The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-08
A DINNER OF LUCULLUS.
Pompey and Cicero Could Not Catch
the Roman Gonrmand In Trap.

the Roman Gourmand In Trap.
bright Sides of History Is the title
of a series of articles f. H. House is
contributing to ST. Nicholas In story
form, introducing modern boys and girls,
the author recounts some of the most
amusing episodes in history. The follow
ing is one of the stories from the No
vember St. Nicholas:
"Lucullus was very fond of fine dinners
more so than was good for him, in his
later years In early life he was one of
the greatest of Roman generals, and at
middle age he had kingdoms at his feet.
But like many public men of that period,
he was pursued by envious enemies, and
and instead of making a stand against
Them, he gave up all his glory, and de-
voted himself to idle luxury. Although he
was enormously rich, he amazed ms
friends by the amount of money ne spent
! in feasting them. No mater at what
| hour a visitor called, a costly banquet was
always ready to be served. People who
were Intimate with him often tried 20
| catch him unprepared but no one ever
| succeeded The most artful trap al al! was
set by Pompey and Cicero; but Lucullus
| was TOO sharp, even for these able men.
DO you mean" asked Harry, his eyes
round with astonishment,. Go you mean
| the great I'oInpey and CICERO we he''I 80
much about at school?'
.sThe very same; those were the men.
Did YOU think that Pompey was always
fighting battles, and that Cicero did noth-
| ing but speak pieces in the Senate? On,
| no They used to vary those occupations
by strolling about the forum on pleasant
afternoons, and one day they met Lucul-
| lus. strolling like themselves, and lald a
! plan to take him by surprise. They SAID
| they had a particular favor TO ask. he
| promised to do anything in his power; ana
! then thew proposed to dine with him that
very day. on condition that he should
make no preparations and give no instruc-
| tons but let them share the ordinary
| meal intended for himself Lucullus had
| not expected this. Though he was extrav-
agant enough, even when wholly alone,
| he could not bear to entertain guests
without a good deal of extra extrava-
| gance on their account. So he tried to
make an appointment for the next day
! but they would not listen TO him. Then
| he wanted to call his servants, and they
! objected TO this also suspecting that he
| might coptrive to give some secret orders.
| They insisted that he should not open
| his lips to any one besides themselves, but
lust ramble around until dinner time, and
then take them directly to his dwelling
Here he made a stand. He protested, rea-
sonably enough, that they demanded too
much He had left home without even
saving that he should go back there to
! dine. At least his friends must allow him
to announce that he would return at the
! customary hour; otherwise there might be
no food provided at all They saw no
harm in this, and, after consulting to-
gether, agreed that he could send that
one short message, and nothing more; but
he must employ a stranger to do the err
rand, and must speak to him in their
hearing. so that they could guard against
any suspicious words or private signals.
Lucullus pretended to be extremely trou-
bIed and declared that they deserved
nothing fl to eat; nevertheless he con-
scented, and calling public messenger,
gave this direction: Go to my house au1
tell the steward to serve dinner in the
Apollo, as usual. Pompey and Cicero were
delighted They kept close to their host
through the rest of the day feeling sure
that though they would have an excellent
meal they had prevented him this time,
from making one of the gorgeous displays
in which he reveied.
when. at last the three entered the
dining room, the sight of the table al
most took away their breath. It was
decorated with magnificence they had
not dreamed of. But this was nothing to
what followed Course after course Of
the rarest food was set before them, with
wines that were almost beyond price, until
at the end, they calculated that the cost
of the repast could not have been less
than sum equal to $4,000 in our money
of to-day.
why that is a small fortune to spend
for one dinner!' exclaimed Percy
"You may say so, indeed. They were
quite right IN their reckoning Lucullus
had outwitted them. and carried his point,
exactly as he wished"
How uncle? Tell US howl the chill
dren cried
'sThInk it out for yourselves" said I'm
Gle Claxton but The only attempt at a
solution came from Dick. who after pom
dering deeply, caused an outburst of mirth
by remarlAing that perhaps II was Friday
Dick evidently mag ined that the explana-
ton which had cleared up the mystery or
his uncle's dinner might be good enough
for anyothing IN ancient Rome.
'Glo. no, Dicky," said Uncle Claxton;
that's not the secret. You must remem-
Der the message which LucuUus sent TO
his steward-that he would dine In the
Apollo TIe had several dining halls, nam
ed after various Roman gods and all DIFF
ferenty arranged for different kinds Of
feasts lie had only to mention which OF
these he would occupy to let his servants
know what preparations were necessary
and precisely how much morey should be
spent Il was the rule that a dinner or
-upper In the Apollo should cost a sum
equal to $1,000 Of our American money
and 1t vas at this rate that Pompey and
Cicero were entertained They did not learn
til long after how Lucullus had managed
the affair"
"A Builder of the Language-Mrs Up
john-Our minister is a highly learned
man. believe he knows every word In