The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1891-07-10
Consolidated April II. 1890

llD1T, let tny waters save me- ana cast
himself INTO their depths \ murmur
OF admir- alton ascended from each side
of the river and Lars Porsenna as he
saw him borne safely up the opposite
bank, turning said Such men would
conquer even gods
And with weeping add with laughter.
Still Is the story told,
How well HoratiuS kept the bridge,
In the brave old days OF old
1t seems to me that one of the saddles.
events in history, is the fate OF the little
Roman maid, Virginia. Poets have sung
it, artists have painted It and actors have
Ilmpersonated it, Motherless. her father
Nirginius.a brave soldier. she resided with
her aunt and uncle upon the Aventine
Hill. In the following beautiful words
Macaulay describes the city on that
morning as she trlpped to school.
lover the Alban mountains the light Of mornn-
From all the roofs Of the seven Hills curlvd
the thin wreaths of smoke
The CITY gates were open the ForEm was al alive.
WIN buyers and with sellers was humminG
Blithely on brass and timber the Craftsman'- :
stroke was ringing,
Ana bthely o'cr her panniers, the market
glrl was SINGING.
And blithely young Virginia came smiling from
her home,
All woe for young Virginia, the sweete-;
maid of Rome:
With her small tablet in her hand, and her
satchel on her arm
Forth she went bounding to her school nor
dreamed OF shame or harm.
we know how Appius the wicked de
cemvir, struck with her beauty, bade her
good morning, how she, terrified fled.
and how Appius sent Marcus. a man as
wicked as himself after her, to claim her,
freeborn maiden as his slave, promising
TO support his clam. The Indignation
of the people, how they were resdy t.
kill Marcus, the appearance of Appius,
and his appointing trial in the Forum
the following morning. The trial was
OF the kind we might expect knowing
the circumstances. Everything was 10
prove her the slave OF Marcus. Atlength
Appius rising said ut can be plainly
seen that the child is the slave OF Mar
GUS "Deliver up the glrlto her master >
Silence at this decision fell upon the peo-
pie; with defiant faces they drew near
Virglnius Women threw themselves i,
the feet of Virginia as though to protect
her. "Base rebel" cried Appius, do you
dare dispute tue law aud decree Of your
supreme magistrate? Lietors, make
way "Forbear, friends, ferbear,' al
Nirginius, Il would say afew words with
crnzed father made a most touching plea
Are you father yes, ah then you will
not refuse TO grant me few minutes
apart from the crowd, where | may bid
q last farewell TO the little girl, who has
tor fifteen years called me father. |
know | am foolish old man, but me
thinks could | be convinced Appius, that
Virginia is no. my child | could part
from her with less grief. And Appius
moved, granted the request. Come with
me darling" said Eirginlus. On a bench
which they passed Vlrginlus spied a
knife carelessly thrown, and cautiously
concealed it IN his sleeve, Many tender
words did he speak to her then bidding
her last farewell, he said, ..Nirginia
child, wilt thou forgive me, wilt thou
forgive thy old father All. clasp me-
tighter darling, turn your face from NE,
but there is only one way To save thee,
one way, and that is this and the heroic
father had pierced the heart OF his only
child. Rushing back he waived the
bloody weapon in the tace OF the terrified
Appius, "Wlth this innocent blood | de
vote thee to the internal gods. and was
gone. 1t is needless to say that Marcus
and Appius suffered III the hands Of tn
people. And now that We
have taken just glance at a very few 81
the Roman heroes | am not sure but v.
have passed by many OF as much or even
more heroism.
For there is Caius Muclus, to show
the enemy how little he feared torture,
thrust his right hand into the glowing
Goals until it shrivelled away the ga
liant Fabius. who with .hree hundred
and six followers marched against
mighty host Of the Neientians, and not
one returned Camillus, dictator ot
Rome, who saved Rome, though in ruins.
from the terrible Gauls Cicero, weak in
body though strong in mind, by his
writings, did the work OF II hero. AMI
tinclnnatus the farmer hero, man who
lived AS true and noble Il life as history
records. Perhaps many OF you are Won
lering why should leave out the noble
Cesar, il such your opinion be OF him.
II was no mistake. for il had taken for
my subject "Tyrants OF Rome he would
have headed my list. To me every seem
ngly brave act Of Cesar's. has behind il
some selfish motive. I believe he wa~
happy when after great battle he cou'h
order the enemies 10 be killed and Ii X
BOYS and women TO be sold as slaves, III
perhaps most pleased, when he could
the army to fall upon the enc
ny impeded An l kill a great number o
hem, or totally extinguish the name ~
some nation. Therefore | do not men
ion him. TOR my hero m ust be brave, VI
selfish and kind
Making n Success Of Life