The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-18
THEN AND NOW.

| vTles and centuries ago. The shores o.
the Tiber arc crowded with the citizens o.
Rome. They push we'll down the water
steps, upon which stand little circle o.
weeping women. These women are of tn,
family OF tho man who stands upon boa
surrounded by a crew of dark haired Car
thaginians. Back of the mass Of people
rise the white buildings of the city, ant
beyond these, away off in the distance tower
the mountains crowned by the beautiful
| Italian skies.
The man who stands so calmly taking
his last look upon Rome and the Roman
people Is Atillus Regulus He had been
one of the most proud, gallant and sue
, cessful generals Rome had ever had, but
he had at last been defeated inn great bat
tie by the Carthaginian Xanthippus and
taken into the African city in the trail OF
war chariot-a prisoner.
After holding him prisoner for some
time the Carthagipians sent him to Rome
to lay before that nation certain terms and
treaties. Before leaving he was taken into
temple, and there, standing before the
gods, he took the most binding oaths to re-
turn to Carthage.
When the Roman senate assembled To
hear the message Of which Regulus was
cept the terms He told them that he be.
lieved the senate should never ooncede to
such terms and he also said that he be.
lieved the Carthaginians could never force
Rome to accept them. He knew that II
the senate refused the terms 1t would mean
his death, but he was Roman citizen,
and Roman citizens always thought OF
Rome first, honor next and life last. s
The Roman citi 1av,o n Ia vof,,e eo 4 xbax xov,,,v
and So Regulus Is standing in the boat
bidding Rome and her citizens q last fare.
well. He bids his family goodby, and,
turning to the young men who crowd the
shores Of the Tiber, he Is about to speak
The noise and hustle of the people are in.
stantly hush6i, and his voice is heard say
ing:
81 could not love my country so had she
been capable of a different decree! What
matters it that ones life must be sacri
feed In such q cause?"
And then the dark skinned crew drop
the oars into the water, and a citizen OF
Rome Is being borne rapidly down the tt
Der toward the great blue sea across which
torture and death await him.
Mr.. Purviance has finished his coffee
and having lighted his cigar Is looking
over the morning paper. Mrs. Purviance,
sitting across the table, Is still slipping her
second cup Of the rcrve destroying bean.
Suddenly Purvianoe gives vent to an OK.
clamatiOn.
"What is It, deari' asked his wife, Get.
ting down her cup. SIS It those Cubans
and Spanish againf''
"No," he answered, without looking
from his paper, "it's nearer home this
time" And he continues to read.
what can 1t be?' wonders his wife as
she again sips her coffee
Whatever 1t is, she feels certain she will
be told rs soon as her husband reaches the
end of the column he is reading.
Mr.. Purviance lays down the paper and
looking at his wife says mysteriously:
"Now, what do you suppose has hap.
peneds"
REALLY, can't imagine" she makes
reply.
"Well, then, this has happened" says
Mr.. Purviance: "A resident of our city
says that this city has been''-he picks up
the paper and reads-"has been held up
and bunkoed as successfully as ever
countryman was worked by fiimfiam.
mers." He lays down the paper and looks
questioningly at his wife.
'What do you think of thatp' he asks.
"Why, it's perfectly awful" she ex.
claims. "Who do you suppose did such
thingY"
81 can't answer that" says her hus.
band II dare say we shall know before
long"
For moment there is silence. Then
his wife asks
"Do you believe it?'
"There's no doubt of it," returns he;
"the grand jury is making an investiga.
ton now. 1t seems that the city clerk,
and the council, and the police are especial.
ly corrupted"
"The police;" cried Mrs. Purviance in
alarm, "why, l shall be afraid to sleep
nightsp'
"Oh, no. You needn't be-" says her
husband soothingly. Perhaps the police
force isn't very bad. The main trouble
seems to be robbing the city of money"
well, l can't see the difference" Ne.
turns his wife. 'If the police rob the city,
wouldn't they just rs soon rob uss''
You don't understand about such
things" says Mr. Purviance
Il don't wish to understand" cries his
wife. Il want to live In city where !
can feel safe from robbers and murderers
and such people. i should like to know
how we are better of than those poor peo.
pie who have to contend with Tammanyi"
II say, 1t isn't as bad as that" said Mr..
Purviance For Mr.. Purviance was man
who took great personal interest In mu.
nicipal reform in his city. He liked to
think that his city was a model city In
every respect OF city government.
"Shall we tell the childrenf" asks Mrs
Purviance.
"Why notY' he asks.
why notr' echoed his wife "Do you
want the children to know that officers of
the city, whom they have been taught to
look up to and respect, are band of
thievess That the flag that floats over
their schoolhouse is only to cloak crimes
II you do, don't"
"Oh, corue now, says Puryiance. "The
guilty persons will be punished
"It isn't that that hurts me-" returns
his wife. "Do you remember that fresco
of Maccari's In the Palazo-the one you
thought so impressiveS Well, Regulus was
what call good citizen. DO you think
we have as good citizens in this cityp Even