Connecticut western news., 1920-06-10


 {, could not understand girl who fled
 from Nero's court and all its magnif- cence, fled even from the lover whom | she loved. But finally he understood | this, which he and Petronius had not
 understood, that the new religion, en- | grafted into the soul something un- | known to that world in which he lived,
 and that Lygia, even if she loved him,
 would not sacrifice any of her Chris | tian truths for his sake, and that, if pleasure existed for her, 1t was a pleasure different altogether from that
 which he and Petronius and Caesars court, and all Rome were pursuing. Every other woman whom he knew might become his mistress, but that Christian would only become his vic | tim. And when he thought of this, he felt anger and burning pain, for he felt that his anger was pOwerless. To | carry off Lygia seemed to him possi- ble; he was even sure that he could do so, but he was equally sure that, in view of her religion, he himself, with his bravery, was nothing, that his pow CT was nothing, and that through it he could effect nothing. That Roman military tribune, convinced that the power of the sword and the fist, which had conquered the world, would con- mand it forever, said for the first time in his life that beyond that power there might be something else; hence he asked himself with amazement what 1t was."
 It Is definite and concrete way that the author has chosen to show the power of the new religion over human lives. Struggle as he would, backed by birth, by wealth and all the beauty, charm and allurements that wealth could bring, by the ingenuity and wit of Petronius, by the strong-arm meth ods of Croton, champion bruiser of his time, even by the force of the known world in Nero's sway, Vinicius could accomplish nothing if all he could win to himself was a mere un- willing body. while soul and spirit were beyond his grasp. And the mad dening part to him was that he owed all his troubles to the teachings of parcel of Jewish fishermen or their likes, or slaves or humble folk who had never before entered into serious consideration in the thoughts of pa- trician like himself. It was a long struggle with him, and as the reader follows the various people of the story through their part in the action, he gets an admirable picture of Rome Nero, tyrant, actor and artist, with all his magnificence and all his debauch- cries; the poor and humble in their crowded quarters of the great city; the delight of all the senses in the life led by Petronius; the lawless streets of Rome by night; the pursuit of Lygia by Vinicius and his hirelings, result ing in the death of his professional bruiser Croton at the hands of the " faithful Ursus, and the disaster to Vinicius. which led to his nursing back to health by the Christians; his meet ing with Peter and Paul; the gradual opening of his eyes, physical and spir- itual; his discovery of Christians everywhere, among the people. among his own slar@ eaAg =oiHiers and off cers. even A SAA ge<Y eosrt cf Ters. And the growing worry and astonisr ment of Petronius:
 "sVinicius, thou art losing sense, judgment, moderation exclaimed Pc tronius.
 CT love only her in the world,' re- sponded Vinicius.
 "'What of that?'
 "sThis, that I wish no other love. I have no wish for your life, your feasts, your shamelessness, your crimes
 "'What is taking place in thee? Arr thou a Christian?'"
 And then the great fire of Rome, set by Tigellinus that Nero might not lack the experience of Priam, who had seen Troy burn; of rescuing Lygia from the flames the persecution of the Christians with the thought of throw ing on them the rage of the people at the burning of the city; the singling out of Lygia by the hate of Poppaea because Vinicius had spurned the empress proffered charms; the final rescue by a miracle of strength on the part of the ever-faithful Ursus, and the words of Vinicius to Peter:
 "'What thou commandest I will do.'
 "'Love men as thy own brothers,' answered the apostle, for only with love mayest thou serve Him." Copyright, 1919, by the Post Publishing Co.
 (The Boston PosD. Printed by permis-
 sion of, and arrangement with, Little,
 Brown & Co.,, authorized publishers. BROOMS FROM PINE NEEDLES