Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-04-15
THEN AND NOW.

family of the man who stands upon a boat
surrounded by crew of dark haired Car.
thaginians Back Of the mass of people
rise the white buildings of the city, and
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 in 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 Carthaginians sent him to Rome
to lay before that nation certain terms and
treaties. Before leaving he was taken into
a temple, and there, standing before the
gods, he took the most binding oaths to re
turn to Carthage.
When the Roman senate assembled tc
hear the message of which Regulus was
the bearer, he urged upon them not to &C
cept the terms. He told them that he be-
lieved the senate should never concede tc
such terms, and he also said that he be-
lieved the Carthaginians could never force
Rome to accept them. He knew that il
the senate refused the terms it would NEAR
his death, but he was Roman citizen
and Roman citizens always thought Of
Rome first, honor next and life last.
The Roman citizens did refuse the terms
and so Regulus is standing in the boat
bidding Rome and her citizens a 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 hushed, and his voice is heard say
ing
II 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 cause?"
And then the dark skinned crew droI
the oars into the water, and a citizen Of
Rome is being borne rapidly down the III
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 nerve destroying bean.
Suddenly Purviance gives vent to an ex.
clamation.
s'What is it, dear?" asked his wife, set
ting down her cup. lis it those Cubans
and Spanish again2"
"No," he answered, without looking
from his paper sits nearer home this
time. And he continues to read.
What can it be?' wonders his wife as
she again sips her coffee.
Whatever it is, she feels certain she will
be told as soon as her husband reaches the
end of the column he is reading.
Mr.. Puryiance lays down the paper and
looking at his wife says mysteriously:
Snow, what do you suppose has hap
pened?'
Really, I can't imagine, she makes
reply.
"Well, then, this has happened, says
MIR. Purviance: "A resident of our city
says that this city has been he picks ul
the paper and reads-'has been held up
and bunkoed as successfully as ever d
mers." He lays down the paper and looks
questioningly at his wife.
"What do you think of that?' he asks.
"Why, it's perfectly awful" she ex
claims. "Who do you suppose did such 9
thing?"
81 can't answer that says her hus
band. II dare say we shall know before
long.
For moment there is silence. Ther
his wife asks:
"Do you believe it?''
"There's no doubt Of 1T, returns he
"the grand jury is making an inyestiga
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, "wliy, I shall be afraid to sleep
nights!'
sob, 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"
SWELL, I can't sec the difference" re-
turns his wife. "If the police rob the city,
wouldn't they just as soon rob us?"
"You don't understand about such
things" says Mr.. Purviance.
II don't wish to understand" cries his
wife. 81 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 off than those poor peo-
pie who have to contend with Tammany!"
II say, it 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 model city in
every respect of city government.
Shall we tell the children" asks Mrs.
Purviance.
"Why not?" he asks
"Why not!" 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
thieves? That the flag that floats over
their schoolhouse is only to cloak crimef
II you do, / don't"
"Oh, come now, says Puryiance. "The
guilty persons will be punished.
1t isn't that that hurts me" returns
his wife EDO you remember that fresco
Of Maccari's in the Palazo-the one you
thought SO impressiyeP Well, Regulus was
what call good citizen. Do you think
we have as good citizens in this city, Even
one?''
Haven't you any faith In me, my
dear?" asks Purviance. st. Paul Globe.
Obliging.
An old lady who was on a train in
Aroostook county, Me-, recently, left the
train when a stop was made for dinner
and asked for cup Of tea and q Light
luncheon. After finishing she saw the pro
prietor and inquired II he was clerk.
Eyes" said he II act In any capacity
here" "Well, how much Is my billp''