The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-10
Among the Books
and MagaSiMes

HF lf rNYEts WIZ ~
"Snn Cclcsttno.p
BY John Aysscouglh Publishcd by g.
I. Pntnam's Sons, OF New York and
London. $3.50.
u is q simple llfc-story that the
author nnfolds, yet IN story that to
most dramatic and powerful In Its
appeal to the heart as we'll as the.
intellect. Tho world to-day, flooded
az ~ is with sermons and sayings
urging the necessity of mans love for
man, may find IT hard to appreciate
and enter into tho torttfrcs OF shy,
shrinking, sensitive pictro Murronc.
when he is brought into contact with
Is tforcibly elevated to the very highest
position In the gift OF the church.
Tho keynote OF the story Is struck
on the title page where Us quoted In
Latin that beatitudc which promises
that the poor In spirit sllal! zee Cod
The first chapters give a vivid picture
OF inlddle-class Italian life in tho
thirteenth century. Then, eve as
now, the mysticism OF such q lad as
Pctruccio would necessarily be mis,in-
derstood. He was a miysterylt TO all, from
the servants. who declared that the
lad lived In the moon omewllcre.,.
to his mother. who loved him tchderly.
yet fathomed nj more the aspirations
Of. her boys heart than did his rough
brothers. who called him In sport
"Chiodino.,' or Little Nall" in aIlusion
to q peculiar birthmark he bore In
his forehead.
Mr.. Ayscough wildly depicts tho
boys life at the University at Salerno,
his ahyncsB Of cofnpanionship. and his
subsequent withdrawal or the advice
OF the professors.
Ills retreat to the Businesses OF his
native mountains and the impression
made on his gay friends. who are
drawn to him In the wilderness by the
peculiar quality of his asceticism, are
all told In words that throb With life.
The climax of the story comes with
the call to the Papacy. THE wisdom
of the serpent might be called for. and
he cared only for the simplicity of
the dove" With terror and weeping
lie In crowned With tho triple crown
Of Rome under the title OF Celcstino
VI, and takes up his burden fcarfully.
History records 10Y he found the load
i~nsupportablc, ana how he voluntarily
laid down his sceptre. after holding it
only -four. months. What history does
not toll. however. and what the author
brings out in the most striking style.
is the true picture of Il heart-tragcdy
hat Is worss than mere bodily suf-
feripg. Gentle and patient though he
is. Petruccio has no room in his heart
for the love of man: he Is filled with
tile love of God alone: and his agony
vixen compelled to forsakc his hermit's
retreat for the pomp and ceremony OF
the papel palace is pitifui In the es-
tremc. Touching also is the del!nea-.
ton OF the old saint. In his age and
loneliness. as he submits huInbIy TO
he Imprisoned and cares not that he
must be without human soiacc to the
very end. for The walked with Cod
True 1t is that the overfed world
can never understand the thoughts of
the ascetic. They say unto him:
Your idea is 10 die at once. every
day while life goes on, because we
must all die Mt last To cruelty the
flesh-as IL God made the soul only,
and some rival god or devil made our
body. To shut out the sun because
clouds gather before the rain: az IL the
rain never ceased and no clouds ever
melted In the noontide light To
fly from. love as IL Christ's chosen
friend had declared that God is Hate"
Petruccio knew within himself that
the Indictment was false. yet he could
not answer for lack of Skill in words.
SO he only kept persistently on his
a to the end.
To the interpretive. who enjoy the
hair-splitting dissection or moiivcs;
10 the religious. who arc pleased to
enter into the CONCENTRATIONS OF a
saint: but more thar all to the SYM
pathetic. who will be deeply touched
bY the pathos of his life, Petruccio,
shrinking from the rough banter az
his youthful associates. failing In his
tasks at the university through sheer
inability to put his thoughts into
words: drawing men unto himself in
the wilderness by his simple saintIi-
ness. and finally terror-stricken in
the robes of his high Office. Will leave
an impression that cannot be dimmed.
"Thc1r Day I'm Court.