People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-16

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A ROMAN
Pillow BOY.

family was very proud and powerful.
This time will speak of one who was
nothing but country plow-boy, and
whose folks were humble and poor.
His name was Marius. He was born
few years after the Graceful. He was
native of the same land. His parents
were day laborers on the farm. They
had to scufie along the best they could
and bring their boy up to hard work.
He worked in the field for living, and
perhaps he went to bed hungry many
time
When he was old enough, Marius
joined the army as a private. That has
always been an easy place to get. No
matter how aristocratic and proud any
nation may get, it is willing to have the
plain, common people do just as much
of the fighting as they wish. This is
very nice. 1t gives the rich chance to
stay at home and get richer. 1t gives
the common folks chance to get all the
hard knocks and to come home from the
war poorer than ever.
Marius was a good soldier. He was
truthful, moral, active and brave. He
obeyed all orders promptly and well. In
battle he was SO fearless and useful that
his generals noticed it and praised him
highly. He was such a valuable man
that they began to promote him. He
soon became an important officer in the
army. Whenever there was hard fight
ing or tedious marching to do he was
sure to be called on. Whatever he laid
his hands to, he did with all his might.
Hence he succeeded so well that he soon
became man Of some Importance even
in the great city of Rome.
Still he was very poor. At that time
money ruled nearly everything, and a
man who had no wealth and no high
family connections stood poor chance
to hold any of the best positions. A
few aristocratic families got them all.
Marius saw this, and so he married
a rich lady, of high family connections.
How he managed to do it, we are not
told. He was a very ugly man-uglier
than a wOrn-o out saw mill-and perhaps
the lady fell in love with him. It seems
to be one of the kindest of providential
things that the ugly men get some Of
the prettiest women.
At any rate this ugly plow-boy made
the trip. He succeed in marrying the
aunt of Julius Caesar, one of the
| richest, most influential and handsomest
ladies in Rome. This marriage set him
up in life. It gave him money, and
family connection, and social influence.
He ran for office time and again. In
| fact he was elected to one after another
until he reached the highest his people
could give. This was the Office of Con-
sui. When he reached that high place
he was really the ruler, the king, of his
country.
The plow-boys are hard to down, no
matter where you find them.
Years passed on. Marius was engaged
in several great wars. He won many
battles. His fame filed the world.
After one of his wars he had street
parade in Rome to show the people the
splendor of his victories. In this pro-
cession he carried king whom he had
taken prisoner and three thousand
pounds of gold, nearly six thousand
pounds of silver, besides a vast amount
of coin.
In one of his wars he saved Rome
| from destruction. Large armies of Ger
mans had invaded his country, and had
it not been for him, they would perhaps
have conquered it.
So, you see, this plow-boy had won
the love of all his people, and his glory
was very great.
But, afterwards, there came strife at
Rome among the Roman people. The
poor people and the country people
wanted to have their proper share in the
| control of the State and in the making
of the laws. The aristocrats objected to
| this. They held all the wealth and all
| the power, and they wanted to keep it.
! They did not think that the country peo-
pie had sense enough to know anything
about choosing rulers or making laws
They thought it very strange that the
| country folks kicked about the way
things were going on. They said if those
farmers would just work harder and live
| closer everything would soon be lovely.
Especially did these city bosses denounce
the leaders of the country people. They
said they were demagogues that they
were trying to stir up the country
against the town that they were array
| ing one class against another, and that
| if these leaders were either killed or GUST
ed from Office, the people would all come
together again.
So they went to work and they got up
rows in the streets. Armed bands of
their men would attack the unarmed
country people and kill them like dogs.
Now, Marius was more of a soldier
than politician, but his heart was with
the people. His father and mother had
been laborers on the farm. So had he.
| His relatives were all country folks. He
knew how hard their lot was, and he
aristocrats turned against him, They
forgot all his good character and faith
fnl service. Thew forlot how he had