New-York tribune., 1922-04-09


Virgifs to Dante, as the two were de-
IL parting after witnessing hell. You will
remember that Virgil warncd
'In case Of fire, walk, NOT RUN, to the
nearest exit"
It is line that has been so much quoted on
theater programs since, it has become almost
classic.
Tha tardness of Virgil's admonition has not
resulted In serious mishap, however There
had been fire, in fact, several of them, but
outside a faint and two three bad scares,
Durante, or Dante, as he was called for short,
had not suffered.
''It's quite show" remarked Virgil, in his
best press agent manner. Not for nothing had
Re done the publicity for Mr.. Aeneas Of Troy,
Eyes, it is" Dante admitted readily.
Seven rings-all going at once; lots of
action; prominent people present; everything
Virgil pursued.
"Yes, saw quite few persons l knew and
got their names" Dante answered.
How about trying it in verse;" Virgil sug-
eested. Like that Aeneid thing of mine, You
know. 'A'n,a nirumque cano' -
Eyes, yes; l know how it goes Dante in
terrupted, hastily. "Il handle the story that
way think the editor ought to let it ride
Tor at least thirty cantos.''
AT least agreed Virgil. Drop down
again some time, when you can take more time
to it. And if you want any tickets for your
friends, let ME know
Dante wrote his poem which survives to
this day, although the book criticisms Of it
unfortunately do not. On account of the
rather libeous personalities in the volume, it
may originally have come out under the name
1.-THE Mirrors of He'll" But later it received
the title by which it is familiar to US. Prob
ably the book reviews something like this
under the caption Books on Travel":
THE INFERNO. By Durante Alighier. Pub
lshed by the Verona Monasteries Company
fearful picture of the burning torments
Of the hereafter comes from the pen OF the
exiled Florentine. Guided by the pagan poet
Virgil, Dante passed through horrors of the
Inferno and lived to tell the tale. In the words
of the learned doctor, Franko Crani, Every
man, woman and child should read this thrill
ing poem and take counsel with their conduct
III this life. rejecting that while they, too, like
the poet, may arrive at that gloomy region,
1t may not be in Il reportorial capacity
There is in preparation sequel to this vol
Une in which the poet makes trip through
Paradise, personally conducted by the charm
ing and con,ely lady, Beatrice. 1t is proposed
that the two books relating the trip with
Beatrice and the journey to Hades be grouped
under the title, "The Divine Comedy But
it has been pointed out that better selling
title would be "The Beautiful and Damned"
Doubtless the "Iuferno' was read with fear
and trembling in Dante's day. If the Shade Of
the Florentine returned to earth in the present
time, he would find his book regarded as a
masterpiece Of literature, not veracity He
could take place with Amy Lowell, perhaps
but not with Burton Holmes
Dante's shade might return They say that
shades do materialize nowadays if the com
pelling motive calling them back is strong
enough. Dante might be anxious to write a
second volume on the Inferno, now that the
first has been so well received after 300 years.
In all that time the realization must have
come to him that Virgil, like most press rep
resentatives, may not have shown him the en-
tire premises, but just the part he wanted
written up. Things may have been all fixed up
for the writer from tho world. Such things
have happened. Dante's second book could be
entitled "The Truth About the Inferno"
The materialized Dante back among us and
inquiring for hell would be in difficulties Peo-
pie would tell him there was 10 such place
but after he had described it ard some of it's
details helpful persons might tell him they
know of some place Just as good-or as bad
give him the proper letters Of introduction and
directions and send him out in the country any
Sunday afternoon about this time of year
After hearing Dante's description of his
second circle IN his Inferno, where all the folks