The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-12-07
LESSONS FROM ROMAN RUINS.
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(RepOrt for Glass F, by w. McM.)
The most authentic history of an ancient nation
is that which is told in its ruins. 1t is believed
that unciviliZed nations never built much higher
than their heads, and then mostly with wood
and consequently left no ruins. On the other
hand, the nations that have left behind sthem
relics of paintings sculpture and architecture, are
believed to be among the ancient civilized ma
tlOns. If we follow in that line, and accept arch
ltectural and engineering skill as the strongest
evidence of ancient civilization, then we should
class Rome in advance of all other ancient ma
tiOns; for certainly she has shown marvellous
skill in both. AS early as four centuries before
Christ they bored a tunnel through the solid rock
for mile and a half, from seven to nine feet
high and never less than four feet in width
Fourteen aqueducts supplied ancient Rome with
water. One was AZ miles long and 100 feet high;
another Al miles long, of which 81 were on 1000
arches 20 feet high. For this attention to the
material comfort of her citizens. Rome deserves
great praise. This abundance of water supply
in Roman cities was connected with system of
public baths. These baths were also cubhOuSes
with lOunging, reading rooms, etc. 1t is said
that the loungng rooms were highly appreciated
by the Romans. But the structure that gains
for Rome the acme of civilization is the COlOS-
scum The Colosseum was built for 1OO,O 600 spec
tatOrs, covered So acres and was 100 feet high
If in imagination we fill the interior of this mag
nificent structure with ancient Romans, what
state of barbarism it would present. Now most
of the higher animals are Influenced by the sight
or taste of blood. Even the animal nature of
man is not exempt from its influence. it eXciteS
him, intoxicates him. 1t is the soul of man that
shudders at and recoils from the thought or
tie soul in the noble Roman, and whatever spe-
cies of animal he belonged to, he seems to have
thrived wonderfully on blood. 1t was a tonic to
him, when he was fatigued from hard work--and
the Roman patricians were hard workers-or
when his nerves were unStrung from the effects
of some murderous conspiracy with which he
was cOnnected-fOr these dutifu and law-abdiGg
Romans were seldom out of a conspracy-he
would go to the Colosseum and there take a COM
posing draught of the blood of some unfortunate
slave or Christian. 1t is good thing that the
ancient Roman is extinct. While he sat there
gOrging on human blood he was below the beast
in the arena. for they would not artack human
being until driven mad with hunger If the
Colosseum be an evidence of civilization then
we have sadly degenerated. If we follow the
noble Roman from his refined and innocent
amusement in the Colosseum, we will see him
make his way to another famous Roman insti-
tutiOn-the baths To one of these luxurious
palaces he would stalk attended by slaves; any
one of whom as good and often better than
the noble tyrant who held their lives at his dag
gers point. 1t is here would see this noble
Roman plotting the murder and plumber of his
neighbOr; there we would see them planning the
dishonor of their neighbOrs' wives and daugh-
tiers. Now a civilized people would never live as
sensual life as the ancient Roman, and yet some
credit them with extraordinary civilization
Even Cicero one of the wiseSt and we should
think, one of the most civilized men Of his time
regarded both mechanics and laborers as bar
barans. We have a sort of patrican among us
this day who are living on the sweat and blood
of their slaves; but thank God they are like the
Roman ruins. fast Wondering to decay. If we
from the baths, where would he lead us? Would
he go home to his wife and children? No; home
had no attraction for the Roman patrcian. WO-
men were regarded as inferior beings; useful
only for playthings to contribute to the sensual
pleasures of their noble masters. He would
lead us into the temples of Bacchus or Venus
and there reyel in all the debauchery that SEN
suous nation could invent. Aristotle said There
is no progress but moral progress And firmly
believing that we find the Romans degenerating
from the founding of the republic until they be-
came uncomfortable to heaven and earth