People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-27

means. Out of mere pluck, mere
holding-on, mere desperate determin-
alton not to give up, he again and
again turned disaster into triumph !;
failure into success cloud into sun
shine. In doing great things from
small beginnings, the world never
did hold match for Cesar. And
next to his calm, clear common sense,
his greatest quality was pluck.
Now, Pompey was not built that
way at all. He caved in at the very
first reverse. As soon as his lines
broke at Pharsalus, he shouldered
himself and trotted right off. He
outran all his troops. He left them
to be cooped up and captured by
Cesar while he himself galloped
straight for the sea-shore and got on
board one of his ships.
He had large fleet on this Sea
(the Mediterranean, and should have
joined it and then gone to one of his
armies. He had large forces both in
Africa and Spain. But he lost his
head entirely, and put out in the op-
posite direction. He sailed to Nifty
lene, where he took his wife, Cor
nelia, on board, and after sailing about
for some days trying to make up his
mind what to do, he decided to make
for Egypt.
At this time war was going on
in that country between King Pto-
lemy and his sister, Cleopatra. Pom
pey sent messengers to Ptolemy, an
nouncing his arrival and asking pro-
lection. He was invited to come
ashore. His wife suspected danger
and urged him not to go. He, how
ever, got in boat and was rowed to
land. AS he was about to step out
he was stabbed to death by murder
ers in the employ of Ptolemy. One Of
these was an old officer of Pompey
who had served with him in the East
ern wars. These despicable men had
taken Pompey into their own boat
pretending to receive him as Guest
Pompey died like brave man.
Seeing that escape was impossible,
and that death had come, he drew
his mantle over his face and made no
resistance while his old comrade in
arms helped to cut him down. 1t
was most cruel. Ancient history has
no sadder page. A few days before
this, the name Of Pompey the Great
was mighty in all the East: Kings
and Princes and Peoples bowed be-
fore him. The victories of twenty
years had solicited his fame. Yet
one lost ight-and all was gone
Cities closed their gates to him, time
servers fed his falling cause, the very
Seas he had sailed with the unlimit-
ed powers that Rome had put in his
hands to clear it Of Pirates, witnessed
his flight as hunted fugitive-seek-
ing where he might find shelter
And even the sacred character Of
Guest, the welcomed guest, could not
save him from assassination under
the eyes Of his shrieking wife!
When the fatal work was done and
the body of Pompey lay in blood on
the sands of the beach, the vessel
which bore Cornelia sailed away and
escaped the Egyptian pursuers.
The Murderers cut off the head Of
Pompey and carried it away. The
body, they left on the shore.
One of Pompey's servants staid by
till the people who had gathered to
gaze on it went away; and then
washed it il the sea and began tc
gather wood to burn it,-according
to Roman custom.
While SO engaged, an old man who
had once served under Pompey, and
loved him, came up and asked leave
to aid in the pious task.
Thus these two Zone servant and
the other poor old veteran of the
wars), on the lonely beach of the Sea.
reduced to ashes the mangled and
abandoned body of Pompey the
Great the leader of the Roman
Aristocrats.
Cesar soon arrived. He had fol
lowed swiftly after the fugitive. Two
of the assassins, thinking to please
Cesar, brought him Pompey's head
He turned away from it with horror