The record-union., 1898-11-25
A DINNER OF LuCuLLus.
Pompey and Cicero Could Not
- Catch the Roman In q Trap.

L
Catch the Roman In Trap.
Bright Sides of History is the title
of a series of articles E. II. 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 following is one Of his stories from
| the November ST. Nicholas:
"Lucullus was very fond of fine dim
ners-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 instead Of making stand
against them he gave up all his glory,
and devoted himself to idle luxury. AL
though he was enormously rich, ne
amazed his friends by the amount of
| money he spent in feasting them. NO
matter at what hour a visitor called,
costly banquet was always ready to be
served. People who were intimate with
him often tried to catch him unpre-
pared, but no one ever succeeded. The
most artful trap of all 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, do you
| mean the great Pompey and Cicero we
hear SO much about at school?''
THE very same; those were the men.
Did you think that Pompey was always
| fighting battles, and that Cicero did
nothing but speak pieces in the Senate?
| Oh, no. They used to vary those occu-
pations by strolling about the Forum
on pleasant afternoons, and one day
they met Lucullus, strolling like them
| selves, and laid plan to take him by
surprise They said they had par
ticular favor to ask. He promised to
do anything in his power; and then
| they proposed to dine with him that
very day, on condition that he should
| make no preparations and give no in
| structions, but let them share the or
| dinary meal intended for himself. Luz
cullus had not expected this. Though
he was extravagant enough, even when
| wholly alone, he could not bear to en-
| tertain guests without a good deal of
extra extravaganza 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 contrive
to give some secret orders They in
sisted that he sould not open his lips
to any one besides themselves, but just
ramble around until dinner time, and
then take them directly to his dwell
ing. Here he made stand. He pro-
tested, reasonably enough, that they
demanded too much. He had left
home without even saying that he
should go back there to dine. AT least
his friends must allow him to an
nounce, 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
together, agreed that he could send
that one short message, and nothing
more; but he must employ a stranger
to do the errand, and must speak to
him in their hearing, so that they
could guard against any suspicious
words or private signals. Lucnllus
pretended to be extremely troubled, and
declared that they deserved nothing |
fit to eat; nevertheless he consented, |
and calling a public messenger, gave |
this direction: Go to my house and |
tell the steward to serve dinner in the |
Apollo, as usual Pompey and Cicero |
their host through the rest of the day.
feeling sure that, though they would
have an excellent meal, they had pre-
vented him, this time, from making one
of the gorgeous displays in which he
reveled.T
when, at last, the three entered the
dining-room. the sight Of the table al
most took away their breath. 1t was
decorated with a magnifcence they
had not dreamed Of. But this was
nothing to what followed. Course af-
ter course of the rarest food was set
before them, with wines that We're al
most beyond price, until, at the end,
they calculated that the cost Of the re-
past could not have been less than a
sum equal to ten thousand dollars 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
| children cried.
Think it out for yourselves said
Uncle Claxton, but the only attempt at
| a solution came from Dick, who, after
| pondering. deeply, caused an outburst
Of mirth by remarking that perhaps it
was Friday. Dick evidently imagined
that the explanation which had cleared
| up the mystery of his uncle's dinner
might be good enough for anything in
ancient Rome.
mo, no, Dickey," said Uncle Clax-
| ton; that's not the secret. You must
j remember the message which Lucullus
sent to his steward-that he would
| dine in the Apollo He had several
| dining halls, named after various Ro-
| man gods, and all differently arranged
for different kinds of f1asts. He had
only to mention which of these he
/ would occupy to let his servants know
what preparations were necessary, and
precisely how much money should be
spent 1t was the rule that dinner
or supper in the Apollo should cost a
i sum equal to about ten thousand dol
!. lars of our American money, and it was
4 at this rate that Pompey and Cicero
were entertained They did not
learn till long after how Lucullus had
managed the affair."
Il
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