The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-03-04

die of the floor of the Circus ran low
brick wall called the spind which reached
almost from end to end Of the arena
All the seats we're filed with people
eager to witness some harfo wing scene
of death Commodus himself, surround
ed by 8 great'numher OF his favorites.
sat ON high, richly cushioned throne
for him about midway one side
the vast inclosure All was still, as it
the multitude were breathless with ex
pec,aney Presently out from one Of the
openings young man and a young wo.
mere girl--tbeir hands bound
behind them, we're led forth npon the
sand OF the arena and forced to walk
around the entire circumference Of the
place ~ Et; tTTTft
TIE youth was tall and nobly beauti.
full, very Hercules in form, an Apollo
in grace and charm of movement The
girl was petite and lovely beyond COM
pare His hair was blue black and crisp,
and young soft heard curled over bis
cheek and lips Her hair was pure geld,
falling to her feet and trailing behind her
as she walked His eyes we're dark and
proud, hers gray and deep as those of a
goddess. Both we're nude, excepting a
short kir,le reaching TO below the knee
They seemed to move half unconscious
of their surroundings, all bewildered and
dazzled by the situation. a.
At length the great circuit was com
pleted aud the two we're lett standing on
the sand, distant about ore hundred and
twenty feet from the emperor. who now
arose and in loud voice said:
'"Behold tire condemned Ciau3ius, and
Cynthia, whom he lately took for his
vile This youth and the girl have not
vet pressed the nuptial couch They
never will Thev are condemned to death
for the great folly OF Clsudius, that the
Roman people may know that Commo,
ius reigns supreme, The crime for
which they are to die is a great one =
Csuiius has publicly proclaimed that he
was q better archer than |, Commodus
am I am the emperor and the incom
parable archer Of Rome Whoever dis
putes itsdies and his wife with him. l,
is decreedf T. @ 8f 81
> This strange speech was repeated, sen
teuce after sentence, by criers placed al
intervals around the wall, so that every
person Ia that vast Gro wd heard every
word. No one, ho wever, was astonished
at the infamous deed in contemplation,
Too often had Commodus, for the most
trivial offeuse or for no offense at all
buried Roman citixens to bloody death
Aud, indeed, Why should multitude
schooled TO take keen delight in gladia
torial combats ever shudder at any.
lhing2
But it was enough to touch the hear
of even q Roman to see the tender inno
cence OF that fair girls face ss she turn
ed II up in speechless, tearless, appealing
grief and anguish to her husbands Hel
pure bosom beaved and quivered will
the awful terror suddenly generated
within. The youth. erect aud powerful
set his thin lips firmly and kep' his eye,
looking straight out before him Among
the on.iookers many knew him as |
trained athlete, and especially as an al
most unerring archer They knew him
too, as brave soldier, a true friend, al
honorable citizen Little time remained
for such reflections as naturally nigh
have arisen, for immediately aisrgecage
containing two iery-eyed and famishe'
tigers, was brought into the circus ant
placed before the victims The hungr
beasts were excited to -msdness bv tn
smell of fresh blood smeared on the bar
of the cage for that purpose. The
srowled, and. howled, Tapping, their 6er,
tongues and plunging against the door.
The poor girl leaned her head agsins
the naked breast of her lover and uttered
a thin, short wall His eyes did l.o
change their firm stare, but ths might,
muscles OF his arms rolled up and qaiv
cred as he strained al the thongs in a
effort to burst them, and his lips writhe'
into each other He was beginning /
realize that death was near him --snd
ah, near her! II only bis hands wer
free and his good sword within react
how j,yfullv he would hattie for he
against all the tigers ID the world! Br
this cerrain death. how could he bear il
These beasts tJ unrh her tender bod
and delicate iimbsi-her true heart {
quiver in their fanes! How supremel
bitter thing toshelplessly contemplate
And she.--the trembling lily by his cid,
she thought onlylof him,as the man VIII
kept the beasts hegan from his place o
the high, cage, to untasfen The door an
thus to let loose. Death Four Ion
bounds OF those agile monsters woul
bear them 10 the victimss Slowly tL
iron bolts were Withdrawn and the doc
swung round Nothing hut thin air la
between the hungry red mouths and Il
nude deienseless bodies For some ID,
ments the tigers did notmqve exc piin
that they seemed rather to writhe croucl
ingly backward instead OF advancing,
if shrinking from the deviiish deed the
we're, appointed to accomplish The
wss no shrinking in, their bloodsht
eyes, however, and their slight reco
wss but to gather themselves for the ru:
| to the feast
1 A murmur ran all round that vast {
4 lipse-a.. murmur of remoDstrance ar
disgust for now every one saw that Il
spectacle was to be q foul murder wit
put even the show Of struggle. II
alert eyes of Cemmndus we're bent upt
The crouching beasts, At the same tin
The noted well the restlessness and .disa
pointment OF the people He understot
his subjects ard knew how to excl
them He was preparing to do a det
by which he hoped to elicit great q
plause HIS triumph came like athu
derhoit and in a twinkling all was chan
ed u zni'i3 2s4f-fa iaA as'hieiiaf
8 The limbs OF the poor girl had beg,
to giyp way under her and she was slo,
ly sinking to the ground. This seem,
greatly to affect the man, who, witho
lowering his fixed eyes, tried to, suppo
her wi his body Despite his 'effor
she slid down and lay in a helpless he,
at his feet. The lines. on his manly IA
deepened and aslight ashy paIlor flic
cred on brow and eyelids But he d
not tremble. He stood like statue
Hercu es. h'"
| Then a sound came from the car