New-York tribune., 1922-06-25

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detriment 10 man 70 have too much
~ money early in life. Fortune. they
say. ought 70 come later. like the
ripe fruit Of a waning summer which one
gathers in hours Of plentitude, after having
fought against the hazards OF fate.
Maurice serval was born with this danger
Gus gift Of riches, which the fairies had be-
slowed on him in his cradle, at the time that
they had allotted him an eager heart and an
imagination which would permit him con-
s.an.lv 20 revitalize his impressions. An only
son. he had grown up under the eye Of father
and mother whose anxious love surrounded
him with lavish attentions. He had studied
what he pleased, neglecting what seemed 70
him tedious and pursuing with ardor whatever
appealed TO his tastes. Thus he had reached
the age when he could stand alone and embark
on the beautiful adventure Of life.
His first wish, Immediately gratifed, was 70
travel. He was in hurry 70 assure himSen
that he was his own master A curiosity OF
the mind as well as Of the senses spurred MIN
10 open his eyes on the unknown. After
winter spent in Spain and in the cities OF
northern Africa, he reached Italy by way OF
Sicily. He inspected the marvels OF nature
and Of art. Rome held him long time; never
,beless. he was still expecting something else
a surprise, revelation. which hadn't come
vet Was il because his susceptibility had been
exhausted in advance by his impossible imagin-
ings, He was dazed and discouraged. He
hadn't experienced that secret vibration which
moves the depths Of the soul He was grieved
and saddened, as if some promise OF long
s.anding had failed Of realization.
I. was in this mood that he arrived in Sienna
one morning in May. The heat was oppres-
sive. Spring on the Tuscan plain resembled
torrid summer. Taking refuge IN his room IN
The hotel. he looked out through his window
q. the reddish soil Of the hills, which seemed
% be arlow, devoured by interior fires even
more than by the beating rays Of the sun
Maurice thought Of going home. For year ne
had seen only alien faces and heard only alien
voices. Il would be good TO see his relatives
and his comrades again-and the familiar
images amid which he had grown up. He felt
weary and little ashamed. He had wished
% r6ssess the earth too quickly. he would
return. bringing nothing back but a greater
ignorance Of things and Of himself
Toward the end Of the day. however, he de-
eecnded into the long, narrow street, where
MANY persons we're strolling placidly along
lie mingled with them and presently turned
aside toward the Ovile Gate. He entered the
g, Bernardne oratory, decorated by the fres-
coz. of Sodoma. An oblque yellow light fell
athwart the figures and seemed for an instant
70 make them real
Maurice was interested in this phantasna-
ooria. At the same time the art Of the painter
cultivated him. He stopped, piously atten-
tive. before THE Coronation Of the Virgin
So humble, so poor, the kneeling Madonna re-
ceived from the hands Of the Father the dis-
dem of glory About these two central figures
the Ages Of the World were grouped, as If the
apotheosis Of the Holy Virgin was the climax
Of aqe.long efforts. Adam and Eve were half
hidden in the right corner Of the fresco. The
painter had given Adam the grizzled features
OF an old man. But Eve, delightfully."- young
and unblushing, veiled only in her long hair,
showed all her blond suppleness and her beau
ty in flower. Maurice couldn't take his eyes
of her. He found an infinite pleasure in
stndyinghen He would have liked to wiring
trousaesxhe original secret which she carried
fa&asaxeast
!, ,Hs$ad Jeff Sienna ,mpregnated with this
@mprys Hereafter. he realized, no woman
/ slfet&<ypsaI to him unless she resembled this
& II k0strangely fascinating. But what crea-
1h6I6 ctrld attain the persuasive grace, the
] x6t6Gut hnashamedness Of the Eve OF
Hedcun1
= Ghs more 6s tried 70 discover this perfec-
Hdn tho more his disappointment and discour-
keenenb grew. Love was for him only a sue
kcsSon Of unfortunate experiences-an cx-
6erinnent which always failed. Pleasure
teenned sicklied DER and happiness harder 10
krasp than star shooting through a summer
tly Yet one day he thought he had met