D.L.F. BOOK NOTICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 67

D.L.F. BOOK NOTICE.

" ROMOLA." Deal Dot,— And now we turn to a book which, among all of George Eliot's works, stands prominent. The book shows how one failing in an otherwise good nature, fanned by the breath of circumstances, begets another, till the sins bring the sinner to an early grave. The plot of the book is laid in Florence, m the days of Savonarola, and runs like this: — Tito Melema, a handsome young man, is shipwrecked, and lands in Florence. His path «trewn with flowers, he begins a careei of treachery. His father, Baldassarre, had entrusted him with manuscript and jewels, the proceeds of which were to redeem the aged man from slavery ; but Tito uses these to win his way to fortune, ignoring the debt of gratitude he owes' to Baldassarre. Aftei marrying - Bomola, only daughtei of the scholarly Bardo, he betrays the .deathbed trust imposed on him by the old scholar In politics he serves by turn the two conflicting parties, and brings to the scaffold Bernardo del Nero, the godfather % of Romola. 'He betrays Savonarola, that famous preacher ; bu' by this time Nemesis is at Jiis heels. Soon after Tito had started on the downhill grade, Romola, recognising how impossible it was foi them to live Together in harmony, fled from Florence; on'v, however, to be turned back by Savonarola. Again, howevei, she leaves him, and returuj to find him dead— slain by his betrayed father.

Taking Tito for the first character, we see the development of one failing. As a boy, xaised from a life of beggary by an old man, he had but one failing — selfishness. Selfishness begets vanity. To feed his vanity he schemes and plots to win his way upwards, crushing all standing in his way. Death, Lawever, soon claims him as its own. How often is one tc be found, almost perfect, like Tito, ruined through one little sin! In most cases the little sins, too often ignored, prove the ruin of a man. What may surprise some is the sudden descent into siD Tito makes, for his course ot villainy commences Very quickly. But it must be borne in mind ffhat few failings are so productive of others as selfishness. And yet how many thousand's — nay, tens of thousands — woiohij the god " self," in spite of the exhortations of the Bible, the warnings of ministers, and the teaching of books! When " self" is dethroned and Christ reigns in its stead, then, and only then, can men be truly blessed.

Of Romola volumes could be written. In this wonderful creation George Eliot has portrayed the loveliest character in literature, and lier portrayal is perfect. Poor Romola! The crosses she was called upon to bear were heavy, and had it not been for the One whom Savonarola pointed out to her, she would assuredly have -fallen. Romola is a true heroine — not so, much a heroine created by -deeds as by mental conquests. Forces within are infinitely more difficult to overcome than forces without, and one who can overcome the former is much nobler than one who overcomes the latter. Romola was one who had a hard struggle, and she proved a conqueror. She is a being in ■whom the fierce name of passion burned not. Unlike Thomas Hardy's Tess, her love was not her life; but, once aroused, the love she gave was of the noblest, truest, most unselfish kind. She realised, in short, Wordsworth's conception of a " noble woman." I shall return to the subject in my next. Love to all the' L.F. and to yourself from— Yours tiuly, ALGUAZIL