The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-10-15

gfOuIlQ lOf HIS uOluell HOUSE almost
all of Rome itself would alone suffice,
so that it seems certain that Nero was
the real author of that great fire which
he watched from the tower of Mpccnas
at Antium, even coming forward on Il
private stage and singing the Fall Of
Troy.
For fourteen years Nero occupied
the throne, and then upon the mon
strous display and int;amy Of his lif,
followed an end even more bizarre than
aught that had yet befallen him. Seers
had told him that he would be expelled
without drawing from him more than
the answer, ~ can make living by
my art No doubt in his fancy he
saw himself starring in the provinces
as Nero, eX-cmperor and tenor, and
heard once more the frantic plaudts
Of the Amphitheatre of Athens, or the
shouts that rang from Corinth through
the lsthmus, and re echoed among the
Peloponnesian hills. Light, indeed,
would seem the singers wreath beside
the weight of empire. In his thirty
second year came the end. Tidings
continually arrived of revolts in the
provinces, and Rome was posted with
anonymous satires on him who at
length might safely be attacked. At
last, they said, had Nero's songs reused
the Gauls. From the tomb of Angus
tus was heard a ghostly voice calling,
"Nero!" The emperor was afflicted
with dreams, from which he had ever
been singularly free. All omens point
ed to some dire catastrophe, and the
last day of his life was not slow in
dawning. Each post brought worse
news, and he made up his mind to fly
How marvellous is the last ride of
Nero!-when he started, amid light
ming and shocks of earthquake, with
bare feet, an old cloak wrapped about
him, and handkerchiefhe held before his
face, accompanied by the notorious
Sporus (Poppea's only lasting rivaD.
his Epaphropitus, Phaon, and another,
bound for PhaOn's four miles, distant
villa. The questions on the road,
"What news of Nero?' "He is pur-
sued;" the recognition and salute by a
dismissed Pr:etorian; the arrival at the
back of the villa; the artist emperor
crawling through hole in the wall
and drinking cup of tepid water
my famous MIXTURE" said Nero, his
thoughts going back to drink which
he had composed; the preparation of :,
tomb, and Il funeral pyre; Nero looked
on, crying, THAT such an artist should
die;" the arrival of the post bringing
the news that Nero was public enemy
and Dndemned to die shameful death;
the sudden shouts of Galba's partsans
in the distance, all make up Il picture
rivalling the greatest of stage effects.
After selfeXhortation in Greek and a
line of Homer, Nero, with his secre-
tary's aid, cut his throat, having just
enough breath left to cry to the cen
turion sent to arrest him, ''Too late! *
* * Is this your military honor? * i:
s." The body was saved from insult,
hnrnrd and buried quietly in spot
where his rncmies suffered it to lie.
And to prove that the fallen divinity
had ut least one devotce, offerings OF
flowers were laid in after years by some
friendly hand (who was there left to
do this, save Sporus-or was it Acte
the slave girl whom Nero almost made
Empress:)-on the grave of this mur.
derous d,lettunte damigod and monster
| To- Morror.