Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-12-03
A Roman Holiday.
A Tale of Ancient Rome.

A Roman Holiday.
A Tale Of Ancient Rome.
For the INTELLIGENCER.
CHAPTER I.
Rome was yet glorious but it was not
the glory of her earlier days. Prosperity
had enervated, and luxury debased, her
populace, whose venai practices in govern
mental and social affairs broadly displayed,
what they affected to despise, . disposition
of cowardice, ill-suited to the name and at
tributes of Roman citizen. And when
the prohigate and exquisitely -conceited
Carinus, with his brother, assumed control
! of the Roman empire, he found in the ho-
mans people ever ready for display OF
their vanity, and the qualification OF their
desire for rich amusement:
History has condescended to record but
little of the administration of Carinus, ex-
cept his exhibitions and games of the am
phitheatre and the circus, which, it is con-
fessed, exceeded in pomp and magnificence
dition of times adds an event, which, though
founded on truth, and cmbellished by fic-
ton, can amuse. though it may fail to in
struct, the mind of philosopher or
savant.
It was a day of Joy and hilarity in Rome.
A hundred gladiators were to contend In
the arena of the Colosseum, that mighty
subject of ancient splendor and modern
wonder, and the fair and heroic land OF
Greece was represented in the doomed
band. In one of the recesses Of the amphl
theatre q score of them were assembled.
There were no tokens of fear about them !;
fate had initiated, and victory confirmed,
their vocation, and they were, with the
exception of one, gladiators by profession.
Negligently scattered about the apartment,
their scanty apparel showed their brawny
limbs and toughened sinews in unimpedcd
power.
In corner, apart from his companions,
stood youth, whose symmetrical form,
noble carriage, closely. clustered hair and
faultless profile, at once stamped him as
perfect type of the true Greek. Unlike the
rest, he was attired in a robe of soft skins,
falling from the neck to the feet, and fast
ened and made to fit closely by q broad
leather belt around the waist. lie had
stood so long. alone and silent, that tho
men became impatient and curious, and
a powerfully built man, the acknowledged
leader of the Greek gladiators, advanced
and addressed INN With:
"In truth, youngster, you must love 81
lence. Surely Harpocrates claims you at
this moment. Why SO depressed?"
"Wc should not let but one of the gods
rule here, returned the youth, evasivcly,
in musically modulatcd voice.
eyes. let Comus reign alone" shouted
the gladiator, bolsterously. 81 would not
let these foppish and soft Drained Romans
| ILL.,. IL INnfsN In
crees of fate. No, per Hcrcule we arc
Greeks, and worth thousand Romans ~
"Asgeus is continually cursing the Ro,
mans yet he swears in Latin, remarked
a savage-looking gladiator, rs he reclined
easily upon the floor.
"Bah! These ten years have been in
the service of Rome have made me careless
OF which language use" said Aggeus, iron.
ically. :'But cheer up, SOsthenes, " he
continued. addressing the young Greek.
"The gods arc propitious to the fortunate,
always. "
eyes, to the fortunate, remarked Sos
themes, slowly. "But with whom do you
contend?'
"Oh," replied Agseus, carelessly. "
am told most sturdy and valiant Goth
tries my mettle to-day. And you?'
"With no one. l bribed keeper, and
he allowed me to enter here with you and
your comrades, " replied Sosthenes.
"By Jupiter, you are bold, Exclaimed
Aggcus. eff they find you here, you viii
fare badly. But bark that din. The en-
peror has arrived, and tho nice gentlemen
and lovely ladies grow impatient for the
; gladiatOr's blood. l tell thee, comrades, ,
lie continued, turning to his companions,
"ths shall bc u long and warm sport, ant
We can trust only to our skill and the fav
or Of the gods for success. But where :
Sosthenes?"
Every gladiator leaped to his feet, ana
peered into tho corner where the young
Greek had stood he was gone.
"WelI, he's q queer one, at length
exclaimed their leader. "Even while m!
back was to him but an instant, he disap
peared. l wonder how he got out of here. .
, Further words were interrupted by thu
heavy door being swung open, and th'
at either side Of the entrance. A keepe
entered with attendants. who placed il
the hands of the Greeks long lances ant
nets. Not all, however, were thus givel
arms. Aggels was to remain until th'
! hour came when he should meet, in single
7 anddeadly combat, 4 captive Goth, doomed
/ to the arena.
Vale, my comrades, - exclaimed thei
leader, as they filed from the apartment
land may the gods protect you Ant
their last farewell that \ Aggcus heard cam'
bravely back, SCALE ~
Left alone with the great door closed upOl
him, Aggeus threw himself upon the floor
and pondeled over the strange disappear
ancc of the young Greek. lie was sur
prisctl by seeing large stone suddenl!
fall from the wall, near the floor, leavin!
open an aperture amply largo for tho ad
mittance ofthc body of man, and in TIN
faint light he beheld, a moment later
Sosthencs emerge from the hole, saying
"Don't be alarmed, Aggens ; I'm {:
friend. ~
Well, Pm not alarmed, but I'm ver!
much surprised, returned the gladiator
"IOu seem to know much about thi
structure; but, by Jupiter, you are run
ing q great risk. What do you mean b,
these proceedings"
"Listen, replied Sosthencs "Aggcus
you are 4 Greek, and, like myself, descend
ed from the brave Spartans. If You found
4 native of that fair land in danger here il
Rome, would not your strong arm he evel
ready for his aid? ?''
Nov, by the gods, l scorn to NEE
this valiant Goth in yon arena rather lei
mo face a hundred Romans in my cou,l-
try's cause" exclaimed tho generous
Greek.
"Thcn listen,' said Sosthenes. "Twt
weeks ago. miserable Roman magistrate,
in Athens, saw there the glorious daughter