The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-11-10

One night Nero, dressed In women'a
clothes, was in one of the palaces OH
Rome, surrounded by his boon com
paniona, male and female, indulging IN
the most loathsome orgies, when . great
uproar was heard In the streets. mes
senger was sent 10 ascertain the cause.
He returned with the appalling tdings
that Galba, nj the head of an ayenRinR
army, was marching rapidly into Rome
that inRnrrectiOn had broken out in
the streets, and that countless mob
breathing threatenings and slaughter,
were snrging toward the palace.
The wretched tyrant. as cowsrdiy M
he was infamous, was struck with dis
may. lie sprangfrom the table 80 sud
| denly as 10 oyeTturn IL, dashing the
most costly vases In Fragments, he cried,
II am ruined AMEuined y aud called
for cup of poison. Suicide was the
common resort In those days Of the
eowardly Ia the hours Of wfetcheslnesa.
Nero took the poisoned cup, but daie
not drink II. He called fer = dagger,
examined its polished point. but had not
nerve 10 press that 10 his heart He
| then rushed from the palace IN hls w0-
mans grab, and with bis long hair hut-
/ toring ia the wind. Thus Disguised, be
almost few through the dark aud narrow
streets, Intending t0 plunge into the
Tiber. When he reached the bank and
gaEed upon itS gloomy waves again his
courage failed.
I Several Of his companions had accom-
panied him. One Of them su ygested
that he should fee 10 n country seat,
about three miles from Rome, and there
conceal himself. Insane with terror,
bareheaded, in his shameful grab. he
covered his face with handkerchief,
leaped upon a horse, and succeeded,
through a thousand peFilE, in gaining
his retreat. just before be reached the
villa, some alarm NO frightened him that
he leaped from his horse aud plunged
into thieket by the roadside. Through
briers and thorns, with torn clothes and
lacerated flesh, he reached the insecure
asylum he sought.
In the meantime, the Roman senate
had hurriedly assembled. Emboldened
by the insurrection, and by the approach
Of Galba, they passed decree declaring
Nero 30 be the enemy Of his country,
and doomed him 30 death, more ma
jorim-that is, according to ancient
custom. Some one of Nero's eompan-
ions brought him the tidings in his hid.
ing place. Pallid and trembling, he in.
quired, "And what Is death more ma
jorim ?" The appalling reply was
a. IL is 30 be stripped naked, 10 have the
head fastened ia the piliory, and be
scouFged 70 death 70
The monster who had amused himself
in witnessing the torture Of others re-
cooled with horror from the dreadful
affection. Seizing a dagger he again
endeayoned TO nerve himself % plunge
il into his heart. A pick from the sharp
point was all he could summon resoln-
ton 10 infict. He threw the dagger
aside and groaned in terror. He then
strove 20 talk himself into courage.
"Ought Nero, said he, Ito be Rfraidg
Shall the emperor be n coward No !
Let me die courageousiy J"
Again he grasped the dagger, anxious
" examined It's keen edge, and again
threw il aside with groan Of despair.
/ just then the clatter Of horsemen was
heard, and party Of dragons was seen
approaching. His retreat was discovered,
aud in n few moments Nero would he
helpless in the hands Of his enemies.
Then there would be no possible escape
from the ignominlous and agonizing
death. In the delirium Of despair be
ordered freeman 10 hold n sharp sword
80 that he might throw himself violently
against il He thus succeeded in sever
ing the iugular vein, and his life blood
7 spurted forth. As he sank upon the
ground the soldiers came up. He look
cd nt them with malignant seowi, say
ing, " You are too late 7" and died.
Thus 2crished this monster Of de-
pravity. II is said that this event took
place ON the 18th Of June, A. ID. 6S
4 Many Christians az the time supposed
I Nero 10 be the Anti Christ The wretch
had reigned thirteen years. and died in
the thirty-second year OF his age.