The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-08-06
IN IsPERIAL ROME.

4 Jewish E0y who Entered One OF
the Famous Foot Races.
II Rome was a mighty city In those
lays. It had many mile Of streets
Ind avenues, reaching out into the sur
rounding country, until nobody could
sell where the city ended, although
everybody knew that its center was on
sl hill at the capitol. Far from the
capitol, but still within the city, was
the hitheater, or circus, where the
most wonderful shows were given that
che world had ever known. There wild
beasts and men were made to fight by
thousands for the shows were muir
1erous, and the vast sandy area Of the
amphitheater was often stained with
blood. M
Cyril was walking along q narrow.
crooked street, that led away from the
capitol in the direction of the circus.
At that moment he almost ran
against wSN, and he stood still. It,
was one side of a vast marble arch at
the main entrance to the circus, and,
as he looked up, he saw placard,
with an inscription in several Ian.
guages. He could read some Of them.
They were all alike, and they told
him that the emperor's project Of the.
circus had arranged for prize foot
races. One Of these was free to all
who could pass the trial race for adj
mission. There was to be prize of
ten sestertia, and Cy1iTs brain whirled
little at the thought of so much
money.
lore than six hundred shekelsv' he
exclaimed, after a calcula alton 4sand Z
can yet run! It says the sub-prefect
will see all who apply" He stood gaz-
Ing at the placard and reading it aloud.
Suddenly voice near him said:
That he will, and he will scourge
you, well If you fail at the test. Can
you run?E You look like it. Come. =
Black as Jet was the face of the
sdwarish figure that Cyril at once
turned to follow through the arch and
a side door and along a tiled-foor pas
sage. In few minutes more he stood
in, the presence of richly dressed Off
cial who for moment eyed him
sternly. The dwarf had addressed
this great man very reverently, calling
him CrispuS, but a strange thought
flashed into the mind of Cyril, for he
had never seen Roman whose face
was like that Of the sub-prefect.
"Oh, Jewish boy, who are thou?'
asked Crispus in Ara maic, with an ac-
cent that made Cyril's heart beat.
II am Cyril Ben Ezra, of the house
of Kish, !" replied Cyril, stating hard at
the grim, iron-mouthed official, for
something in the mans face seemed
familiar.
lament" said Crispus. Answer in
thire own tongue, for thou art a Gal
lilean. / am Reuben Ben Nassur, of
Cana. I am thy kinsman. Knowest
thou aught Of thy house?''
Isaac, the Rabbi, is well,' replied
Cyril, and on he went, for Reuben, or
Crispus, asked him many questions,
and they talked in Hebrew, which
none near them could understand
Perhaps another reason was plain
when he said of the circus:
What is it to me or thee If all the
heather STAY one another? Thou shalt
run. 81 will give thee week of train
ing before the trial, but know that /
cannot save thee from the scourge, If
thou fail before the project. Mark
this, alsoforget that thou art a Jew
until thy feet have told Tallienus that
thou art a good runner. Thou hast
nothing to do with the Law whilst
thou art a beast in the Roman circus"
Bitter, indeed, was the cup Of pow
erty that Cyril was drinking. He had
put away his pride. driven by starya-
ton, and now a brother Of Ben Nassur
himself was bidding him put aside his
religion. No opportunity for an an
sWer, yea or nay, was given, howev-
er, and he was led away by the dwarf
to one Of the outbuildings of the am
phiteater. 1t was, as he at once, dis
covered, a kind of Jail, in which were
kept the men who were training for
the races. Many Of them were mere
/ slaves, pu. there by their owners, in
hopes that they might win a prize for
their masters. At all events, Cyril
was to have shelter and food, but the
boarding house or Jail of the runners
f adjOined great dens of wild animals,
and he was kept awake by the roaring
Of many lions; for thunderstorm
.wept over Rome, and the imprisoned
Kings of the forest or plain responded
with thunderous roars Of their own
making. rom The Swordmaker's
Son" by w. o. Stoddard, in August
st. Nicholas,
a Fish Story.
There is an old darkey who cam be
:ound any dry perehed on such freight
is may rest upon the platform Of the
little station at s - up in MAR e. He
aas a cheerful word for every one that