Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-07-20
NO HERO OF HISTORY WILL HAVE
SO SPLENDID A HOMECOMING.
WELCOMES OF THE PAST
How Alexander, Nero, Caesar, Joan Of
Arc and Napoleon Were Received,
but Their Ovations Will Fall Far
Behind That of the Victor of
Manila.

and in the elaborateness of the prepar-
ations which will be made for it, it is
likely that the welcome which will be
extended to Admiral Dewey on his re-
turn home from Manila will be the
greatest event of it's kind in all his
tory.
Since about 500 B. C. the great ma
tons of the world have always re-
warded their homecoming conquerors
with enthusiastic adulation. But
this will be the first time in history
that surprising honors will have been
paid to naval officer. In ancient
Rome the triumph" was the great
goal toward which the warrior aimed.
There was a triumph for the soldier
and triumph for the sailor, but, ow-
ing to the fact that in those ante
Christian days the great fights were
mostly on land, the triumph of the
sailor was comparatively paltry af-
fair. The first naval triumph was
awarded to Caius Dullius. He laid
the foundation of the supremacy of
Rome on the sea in the first Punic
elated by his success that during the
rest of his life when he returned home
at night from dinners he caused flutes
to sound and torches to be borne
before him.
Alexander the greats triumphal en-
try into Babylon after defeating
Darius in the battle of Arbula was one
nf t1n nj cd ,,tp
where superlative tribute was paid to
commander of land forces. Babylon
had been a Persian city, but when
Alexander approached Mazaeus one of
the Persians kings opened the city's
gates for him. Bagophanes, the gov
ernor of Babylon, ordered the road
along which Alexander travelled to be
strewn with flowers. Magnificent sill
yer affairs, with fragrant incense burn
ing on them were set up on either
side. Splendid gifts of horses, oxen,
lions and panthers were carried out to
the victorious soldier. Magi jugglers
and Babylonian horsemen in resplend-
ent regalia went to meet him.
Amid such surroundings the great
Alexander entered his chosen capital.
Above an arch, under which he passed
was poised a lofty figure of the God
deSS of Peace, with a raised olive
branch in her hand, announcing the
voluntary submission of the Persians
and admonishing the victor to mercy.
Alexander rode in chariot, and in
the famous frieZe in which the sculp-
tor rhorvaldsen has immortalized the
scene the great conqueror is represent
ed as looking regretfully backward,
signing that there We're not still other
worlds for him to conquer. Alex
ander, intoxicated by success. plunged
at once into a depth of revelry and
debauchery which resulted in his sud
den death a few days after he entered
the city.
In 207 B. c.. the Consul Claudius
Nero was accorded by the Roman
people the supreme honors of the CEN
fury in which he lived He had slain
Hasdrubal. the son of Hamilcar and
the brother of Hannibal in the battle
of Metaurus. He had also destroyed
the Carthaginian army, and saved
Rome from impending capture and
possible destruction. Nero brought
with him as a souvenir of the battle
the head of Hasdrubal. In grewsome
JOY he sent this to Hannibal, while
on his way to the Ancient City. The
Roman people were delirious with joy.
Every resource of the city was taxed
to its utmost that due honor might
be paid to the great hero.
In order that particular distinction
might be conferred upon Claudius
Nero. the custom was at this time in
augurated in Rome of building homes
for triumphant generals. In these
homes the heroes abided while they
lived and upon their death their ashes
were placed within the walls, and
decorations, colonnades and sculptured
tablets in the vestbule of the build
ing transmitted to succeeding genera
tons the glories of the dead.
1t was to Julius Caesar that the
greatest homecoming honors of
ancient times were paid. After he
destroyed the army of Scipio at
rhapsus in AZ B. c., his return to
Rome was celebrated by four gorge
Gus triumphs. There were four days
of riotous festivity, in which Caesar
gave to the Roman people the most
magnificent spectacle they had ever
seen More than four hundred lions
and fifty elephants fought in the
arena. Largesses were distributed to
the soldiers, 5000 to each Legionary,
and captured lands in lavish quaint
ties were given out to the more loyal
adherents of the Dictator.
rhe triumphal procession itself was
characterized by unparalleled mag
| nifcence. The streets and squares
in the city were festively adorned.
Garlands and flowers decorated every
shrine and image, and incense smoked
on every altar The temples were
thrown open, and vestal virgins and
acolytes came forth to pay honors to
the conqueror. The procession was
| led hy trains of carriages conveying