Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-03-03
Nero and His Golden House.

Nero's life "a emperor was one long
series OF stage effects OF which the lead
ing feature was a feyerish extravaganza.
His return from the art-tOur in Greece
outdid all the triumphal professions Of
the past. Thousands Of carriages were
needed for bis baggage; his sumpter
mules were shod with silver; and all the
towns he passed upon his way received
him through Il breach made in their
walls, for such he heard was the sign
of honor" with which their citizens
were went TO welcome the Olympian vic
tcrs Of old DAYS The public works that
he designed were more to feed his pride
than serve the public. He wanted, like
another Xerxes, to cut canal through
the COrinthian isthmus; thought Of
making vast lakes to be supplied from
the hot springs Of Baia, and schemcd
great works, by which the sea might be
brought almost to the walls Of Rome
But it was only by his buildings that he
left enduring traces, and to this the great
disaster of his times gave an unlooked-for
impulse. Some little shops in the low
grounds near the circus took fire by
chance. The flames spread fast through
the narrow streets and crowded alleys of
the quarter, and soon began to climb up
the higher ground to the statelier houses
Of the wealthy. Almost a week the fire
was burning, and Of the fourteen wards
of the city only four escaped unharmcd.
Nero wa. at Antium when the startling
news arrived, and he reached Rome too
late to save his palace. He threw his
gardens open to the homeless poor, low
cred at once the price of corn, and had
booths raised in haste to shelter them,
lie did not lack sympathy for the masses
Of the city, whose tastes he shared and
catered for. And yet the story spread
that the horrors Of the blazing city
caught his excited fancy, that he saw in
it scene worthy of an emperor to act
in, and sung the story of the fall Of Troy
among the eclashiDg ruins and the fury OF
the flames. Even wilder fancies spread
among the people: men whispered
that his servants had been seen
with lighted torches in their hands
as they were hurrying to and
fro to spreed the fire. For Nero hid been
heard to wish that the old Rome Of
crooked streets and crowded lanes might
be now swept clean away, that he might
rebuild it on a scale of royal grandeur
Certainly he claimed for himself the
lions share of the space that the flame,
had cleared, The palace to which the
Palatine hill had given name, now took
wider range and spread to the Esqui
line, including in its vast circuit long
lines of porticoes lakes, woods, and
parks; while the buildings were 50 Law,
ishly adorned with every art as to de-
serve the name of the Golden House,
which the peoples fancy gave to them
In its yestibule stood the colossal figure
of the emperor, one hundred and twenty
feet in height which afterwards gave i'll
name to the colosseum. From il
stretched porticoes mile in length, sup
ported on triple ranges Of marble pillars
| leading to the lake, round which wa
| built mimic town, opening out into
parks stocked with wild animals of ever!
sort. The halls were lined with gol(
and precious stones: the banquetmg
rooms were fitted with revolving roof
of ivory, perforated to scatter flower
and perfumes on the guests, while shift
inc tables seemed to vanish OF them
selves, and reappear charged with rich
est viands There we're baths too, to sui
all tastes some1.upplied from the water
of the sea, and some filed with sui phu
rous streams that had their sources mile
away. Thousands of the choicest work
of art OF Greece and Asia had been de
stroyed, but their place was taken by tn
paintings and the statues brought from
every quarter of the empire. Nero sen
special agents to ransaCk the cities 70
art-treasures, and many town amOn
the isles of Greece mouned in after day
the visit that had despoiled it Of som
priceless treasure. When all was done
and the emperor surveyed the work
even he was satisfied, and he cried
Now at least feel that am lodged a
a man should be- It was in halls lik
these the privileged few gathered roun
their lord when he returned from th
grave business OF the circus and tn
stage 10 indulge in the pleasures Of tn
table The Earl Empire.