The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-15
ANCIENT TALES RETOLD
MARITAL TROUBLES OF NOTED
CHARACTERS IN ROMAN HISTORY.
OpuIence and Luxurious Living
Cicero Was UnhapPy-Nephew of
Julius Caesar Wins Fame.
". E. Curtis's Rome Letter in Chicago
Record Herald.


member OF. the bar, as the newspapers no
doubt mentioned him in those days. was
able TO pay S35000O for his residence on
the Palatine hill, the west end of Rome,
alongside Of the palace Of the Caesars. Yet
he was not happy. His trouble was the
same as that OF Socrates. Cicero had a
wife-onIy one to be sure, but that was
one tco many-of the kind. Her name was
Terenta. and she brought him a large
dowry. but she was a nagger and kicker
and never gave him a moments peace. She
was naughty, selfish. suspicious and jeal-
Gus. and had tongue that was quite as
fluent and forcible as his.
We know a good deal about her from
contemporary records, and the enervating
magnifcence with which she was surround
ed. the exquisitely scuIptured marbles, the
purple hangings. the alabaster baths. the
silver plate and the golden ornaments did
not soften her temper a particle: and We
are told that the great jurist was often
glad to leave his stately mansion to enjoy
quiet dinner with a friend. There was
no scandal under Cicero's roof, however;
Terentia's temper was too well known for
her 10 have lovers. Cicero had at least
that advantage over his friend julius Gaze
sar. whose wife. POmpeia, behaved very
badly while he was of at his wars and
carried on scandalously with Publius Clodi-
US. who was an enemy of CicerOs, by the
way. When ne was elected tribune he
drove Cicero from Rome in disgrace, pill
LACED his house upon the Palatine. and
obliged Terentia 10 take refuge with the
Nestal virgins, whose superior was fortu-
natelyy her sister The following year
there was a political revolution, and the
good government people came into power.
Clodius was defeated for consul, Cicero
was recalled TO Rome ard obtained an In
demnity Of $4,000 to repair the damages
done 70 his residence. But Clodius still
continued his persecution of Cicero, and
used TO hire boys TO follow him on the
street. When Cicero began TO repair his
torches INTO the walls, and behaved him
self otherwise in very disagreeable man
ner.
CICERo's HOME.
Cicero's home was situated at the corner
of the Palatine, which overlooked the
Forum. and in front of it he built a large
vestibule where he could meet his clients.
His garden was provided with fish ponds
and contained a grove of lotus trees, but,
as 1 say he was not allowed to enjoy it,
Cicero was a typical lawyer, and one does
not have so high an opinion of him after
reading about the way he shuffied back
and forth and tried TO be on ali sides of
political affairs. He was courted because
of his ability and eloquence and because
he was useful TO the political bosses of
those days, just CrOesus was cOurted
for his wealth and POmpey for his power.
But Cicero was a great coward and finally
met the fate that usually awaits that sort
OF people.
Catullus. poet. historian, warrior, VINO
was consul 102 b. c., was the next neigh
Dor TO Cicero and lived i'm even greater
magnIhcence- Pliny, the historian. says
that his was one of the most splendid
ab0des in Rome and we are told that il
cost $65O.O00- Cataline, the cOnspiratOr. lived
no sir and han -,
powerful and made a great display of
his money. He was the chap who organ
lied conspiracy against Cicero and was
the text or several OF the orators finest
Orations. Mark Antony lived near by also.
but after he ran away with that Egyp-
tian woman, Augustus gave his house to
Agrippa and Caligula pulled it down.
Mark Antony played rather mean
Trick on Augustus. The latter. nephew.
adopted son and heir of julius Caesar. was
on on military compaign when his uncle
was assassinated, and Mark Antony when
he made that famous speech which Shak-
speare reported. pretended to read from an
alleged will in which the emperor left a
nice little present of money to every citi-
zen of Rome This made him very popular
and of course everybody was solid for
his nephew Octavius (afterward called
Augustus), but IL took nearly all the S25.-
100000 which Julius Caesar left to go
around There nothing of the kind i'm
Caesars will, and whether Mark Antony
got ratified or whether he did il ON purpose
TO ruin Augustus has never beer settled
ouCc Knew Il man VINO happened to 10
church one Sunday when the late Mr. Kim
ball was raising debt" KimbalI was a
very magnetic man, and could wiring more
money out OF congregation than ANYBODY
who ever went into that business He was
particularly eloquent that day. and the mar
L refer 70 became so excited that ne jumped
up and subscribed a thousand dollars. The
cheering that followed was so long and loud
that he recovered from the hypnotic effects
before II was over. and when Mr. Kimbal
asked for his name he gave that OF a rich
uncle VINO mad some trouble m iSip 9
the affair even after he proved an alibi.
A PRUDENT TYRANT.
But Augustus was not short of money
long. He was very prudent sort of tvrant
and no one who saw the modest. retiring
youth who was named heir to the fame and
power and possessions Of Julius Caesar
would ever have predicted the brilliant role
he was TO play and the enormous good ne
was to accomplish. He was shy. and had
neither wit imagination nor eloquence. bu1
he had plenty OF ambition and plain com
mon sense, and was determined To be mas
ter OF the world. which actually happened
lie did what his great uncle could NOT 40.
complish. He established order i'm Rom,
and brought about peace throughout thf
world. lie was never called a tyrant or ;
dictator. and exercised autocratic authority
with such tact and gentleness that nobody
felt the grip of iron under the velvet glove
There was good deal of demagogue
about Augustus. for Notwithstanding his
enormous wealth and power which sur.
passed that ever welded by a human helms
before or since. he affected a 'Jeffersonia :
simplicity refused all titles and told tbf
people that he wanted TO be called ONLY
by his own name, Caius julius Octavi1r.
Augustus. being nothing but a simple hum.
BILE Roman citizen, To whom was cOnfdef
the care OF the republic He slept ON >
soldiers bed. wore hOmespun cIotbiDp
woven BY Livia. his wife. and STOCKINGS
that We're knit by his naughty daurhteT
Julia. who afterward gave him 50 mucI
trouble. lie used TO go around town 81
bowling the common people and taking ~,
his hat 60 them If they were kings a nd
he a subject. When the Senate salute
him as father of his country" ne sbeS
tears and told the cOnscript fathers viii
impressive pathos that ne had got all tbst
any man could ever want i'm the way nj
honors.
Augustus showed himself to be one of m.
shrewdest politicians that ever lived III
kept the people busy having a good tim.
while he was pulling wires and setting ur
Jobs 20 extend his power. He gave ther
exciting games. sOul-thrilling encounters in
the Coliseum with boa constructors rbi.
nOcerOses. tigers and other wild beasts y
that they forgot all about politics and al.
lowed the silent. modest man who eratifef
their craving for amusement 10 do what.
ever ne liked with the government Vher
he recovered from an illness they actuafI,
erected statue 10 the doctor that curef
him.
But although Augustus was able 10 rule
the world he could not manage his ovvr
household. he was strong enough 10 reslsl
the enticements OF Cleopatra but fell IN
love with Livia. the twenty -vear-0ld vvifs
OF GlaudtuS Nero. a woman Of evfra pr3f