The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03

Publius H1ius Hadranus was born in January,
70 A. ID. He became Emperor in August, III A.
d., and he died in July, 1873 A. D., at the age Of
si1ty-two. II is commonly said that Hadrian
like his fathers first cousin, Traian was q Span-
lard In one sense Of the word II is true, for the
formers paternal ancestors said to have left
the town Of Hsdra in Picenum as early as the
time of the Scipios, and TO have settled in the
city Of Italica, the ruins of which may still be
seen at a short distance from Seville Hadrians
mother, well his father was a native of
Spain, but he, himself, was born at Rome was
educated there and does not seem u have visited
Spain before his fifteenth yeaI and then TO have
remained there but year two He made
a Judge over court for private cases when he was
seventeen, and, subsequently, filled some Other
civil offices OF small Importance, but at the age of
twenty -one, VIC find him military tribune in a le-
gion stationed on the Danube He WAS in upper
Germany as tribune 10 another legion, and near
the person Of Traian when in 8S, A D., the latter
became Emperor II was only slowly that Ha-
drian gained the good will of his kinsman Trajan,
and he is said to have been indebted for il chiefly
to the Empress Pompeia 1otina. About the year
100 A D.. Traien, persuaded by PlotinA gave
10 his cousin for wife Sabina a grandchild of his
sister, Marciana. In this way, Hadrian became
doubly related TO Trajan. The latter died at Sc
linus, in Cilicia, on the 18th or 9Th of August III
A. d. He had put off the designation Of success
sor. and there was reason TO fear that the Empire
might fall again into anarchy, 1t had done after
the death Of Nero. II seems strange that he had
not long before prevented the possibility of such
a catastrophe, as Nerva had done with such happy
results 1t is suggested by our author that he
wavered In his resolution TO adopt Hadrian whose
inoalculable character probably did not inspire
him with confidence. He had scarcely been fond
Of him. even though, by the act of leaving him
supreme commander in Syria and OF the Eastern
army, he had shown that he felt no other choice
was open TO him Perhaps he deferred the adop-
ton because he wished to carry 1t into effect at
Rome by an act Of the Senate. However this may
be- the Emperor. when dying, is said to have given
way TO the representation Of the Empress Plotna
and OF his niece Matilda, the mother Of Hadrian's
wife, who were at his side. and in consequence OF
whose entreatos Hadrian was, virtually, adopted.
II was not until the 9th Of August, however, that
Hadnan received at Antioch deed Of adoption
and II was not until two days later that the doa tn
Of TraIan was made public Al once report was
spread that a trick had been played at Sclinus
Dion Cassius says that TIaian's death was pur-
poscly concealed until decd OF adoption could be
framed. Spartianus mentions a rumor that Plo-
tina after her husbands death, substituted per
son who. fcignng the voice OF q dying man. pro-
nounced IIAdrian's adoption. II is certain that
the leglons which Hhdrian commanded at once
hailed him as Imperator and that the Roman
Senate confirmed the choice Of the army
After laying the foundations OF his rule and
his policy, Hadrian in the year 20 A. d. left Rome
TO start his nrst imperial journey in the West of
| Europe Thcnceforth almost the whole Of his life,
which was TO last, We have said until July, 1888
was spent in travel He was 10 visit every country
| Of tho Empire, from the Atlantic coast OF what
| term Morocco the EuDhratha and from
| tho Firth Of Forth 10 tho cataracts Of the Nile.
| Augustus had spent some eleven years away from
Italy, but lIndrian's Journeys constitute unique
phenomenon In the history Of ancient and modern
| princes They portray Roman Emperor In quite
| new relation 10 tho Roman world. The geo
graphical works of Strnbo and Pliny had spread
knowledge Of the globe In Greek and Latin liter
| atuTo Hadrian made the acquisition Of such
| knowledge a personal task and the sovereign 3
| business, Hitherto tho city Of Rnme alone had
represented tho world and the provinces had