“IF CHRIST CAME TO PARIS. "

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3200, 22 April 1911, Page 3

“IF CHRIST CAME TO PARIS. "

FRENCH CAPITAL STIRRED BY A STRANGE BOOK.

STARTLING SATIRE. A small book with a pale blue paper cover has startled all Paris. it is called, “He is Risen Again,” and is by M. Charles Morice, a writer who is wed known for his admirable work on literature and on a.rt. M. Morice has written books on Paul Variable, on Rodin, on “How to Visit the Museums,” and on the religious sense in poetry. This last book, “He is Risen Again,” is a social satire of such tremendous force, and is sS different from any of his former works, that Paris is agape at it. For the book, in the form of a. story—indeed, m the form of a story of fact—describes nothing less startling than the sudden return of Jesus Christ to Paris on December 14.

It is, sdys a Paris correspondent, a difficult book to write about, yet write about it one must, for it is be the sensation of to-morrow in London. We have had, “When it Was Dark,” and Mr Stead’s “If Christ came to Chicago',” but for power, as for'sensation. these hooks are mere trifles compared to the bombshell which M. Charles Morice has dropped on the boulevards. This is the way the book begins:

“When the Paris newspapers appeared on the morning of December 11 the back page of each paper—on which as a rule, the advertisements were printed—was white. Everybody was puzzled, for the same phenomenon was visible on every paper. People got. excited, and the newspaper offices were besieged with questioners. No answer was forthcoming. “That evening the last page of the evening papers had no printed matter, and there were other blanks in other portions of the papers. The most puzzled of all were the journalists themselves.” THE MYSTERY. The director of the “Dawn”- a transparent pseudonym of the “Matin”— offers '£‘4ooo for an explanation of the mystery in time for the next morning’s paper. No explanation is forthcoming, although the “Dawn” offers, in addition to the money, an engagement on its staff at a large salary to the journalist who can solve the mystery. . -fhe printers are as puzzled as the journalists, for the papers have gone into the presses as usual. Then a journalist makes a discovery. Nothing but fact appears in any paper. Everything which is paid for, "everything that is untrue has disappeared. And on the morning of the 14th, while all Paris is wondering at the utter lack of business on the Bourse the day before, a little note appears on the back page of every Paris paper in a sea of white. “The Son of God needs no advertisement; he is staying at the Hotel of the Three Kings on the Place de l’Etoiie”—literally, the Place of the Star. “He will receive all visitors from twelve o’clock till twelve o’clock all day this 14th day of December and to-morrow.”

■Such is the beginning of this remarkable book. _ It sounds blasphemous, but it is certainly not intended to be blasphemoiis. The author’s reputation is of itself sufficient to make such a thought, impossible, and the personality—if I may use the word — of Him of Whom the book is written is treated with absolute reverence. _ M. Morice wishes to flay and flay society in Paris of to-day. He lashes with unsparing hand. There is a rush to the Hotel of the Three Kings. There are tliree hundred rooms in it. and in every one of three hundred simultaneously Jesus receives a journalist. Each man believes that he is the only one to be received, and to each one of them the Saviour appears as a dedication of tlm man’s own ideal of himself.

The papers of that afternoon appear with long enthusiastic interviews, in each of which Jesus is differently described. and wihat he has said -is differently told. Nothing else is talked about in Paris at all. Before evening a crowd of several hundreds of thousands has gathered outside the hotel,' and the police fail to keep order until someone in the crowd says, “Why does not He keep order Himself, if it be really He?” “At that moment, as though He had heard the words, He appeared on the balcony of the hotel and raised His hand. Immediately the immense crowd passed slowly and with perfect order in front of the balcony, and Jesus bless* ed them as they passed.” . His coming creates an immense wave of curiosity all over the world'. People come from all parts to see Him and to question Him, and He preaches of love, and stigmatises the sins of modern life. M. Jaures asks Him. to declare , himself favorable to the Socialist idea. Jesus answers. “The poor will always be among you.” Then members of the French academies try to question Him, and ask Him to attend a meeting of the French Academv of Science. Jesus, refuses, with a pitying smile, and alludes to His former meeting with the doctors in the Temple He refuses to perform a miracle. hut this is what He does: “The girl was trembling. Jesus reassured her with a smile. , ‘What do you want of Me?’ 'lie said. ‘Lord, those I love are in danger of -death, and I have come to implore You to save them.’ Jesus takes her by the hand, and goes with her to a rich . man’s house, where a dinner party is in progress. Pie has come to save the girl’s brother and sister-in-law, in whose hearts love for one another has died'. He speaks a few words, and the two hurst into tears and kiss, while the girl falls at the Saviour’s feet*. MARRIAGES' BROKEN OFF.

The marriages of all who meant to marry for money or for position are broken off at the last moment. Brides and bridegrooms say “No” at the altar. They are prevented from saying “Yes” by an unconquerable force. The Bourse practically stops business, for the bankers and brokers refuse to deal in speculative bonds and shares. Business is almost at a standstill, for ■ dishonesty is at the root of modern business, and dishonesty .has ceased to exist. The Government, at its wits’ end, a*crees a public holiday, and distributes money, food, and wine, so that’ there may not be a. riot. Jesus, followed by the children, by their mothers, and by the whole of Paris, goes up to Montmartre and preaches His second Sermon on the Mount. The older people are shamed and- in despair,; The children and the women with ''pure hearts are happy, for He preaches of Love*’ and of- Hope. - , • ; - v: . And the book ends with an interview between the Prefect of "Police and the President of the Republic, iirwliich they decide to ask Jesus to leave Franco. He leaves Paris on Christmas, Day,' The reign of perfect love'; and virtue was not yet to be.

The book is pretty sure to be translated into English, and to cause the sensation on the other side of the Channel that it is causing in Paris. Its satire and its daring are amazing.