The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-26

Az oooh BiCW uuoh anu Oho VI Cuo louIp n.y.
although the youngest, seemed to exercise a
species of authority over the rest said
'"NOw, let us take leok at our stable, then
| at our men, after which the Suburra."
They went into an alley, threaded their way
through dense, motley, seething multitude
of registering id1ers, the ebuliition of which
had once fermented clear into julius Cesar
| and presently they passed under an archway
| into a courtyard strewn with sawdust, where
all was comparatively quiet-a creek, so to
say, running out of a high sea into sheltering
cliffs on either hand.
AS they pcered over a low porch into a stable
Lighted with lanterns, our old acquaintance,
Philip the freedman, came ont with dust
covered and grim face, and salutcd respectfully
the youngest of the company.
Twelve fine, strong Tauric horses, master
Paulus," he said, pointing to twelve, clean,
well-littered stalls 81 besides the Sejanus," added
he, turning toward the stall Immediately op-
posite the door.
"Are these all we can obtain :" inquired
Paulus.
"Ah! and lucky, too, master Panlus, to OBJ
tain these" answered the freedman; they
wanted forty n.umnti aurci pair but chat
fered them down a bit. This Rome is a nasty
place, can tell you, and, between ourselves,
| a DANCE ous place too"
But" said Paulus, with serious look, I" if
we cannot mount the soldiers, we must travel
at an infantry pace; tho vehicles cannot leave
the guard behind. However, where are the
men, Philip"
"IIard by, master. I will conduct you to
| their thermopolia," (,rnesh tarern, curious
ly enough, meant book shop or stationers)
Philip hereupon led the way, and the four
| followed till just within the lower end of the
Suhurra ; pushing aside a curtain, he intro
duced them from the street into w hat appeared
to be den of raging maniacs.
Ten stalwart men, dressed and armed as
| soldiers, were seated opposite to one another
on benches at each side of long table, five a
| side. Earthenware vessels called cWpG, full
of common draught wine loaded the coarse
pine table, and each pair of soldiers appeared
to be engaged in q deadly strife across the
board. 1t was who should best "nncare digetis'
or " flash his fingers" The men were seriously
| gambling in that ancient Evolutionary way
which still survives in Italy under The name
of morrG," wonderful instance of the tena-
cious capacity which popular customs possess
to outlive political changes, the overthrows of
stitutions. The men thus gambling in the
| reign of Augustus Caesar roared, grimaced and
gesticulated, as they exhibited on the one side
and guessed the other the number of fin
gers closed Strengthened in the bands which
they darted alternately against each others
faces; and nearly two thousand years later
men still roar, grimace, gesticulate and rave
after the same manner over the same curious
| in tolV 70 ba nf
Grmcia. The only principle of skill in the
game is that which gives its interest to the
Odd and Even" of our modern sch ooboys.
1t seemed as if the soldiers were on the point
of massacring each other. sudden appa,
rition of Paulus and his companion as TIE
door of their bower produced amusing
change of scene. Every gambler was petrifed
and cyrstallzed in his particular attitude and
his own proper and peculiar grimace but the
yelling at once gave place to dead silence, as
if by enchantment, and ten pairs of eyes gazed
askance with a troubled expression upon the
unexpected iutruders. A word explained al
to the foreign-reared Roman. Not man Of
the bowling company was in the slightest de
gree intoxicated.
"All is well, my men," said Paulus, with {
smile; "be ready for orders, night or day."
Ay, ay centurion" was the reply sunl
out in chorus and as he left them the roarin,
recommended" Duo! Qunque! Trcs"'
Now for man." said Paulus aud the.
assembled the famous, or rather Infamous
Suburb about thirty yards. They stopped OF
the left side of the street, going upward, at
door which man with pinchcd, withered
yellow face, a long hooked nose, thick lips
, and thick overhanging red eyebrows. was il
the act of closing. Paulus placed his han,
against the door to keep it aiar, the maj
within set his shoulder against it, and shovel
with all his might to close it home the doc
quivered slightly, and remained as it was.
why, Cassius Chmrias." observed Paulus
laughing, and turning to one of tho two eldes
of the not elderly group, you could cut you
way through this door, even if it were closed
more easily than through eight thousand iufu
rated mutineers."
| In q recent mutiny of tho lecious under Ger