| so, it were but a natural thing to do,
resulting from the strong bond of
their unique experience.
In 1292-1403 he touches upon the
| birth of the heir and Guido's doubt