The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-10-13
"DOmet1an in the Circus. I"

"A Domet1an in the Circus"
eated from the German byJ. ]. Sprenger.
~ Rome is streaming out toward
sN CoilSeum, where all kinds Of
ainnsement are prepared for the i'm
pshtor. Under the laden MONDAY
s through the rolling waves of
aN, along highway and hyway,
eHFd hundred thousand human
1fags on horseback and vehicle,
ehaiot and palaLquin, men and wo-
H'T mostly in holiday attire, and
pHly ACCOMPANIED by their slaves.
IN densply packed. noisy rahbe
fmRdlhg around the gigantic oval
pWai which was reared by the com.
pRory labor of Hebrews, taken as
pfoners Of war by Vespasian and
nus, and stands as a monument to
pspei uate them in history, are kept
Z s.tssSsger at IA respectful distance by
ss&ssed sel'ais ~ to, keep the passage
n leaN for the high and the select of
RnnsA society. An hour has already
passed iuce the seven stone tiers Of
the immense enclosure commenced
hillng upwith the preferred masses,
all the seas allotted tn them in the
lower cirte, while above them, in
thirty ties rising one above the
other, ever space is crowded with
surging sea of citizens. Under the
covered gallery, still higher up,
ladies' in Wlte waving costumes,
adorned withspangles, bracelets and
dazzling ring, fill up the space, Ian.
guidly coolingheir paint. besmirched
faces, behind .audy fans; and above
them, on the eIumn-supported roof,
the plebians 0rcommon people, pre-
sent "a sea of leads, which are but
little observed jy the gay crowds be-
low, yet themselves have an unob-
strncted view of the grand living
panorama spreai out at their feet.
The circus guards have drawn the
huge canvas curtains over the apex
Of the building to protect the vast
audience from The burning rays of
the sun, and ALI is ready. The time
for the entrance Of the imperatOr has
ariYed. The tumult0us voices of
the throng are momentarily hushed,
aslf in breathless expectancy of the
great event and all is as silent as the
tomb. But, hark From the dis
tance are heard the lOng-draWn
sounds Of the tubas that herald his
approach. With these sounds now
talngle the wild, discOrdant hOWlings
~ tle hungry lions and wild dogs,
confined in the giant cage below the
arena, still restrained in their mad
| thirst for blood, until the dread mo-
ment arrives for them to act their
part in the hOrrid drama about to
be presented to the eager spectators.
The pompous and gaudy train of
senator's in their togas enter and take
seats in the lower tier, near the arena.
Then in a separate division of this
tier appear the vestal virgins, clothed
in dazzling white, and take their
seats, and with their Statue-like faces
turned toward the massive iron en-
closure under the cage of the wild
animals, where the condemned Chris
tians are confined and awaiting their
horrid doom of being torn to pieces
by wild beasts. Young girls, bloom
ing in health and beauty, Old men
With hoary heads and flowing boards,
matrons and youth, praying to their
God-some liz stoical submission,
some in tears, and others in trem-
bling and agitation.
Finally a cOmmOtion, and through
the lofty, triple-arched portal a pro-
ceSSiOn of Roman slaves bearing up-
on the cannopied platform upon
which g golden chair. swimming in
wave of luxurious upholstery,
wrapped in raiments which resemble
a white cloud, the ruler of the world
is seen to enter, surrounded by his
body guard in dazzling armor clad.
All arise as a common impulse and
cast their eyes toward him he lies
-Jreamily exhausted on his pillow
aud is attracted by nothing. The
female slave behind him watches a.
tentiveIy the movement of every
posing fly to drive it away with her
fan, lest it should disturb the "high
and lofty one" She watches his
every movement and mien. But he
stirs not Not a muscle of his Ian
guild countenance is moved. A single
wink of his eve. a single beck from
his hand. and he could pour out a
cornucopia of joy and blessings, OF
empty a pandora bOx-spreading ter
ror and death yea he could be Goo
or devil. Nothing to-day however
Domitian the malignant tyrant wants
nothing to-day. His heart is rigid