The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1920-05-29

Uld not understand rlr who fed
ron Ncrc's court ard al, lts. ungnln-
'ence. fed even from the lover whom
he loved. Int "flnnlly he understood
his. which he and Petronius had not
understood, that the new religion, en-
,rnfted into the soul something an.
known to that world In which he lived,
and that Lygia. even II she loved him,
would not sacrifice any Of her Chris.
tian truths for his sake, and that, n
pleasure existed for her. II was q
pleasure different altogether from that
which he and Petronius and Cnesare
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 poweriess. To
carry Oft Lygia seemed to him possi-
ble; he was even sure that 'hc could
do so. but he wns equally sure that, iD
view of her religion, NJ himself, with
his bravery. was nothing; thnt his pow
or was nothing, and that through " he
could effect nothing That i,omnn
military tribune. convinced That the
power Of the sword nnd the ilst. which
had conquered the world, would, com
mand Il forever. said for the frat time
In his life that beyond that power
there might be something else; hence
he asked himself with amazement whnt
II was"
II IL n definite and concrete way thnt
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 NIL the beauty,
charm and allurcments~ thnt wealth
cousd bring. by the ingenuity and wit
OF .Petronius. by the strong-n7n meth
ods Of Croton. champion bruiser OF
hts time. even by the force of the
known world In Nero's sway. vInicius
could accomplish nothing II all he
could win 10 himself was q mere un-
willing body. while soul and spirit
were beyond his grnsp. And the mad
dcning part 90 him was that be owed
all his troubles 10 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 q pa
trician like himself. II was . iong
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 NIL
his mngnIncence and all his debauch-
cries; the poor and humble In their
crowded quarters of the great city;
the delight of oil the senses In the iife
Ted by Pctronius; the lawlcss streets
Of Rome by night: the pursuit OF Lyria
by vinicius and his hirelings. result
ing In the death Of his professional
brulrcr Croton NJ the hands az the
faithful Ursus. aud the disaster TO
vinicius which led to his nursing back
10 health by the Christians: his meet
ing with Peter and Paul: the gradual
opening of his eyes. physical and splr
ituai: his discovery ~ Christians
everywhere. among the people, among
his own slaves. among soldiers and OH
GERS, even In the very court Of Nero.
And the CROWN. worry and asionlsi''
ment Of Petronius:
s'vlnicius, thou art losing sense.
moderation,' exclaimed Pc
ironius.
"T love only her In the world re-
sponded vInicius.
"'what OF thntr
"'rhls, that I wish no other love
! have no wish for your life. your
feasts. your shnmelessness, your
crimes
"what is taking place In theel Ars
Ihou "A Christianr
And then the great fre ~ Rome.
~ by TIgelllnus that Nero might not
nck the experience Of Priain, who hnd
seen Troy burn; OF rescuing i.ygin
rom the flames the persecution of the
Christians with the thought Of throw
ing on them the rage OF the people
u the burning az the city; the
'ingilng out OF Lygia by the hate OF
poppaea because vinIcius had spurncd
he empress profIered charms; the
inal rescue by miracle of strength
m the part Of the ever-faithfui Ursus,
md the words OF vinicius to Peter;
"what thou coramandest ] viii
To-
"Love men as thy own brothers,'
answered the apostle. for only With
owe niayest thou serve Him."
Copyright. 1918. by the Post Publishing Co.
Crhe Boston PosO. Printed by permlu-
sion OF. and ARRANGEMENT with. Little
Brown & Co.. authorized publishers.