A portico of red sandstone admits one to a long terrace built of white marble blocks, with wonderful gardens on each side and a canal reflecting the dark cypress trees. The tomb stands among these, reflected in the water. It is an octagonal building rising to a great dome, with smaller ones with minarets. All is built of marble and covered with exquisite carvings and inlays of flowers of turquoise and onyx, with sentences from the Koran in black marble. It is all simple, harmonious, and exquisitely beautiful. Within, in the bare central space are the two plain tombs, covered with what is like a pall of carved, lacy marble. The whole forms one of the art treasures of the Orient.
CHAPTER IX
Four Short Programs
PART I
I—A GROUP OF FAMOUS BOOKS
Each of the six masterpieces of fiction suggested for this program must be read by the members of the club in preparation for their presentation at the different meetings. The plots and characters must be familiar, to have intelligent discussion.
When studying each book begin with a sketch of the life and work of the author; follow with an outline of the plot of the book and a description of each of the principal characters. Readings from all the books and criticisms upon them may be found in "Warner's Library of the World's Best literature."
FRENCH, GERMAN, RUSSIAN, AND SPANISH
A French book, "Les Miserables," is one of the best known books of history as well as literature, for it has to do with many vital social questions and reforms. Notice Victor Hugo's descriptive powers and discuss whether the book shows a knowledge of actual life or is largely theoretical. As it is the moral purpose of the book which has given it vitality, study the attitude of society toward the outcast and the criminal as the author gives it. Does the artist in him at times overpower his moral sense? Compare the treatment of the criminal then and at the present time. In spite of the faults of construction, how does the book rank as literature?