The sun., 1883-09-30

agine this or that conventicle In tho depths OF
the Transtevere quarter. whore they may have
said to ono another. Is not this Just what we
foretold2' Now. II Is often dangerous to show
yourself too good prophet II we chose to
avengo ourselves says Tertulan. a single
night and few torches would suffice The
charge OF incendiarism was frequently brought
against the Jews on account OF their seques-
tered mode OF living. The same crime was one
OF those fdpi,,u cohdrentid nomini which subse-
auently formed part of the definition Of q
Christian.
Without having at all contributed to the
catastrophe of July 10. A. d.. GA. the Chris
tians. then. may be looked upon as incendi-
aries at heart though not in act. Four and q
half years later. the book of Revelation will
offer us pecan over the burning of Rome
moro than one feature Of which, probably ia
derived from the actual event of Ga. The de-
struction OF Rome by the flames was in truth
jewish and Christian dream but 1t was only n
dream: the pious sectaries qucstionably
contonted themselves with beholding in the
spirit saints and angels applauding from
heavens height what they looked uron as
Just expiation."
At the outset OF the demonstration against
the Christians number of suspected persons
were arrested and flung into prison in n pro-
mary form OF torture They confessed their
fhth. which might be considered an avowal of
the crime supposed to be inseparable from
their religious opinions. These first arrests
brought about multitude of others. The
greater part of the accused seem to have
been proselytes observing tho preccpts and
stipulations OF tho compact entered into at
Jerusalem between Paul and his Gentle con-
verts on the one hand land the official repre-
sentatires OF the original Jewish Christians on
the other. 1t is not to be supposed
that real Christians would denounce
their brethren; but papers could be
seized and neophytes only recently initiated
may have succumbed to the torture. People
were surprised at the multitude OF adherents,
which these dismal doctrines had gained. and
spoke of them with not u little terror. All sem
sible persons deemed the charge Of having
started the fire very weakly supported. Their
veritable crime it would be said. is their
hatred OF tho human race Although per-
suaded that the conilagration was the work of
Nero. some serious minded l,Omans saw in this
random cast of the police net n means of free
ing the city from homicidal pest. Tacitus in
spite Of some signs Of pity. is Of this opinion.
AS for Suetonius. he reckons among the praise
worthy measures Of Nero the punshments
which he inflicted on the partisans of the new
and malellcent superstition.
These punishments were something fright
full. Such rennements OF cruelty had never
been seen before. Almost all the Christians
arrested were hun,ilioreS. or what we should
call nobodies. Tho doom Of these luckess be-
ings when they were convicted of high treason
or sacrege. was to be thrown to the wild
beasts or burned alive in the amphitheatre
after savage ilagellations. 1t was one of the
hiInOllS Of hnt
the inlliction OF torture had been made holi-
day amusement. and the spectacle Of butchery
ono of tho public SPORTS Persia, in its mo-
ments OF fanaticism and terror. had wit
messed fearful exhibitions of torture; but
never before the Roman domination had
men gone 80 far as to seek in
horrors like these a public diversion. pro-
vocative of laughter and applause. Tho am
phitheatres wore become places OF execution;
the tribunals OF justice supplied material to the
arena. Convicts. the world over. were deported
to Rome to feed the circus and provide enter
tainment for the mob. If we Join to this GUS
tom IN atrocious exaggeration Of penalties.
which caused simple misdemeaIors to be Wis
tied with death; il we add tho frequent Judi
cial errors which rssuited tfrom defective
criminal procedure. we shall understand how
all ideas upon the subject OF crime and punish
ment would be perverted. The victims of ju-
dicial condemnation were looked upon rather
as unfortunate than criminal; viewed in the
mass. they were regarded as1almost innocent,
uutoria corpora.
On this occasion the barbarity OF tho pun
ishments inflicted was aggravated by derision
Ihe victims were reserved for holiday to
whose ceremonies. doubtless. an expiatory
characterwas given. Rome knew but few days
so extraordinary. The morning show, lutius
n,dtutnus. which was allotted to combats of
animals presented an unhcard-of procession.
Convicts. covered with the skins of wild beasts.
were pushed into the arena. where they were
torn to pieces by dogs; others were crucfed
others. finally. clothed in tunics dipped in oil
tar. or resin. We're bound to upright poles and
kept to illuminate the merrymaking at night
AS the sun went down they lighted these torches
OF flesh and blood. Nero gave up for the pur-
pose of the spectacle the magnificent gardens
which he owned on the further side of the Ii
ber. and which occupied the present site Of the
Borgo. OF the church and piazza of st. Peter
They contained circus begun by Caligua
and continued by Claudus and within which
an obelisk brought from Holiopois uhe same
that in our day marks the centre of the piazza
of st. Peter, served for turning post. This To-
cality had already witnessed massacres by
torchlight. Callgula. while stroling there.
took fancy to have number Of consular per-
sonaGes Senators. and Roman ladies beheaded
by the flare OF the flambeaux. The idea Of sub.
shutting for candeabra human bodies imprcg-
mated with infammabc substances may well
have appeared ingenious. Regarded as a form
of capital punishment. this mode of burning
alive was no new thing; it was the usual
penalty imposed upon incendiaries. wha.
was called the t,nica Dolesa; but 1t
had never been converted into an illumi-
mating apparatus Amid the blaze of these hide
ous torches Nero. who had made evening
horse races the fashion. would show himself in
the arena. sometimes mingling with the people
in Jockey dress. sometimes driving his chariot
and competing for applause. There were. how
ever some signs ef compassion Even they
w,,,, u,n.,,,t,evod tho ',n,...'-. nc.
knowledgod that they merted capital punish.
ment, were struck with horror at these revolt
ing diversions. Prudent men would have liked
TO see nothiEg done beyond what the common
veal "-onlhndcd: they would have been willing
20 see the city purged of "A dangerous element,
but they were not pleased to have the air Of