The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-29

face to face with
The Roman Coliseum,
and we agree with Martial:
Omnis C@sareo cedat labor
Ampitheatro.
These were the gardens Of Nero, and in
them was erected colossal statue of that
Emperor with the attributes of Apollo.
and on his temples laid the green laurel
of Daphne. But the family of Vespasian,
in hatred of Nero, destroyed his golden
house, tore down the colossus, and built
the amphi- theatre in its place. But the
record of the colossus of Nero remained,
and coliseum, corruption of the former
name, is the designation of this colossal
monument. This immense ruin looks as
if it needed but little to restore it, so per-
feet is the outline that remains. When
it was all complete, two flights of stairs
supported it as huge pedestals. Four
stories are placed above. Eighty open
arches, forming eighty entrances, sur
round the first story. The vast building
is fifty-two metres high, and sixty thou
sand spectators could enter and depart
without crowding. 1t has conquered
twenty centuries with all their destruc-
ton, but was built in less than three
years. The blocks of stone of which it
is composed are the largest we have ever
beheld, yet they were lifted into their
places on the shoulder Of the captive
Jews, who received no reward while it
was building but the lash, and when it
was finished, were devoured by hungry
beasts in the circus. Titus solemnized
its Inauguration by hundred days of
feasting, in which there were combats of
stays, elephants, tigers, lions, men, ter
rible struggles, which sprinkled with
blood the faces Of the people. Nine thou
sand animals perished during those san
culinary orgies in the arena. History.
which has preserved their number, does
not mention that of the human sacrifices.
Slaves were more worthless than the
wild beasts to the Caesars. What an
amusement The crowd are impatient
the music sounds, and at an imperial
signal the vomitorii open and the gladi-
ators rush forth, saluting the crowd as
If pleasant feast awaited them, rather
than a relentless death. The duelists
have been torn from their mountain
homes by the fortunes of war and Rome
has fed them for their blood-blood which
Is to be sacrificed to appease the passion
OF the Roman crowd for amusement. Per.
haps some of them are friends, mayhap
brothers, who are obliged to engage in
the bloody strife. Already they threaten,
they entice, they lie in ambush for each
other. If any lay back for terror or
compassion, the master of the circus tor
lures him with red hot iron button ap-
piled on his naked shoulders. The Grim
som blood flows and smokes in the circus.
A gladiator has slipped and fallen. The
people shout, believing him dead, and
hiss when he rises. This one falls pierced
by a single wound given through his
buckler. He waits his doom with an an
gnish which looks like an epileptic fit.
Ills successful antagonist, moved with
compassion, looks to the Roman matrons
Tor the signal to spare, but they refuse
to grant it, and he perishes-the while
the Roman people revel in the bloody
spectacle-shout, clap their hands be
come infuriated, and follow the combat
with a nervous anxiety, straining their
eyes to see more of the murder and open
ing their nostrils to inhale more Of the
bloody vapors. Such was the condition
OF humanity when the religion of Jesus
Christ began its mission. The race had
descended to the lowest point of degra-
datlon. Man had lost conscience, woman
had parted not only with her virtue,
but her pity L. M. G.