The herald., 1897-04-25
los ANGELES HERALD. SUNDAY MORNING. April IS 1897

piled In some measure the place of the
"comitia" under the republic, for they
afforded the only opportunity for the
citizens to meet together In the mass and
express their opinion on any subject
When literature was gagged, politica
meetings and secret societies suppressed
and even private speech was guarded
for fear of the 'delator," there still re-
mained the license of the circus and the
amphitheater. which enable the Roman
people to make its will known, and often
to wrest compliance from a reluctant
emperor The shouts Of the mbled
thousands, carefully organized before
hand. on several occasions procured the
revocation of an unpopular edict or the
punishment of hated minister. Thus
Tiberius was induced by the shouts OF
the populace to restore a statue which
he had removed from the baths Of Ag-
rippa and set up in his own palace.
But not all the emperors were so COM
plant. Augustus refused to repeal his
marriage law In Difference to the popu-
lar clamor, and Caius even seized and
put to death the ringleaders of similar
demonstration. In general, however,
no restrictions were put upon the license
which the people arrogated to them
selves in the circus and the amphithea-
ter, and which increased in the later Pc
riods of the empire.
Tertullian even speaks of the ridicule
and abuse being directed against the
emperor himself as being common oc-
currence at the games; but Of this no
~ icf tv "A Snrh
demonstrations were organized before
hand. and where the people were not of
one mind rival shouts would be raised.
Private malice. too, was also sometimes
indulSed by shouting scandalcus insinu-
ations at the games. but this was re-
garded as an ohense and was punished as
a very malicious form of libel.
ALL PLAY AND NO WORK
But II the games were political neces-
sity of the time. they played also an i'm
portant part as the amusement Of an idle
population. Their Importance in <ccu-
pying the attention and filing In the life
Of the metropolis may be gauged when 1t
is remembered that the festivals were
constantly increasing. Under Tiberius
they had reached eighty-seven days,
and before the end of the century prob
ably exceeded one hundred, And these
numbers only represent the regular fes-
tival days. In addition there were the
extraordinary fetes, which were not in
frequent and were sometimes prolonged
to an inordinate length Of time. Thus
the opening of the Coliseum was cele-
brated by fete of one hundred days,
and Trajan, A. d. 1o6 gave one which
L. tWa
days.
Such was the life which the rulers Of
the world chose for themselves, and
which the subject provinces had to sup
port by the tribute levied upon the fruits
of their labor.
In the empire honor was done to Min
erva during the Quinquatria, festival
which continued for five days. beginning
on the 18th of March. The first day sac
rifices and oblations were presented. but
however, without the effusion Of blood.
On the second, third and fourth days
shows of gladiators were exhibited, and
on the fifth day there was solemn pro-
cession through the streets Of the city.
On the days of the celebration scholars
obtained holidays, and II was usual for
them to offer prayers to Minerva for
learning and wisdom, which the goddess
patronized; and upon their return to
school they presented their master with
a gift which bore the name of Miner
VAL" Plays were also enacted and dis
putations were held upon literary sub
jects. These latter exercises. however.
were but poorly sustained. they not re-
fiecting the spirit of the people to any
r~Io 4 to- oil
for greater extent affording qualification
to the public whose brutal instincts were
fostered by the varied debasitg exhi-
bitions.
The festival of Minervalia. also, was
overshadowed by the Floralia, games
given in honor of Flora, goddess Of flow
ers and gardens, which begun on April
2Sth and continued to May Sd. The cele-
bration was instituted about the time OF
Romulus but 1t was not celebrated with
regularity until $50 years later.
The origin of the goddess Flora is
somewhat obscure. She was worshiped
by the Sabines long before the founda-
tion of Rome, and likewise among the
Phoenicians, who built Marseilles long
before the existence Of the capital of
italy. Tatius first raised temple to her
in Rome. She Is said to have married
Zephyrus, and that she received from
him the privilege of presiding over flow
ers and of enjoying perpetual youth. The
distinguishing feature of the games
given In her honor at Rome was the un-
bounded licentiousness observed by all
the participants. 1t is told of Cato that.
desiring to be present at the celebration,
when he saw that Difference for his pres
ence interrupted the feast, he retired.
not choosing to remain and witness the
degradation practised in public thea
ter. His behavior so captivated the
degenerate Romans that the venerable
senator was treated with the most un-
common applause as he retired.
THE CARNIVAL IDEA