Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-19

! ~ III tht EJman empire. Bu,
u was not the gentle. forbearing Chris
,i"ni'y Oh To-Day. Al was a scmi-pagan
Iailh, which, though destined 10 be- puri-
fed by clearer perception OF has doe
liines, was 40 that time uncmrsd with
| helienlc influences. with heafhenish IRE.
juices, and semi-barbaric ideas. Evory
J one recalls constantine the Great. and
ms banners with the mystic Christian
| syinboi. though doubtless but few re-
member his son and successor. Constan.
uu9 H. Tho later Ike his father
was hominally a Christian. but we can
luuse how little he mad lrnbibed Inc
.e"-hines Of The gentle Nazarine when
~" remember that be- was a fratr.cide
una deep-dyea murderer. who sDaeed
ITO HEes to suit his purposes. This man
| ""s inc uncle OK Julian the ADostate. He
ma sialn our apostate hero's father. and
! was "a htlle later, 20 direct his machi1a-
lus 0'''''' "''-
Inc story opens with scenes in the early
ire or Julian and Ga.ius. two promising
youths. who constantly appreheud. a
death at the hands of their kirsman. the
Emperor. Why they were spared to pass
their boyhood is not known, but be this
as II may, they were carefully educated
IN the Christian religion-that is. I'm its
/ dosmas ana theology. though the lads
! appear to have had no insight into the
! tenderer side OF our faith. Juu9n's
| teacher was not a lovable mana man
| who practiced what he preached. and me
won no aAection from his pupil. The lad
| 4 profound thinker from bovhood r,.r-
| petualy hungered after spiritual enllght-
/ eminent, and II the writer is To be- accrod-
tied, was sincere I'm his desire Tor tho
| truth. His trouble appears % have been
! the lack Of an instructor who could have
| guided him into the paths of rect.tude
Christian theolog.ans I'm those days
! Fought and scratched over donna. and bv
their very conduct discredited the faith
which they sought to represent. They
| disguised Julian and sowed the first seeds
OF apostacy in the promising lad.
When he had about reached mans og-
tate and shortly after his brother Cal
Jus had lost his life through the orders of
| Constantine, Julian was sent 10 Gaul with
the Roman legiOns on a forlorn errand I'm
which the Emperor hoped he would lose
his life. But the young Roman displayed
marvellous military skin, won great vic
tories, and was ultimately declared Em-
peror by the soldiers. About this time
COnstantius. the de iure emperor. died
and thus Julian found himself the head
Of the great empire.
Tho seeds OF apOstacy. which had been
sOwn by Hellenic philosophers. at this
time took root in Julian's mind. and be-
fore the assembled army he declared him
self against Christ There were hundreds
who cried 'Blasphemy" but equally as
many who accepted the change with in
difference.
Julian did not prosecute the GalHeans
after This incident, but pretended to- exc
ercieo liberation towards them. This t0le-
ration. however. often assumed the form
% fretfulness. and occasionally there
were public demonstrations which did 10
credit to either OF the contendng fac
ti0u'
Tho author. who handles his subject IN
q most dispassiOnato way, and without
any hint as TO his own religious views
gives many Of the arguments adduced by
tho wise men. both Christian and pagan.
lie shOWs-as doubtless was his object
that our faith was then I'm it's embryo
state, and that it had not at that time
been able to assume q degree Of worldly
strength which could make 10 prevail in
all parts OF the Roman empire
The brave, and in some ways magnani-
NOUS. Julian found no more consola ton
in the gods than i'm Christ, as then
taught. Ere many months there came
time when he saw his folly Here are the
Noru7 ne used id nus TeIl1y OF olsap-
po-"tU leHI' swear oy INC eEeIl", 'lH5
JOY AiudeH mere III NY HeAI'' 'Hi. re-
4ounce you as you nave reloullceu me
I"IH away ii"ln 20" ~ 9"u ""Fo ',i -
ed away from me- blessed poWeriess
godsi I stand alone against y0u, shadows
Of olympus I am Ike unto YOU, but not
your equal: because am q man, and you
are only gods Long has my heart thirst
ed for this final liberation. and now /
tear our treaty 10 pieces L L-u5h at NY
s.feIs..l .o-s le.iI' "' ~. , ,,,l
o4 @oDt ~ '-'1a. nav NV HNe
.'~' p"' H1'1 O." ~ D'
e1I7'ooN am nam VIZ so's'
,,,.re7 doat1 -rboys f.. M, more rr1ce for
foiaotior. tbara iq ma rIaco for fear. mo-
49,. o.. .,,.,.r... ~. ,,i.,, On. ,.ars
c..,.,..-t No.. -.l, tt,.-. ,.-tli ....
o. a. fi,. -.
~. -. ,.,,+ .+.,.l ,,l.r,i,, ia,,,b-
r., which rob Won of and when die.
nothing but the heavenly fire. which I
wrest from you immort1ls. bly, life SHAH
oe ike inc no .loiiieas azure ln Ni'leu !o
ONES u"'il "l" ''" "'-' vans F''-- ~
us, VINO arc HNe "-t- s'o' ,..,,.,
Iho brave young i''l''" .'r was hI--1
When b'iell ~ ""'. e"Ii-'1''ii5 C'II-
palen against tN. Hl Io.
raising tho cry ol 'ihDl mas conquered
Galiican.' claimed to regard hs death as
a prJVdcnral iniaipo-iu9A, ana were but
too ready TO iaVn upon Ais Christian sue
ces-oi.
This remarkap'o story is reliele WIN
splendid scenes of battles, with cts-tIp-
tons OF tho habits and Gus toms or tn1t
day, and with pen portraits oi the we'll
known characters among whom Julian
g. rf
irdfvilualitv and patl0s in the Apoe-ate's
,,f o.t.t.f o. 9..,. .-,,,et o,,