The Romance of History; Lost Israel Found; Or, Jeshurun's Pilgrimage Towards Ammi, from Lo-Ammi

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... the romance of history. Between The "lines." In every age the drama of human existence has been haunted by a dim shadow of cyclopean proportions, whose many-phased identity has hitherto so mystified the plot that, with a depth of interest akin to what Ahasuerus might enlist should he appear in modern streets, the audience, seated upon the arena of the years, has never failed to hush, with strained expectancy, so soon as it appeared. Silent, in the background, shrouded, and obscure, this figure has trodden the boards with grand majestic mien, and though every actor on the stage of history has paid deference to its presence, it has never even intimated why or whence it came, nor whither it was going. Almost as though impersonating Providence, it has been often seen to write, or act, between the lines; but ere its riddle has been solved the vision has faded out, only, however, to reappear anon, new-draped, to suit some passing scene. Still the same proportions, but with visage ever deeply veiled, it has always played the role of a Nation, but of one "diverse from all the rest." Indeed it has never been reckoned in the cast, for this has moved along without it. And yet, as though a play within a play, its own story has been vividly consecutive, and to its fortunes those of all the rest have seemed most strangely joined. The curtain is now rising on a closing scene of one of history's great acts, and again this form appears. With varied interest man has followed, step by step, this grand spectaculum, and, as its scenes unfolded, has concluded now one thing, now another, until the very intensity of this double drama has wrapped him in its riddle. But a genuine surprise at last awaits the audience, for its mysterious hero approaches the...