The state herald., 1920-08-06

as the episodes are In themselves
strongly as the characters are por-
trnyed, they are but n preparation for
what is to follow, mere worldly set
ting for him who was too great for all
save few to understand at that time.
Some twenty-One years after the
scenes at the manger, u young Jew,
Ben-Hur, prince Of Jerusalem, rich,
happy, ambitious, was standing by a
parapet of his palace, watching the
progress of valerius Gratus, imperial
governor OF Judea. AS the Roman
passed beneath the wall amid the jeers
and insults of the Jews the young
prince leaned far out to see the new
governor tile was displaced and, as
bitter fate would have 1t, fell full upon
the governor. The accident was not
fatal; but 1t was an opportunity for
exemplary justice, especially as the es-
tates of the Jew were very desirable
to the governor and his friend Messaia,
hitherto almost brother to Ben-Hur
though the latter had been. The un-
happy Jew was sent as rover TO the
galleys, where the limit Of life was at
most but year. His mother and sis.
ter were immured in q secret cell In
the Tower of Antonla, where they
were doomed to the fate of the lep-
ers. The only act of kindness Ben
Hur could remember during the years
that followed was on the day he was
dragged to the galleys. "The hand
laid kindly upon his shoulder awoke
the unfortunate man, and looking up,
he saw a face he never forgot-the
face of boy about his own age,
shaded by locks of yellowlsh bright
chestnut hair; face lighted by dark
blue eyes, at the time so soft, so ap-
pealing. so full of love and holy pur-
pose, that they had all the power of
command and will" That was in
Nazareth.
How Ben-Hur in time became
rover on the flagship Of Alrrus. dunn
vlr and admiral, how the flagship was
destroyed in great sea fight. how
Ben-Iiur rescued the admiral, became
his adopted son and heir, learned at
Rome the manner of Roman war and
Roman sports. returned TO the East
a Roman officer In the train of con-
sui setting forth on a grent campaign
against the Parthlans: how he dis
covered that his fathers old steward
Slmonides Ind succeeded In saving
from coniiscation the vast Intangible
wealth of the Hurs and had multiplied
1t many times, till the young Roman.
jew was the richest private citizen
in the world the discovery that Mes.
sala was entered for the highest stake
in the great sporting event of the
orient: how Ben-Hur won the affection
Of 1lderim. the Arab shelk. who had
entered his steeds Of the desert for
the great event-all this leads up to
the dramatic encounter OF the famous
chariot race. The author drew his
description Of the race from one writ
ten over twenty-three hundred years
ago by the tragic poet Sophocles. II
is one OF the curiosities OF literature
that the great scene. through the pages
Of Lew Wnllace's novel. has become
as famous on our stage rs 1t was SO
long ago on that Of Greece.
BY his victory In the arena Ben.
Hur exacted ancient Jewish Justice
on his hated adversary. who was
crushed In body and impoverished In
fortune. he had wagered on his sue.
cess all the wealth he hud stolen from
his former friend. The victor almost
fei prey, however. TO the vampire
daughter OF Egypt who WINS rival for
his love with the gentle Jewish Esther.
But hcnceforth his thoughts were con
centrated on him who was attracting
all eyes. Was he Messiah or klngi
Bcn.Ilur, In his hatred OF Rome. In his
pride Of race. dreamed only Of n king
of this world, who should right an.
Client wrongs and eynlt his chosen peo.
pie. And so he threw himself with
all his force, with all his wealth, with
NIL the knowledge gained Mt Rome.
into making secure md strong the way
OF the king whom he would follow.
f'' - NhH A'a WV nj 'ihf w lNilkN
spiritual rather than material that
the way was being made ready. And
Ben'iIur's mother. rescued with her
daughter from her long Imprisonment
by n chance change OF jnilers. but
hopeless lepers both. saw the truth
sooner than her son.
"'oh Master. Masterr she cried as
he passed upon the road. Thou secst
our need: thou canst make US clean.
Have mercy upon us-mercyl'
"'Bclleves, thou I am able 20 dc
thisT he nsked.
"'rhou ar; he Of whom the prophets
spake-thou art the Messlahr she re-
piled. His eyes grew radiant. his man.
ncr confident.
"'woman.' he said. great ls thy
faith; be II unto thee even MS thou
Wilt"
And so, IN the end Ben.Hur rccor.
nlzed what Balthnznr hnd known from
the beginning. "Oh wise Egyptian,
hearken' Thou alone were rlrht-thc
Nnznrenn lg indeed the son OF God I"