The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-23
POLICE VERSO
A Tragedy of d Roman
Arena Years Ago.

the Rhine frontier. was the residence of /
fine project of the Rhine provinces. He (
was 90 very exalted persona &c, and
commanded the army which was for
ever repolliug the attempts of the Ger
manic tribes 20 cross the Rhine At
Trares also was the administration Of
these IeEions conferred. There was not
month of summer or OF winter when
they had not some lighting to do. much
e.. which was fierce, and some desper-
etc.
For ten years the Rhine Iegionaries
had won all their battles under the
same project. and never had any mill
rsrv order OF his miscarried. In battle
and iu siege, ia attack and In defense. /
tn. confidence Of his men I'm him was
absolute. Yet there was not I'M all the
empire more unpopular man than his
pxeoIpncy, the project Of the Rhine
Marches. He more than cOunteracted
the effect of his military prestige by
gn uusympathetic. uninspiring and
lH.Iy dameanOr. His success reused no
enthusiasm for himself. In camp he
was a relentless martinez. Outside the
army. u the municipal administration
of Trcvcs, I'm the government Of the
provinces. and in al things small and
-raat. throughout even Britain and
spain his unconciiiatory manner and
his stubborn fOrmality won him fear
rud hatred.
DO was hot and dusty summer. with
bad crops. The parade ground Of
rreyes was, If possible. hotter and dus-
tier than the country about II was a
white floor Of dazzling impalpab!e clay
powder ON one side of it ran one RAM
part Of the camp. over which showed
rue roofs OF the low. dun brown brick
barracks The other three sides were
lined with crazy huts or shanties. deus
az the camp followers and houses OF
The suffers. About half an hour after
sunrise The two legi0us then quartered
H. TrcyCs were under review. Roman
garrison review began at the first glow
r' dawn. The inspection Of the forma-
toH Was over. The project with his
staff. was al one end Of the ground
tine Fourteenth legion on his left, and
the Thirty-third on his right
Tho quacster read out the guard as
s-umeuts, toe WatchWOrd. and finally
that 90 centurion of the Fourteenth To-
-ioU was Gee be deprived Of his rank.
and forwarded TO the capital TO answer
the charge of conspiracy. He was sum
UoDcd tO step ont and place himself I'm
the hands OF his guards. The accused
was bv far the most popular man i'm
the legion. and ranked third among it's
sixty coHturionS. Tho project. had long
dsllkod him, and would have preferred
even more summary measures.
Almost before the order had been
read the Fourteenth changed from
serried machine 10 a seething swarm
o human figures. weuering i'm the
dense envelope of dust which rose from
under them The ccnturions whom the
rank and file distTugted were -pinioued I
every sword was out, and with weap-
rns and shields aloft, the men yelled
themselves hoarse
The project ordered the first manipIe
IF the Thirty-third to arrest the ring
leaders. The Thirty-third stood like
images. pecring as well as they could
against the sunlight in their eyes
towards the mob across the parade
ground. The orderly aid not take the
trouble to- ride back 10 report how the
command was received.
The project called out.
us there no man here who respects /
hIs oath? As wen salute your centurion
emperor"
The clamor was So loud that the staff
could hardly hear each other. The CEN
turiou whotwas the cause OF the out
break seemed TO be trying 10 quiet his
fellows.
The project ragged mutely. Even his
staff were against him. and longed TO
SEQ him Inundated.
When comparative silence was re-
stored. not losing an instant. ne chose
the most dangerous and most promis-
ING course possible. For he was really
great commander. and bold one
DE rode three horse-lengths. alone,
towards The mutiueers. and asked them
a..
against himself, or against that partic-
u.ar order alone.
Diverse ShOutings answered A young
centurion. who had taken no part i'm
iOmenting or quieting the tumult
stepped out The men held their peace,
""i me said. very slowly and conciliat-
uSly. that they did not rebel against
l1f emperor, that they did not mutiny
t1dinst their commander. but that they
-'i ask him to reconsider an order
which had not yet received his official
approval Groans and cheers greeted
ih three statements.
His cNCcllency was treasured. The
mon had no fixed plans. they were d.
'ted, and they had no determined
readers. The mutiny was very real
ana terribly near a revolt that would
rum him utterly. But. while the in
t.ihEsmeut of discipline was irrepar-
'Ne. and his hold on the men and his
officers appalingly weakened, vet there
Was q chance of regaiuiug the reality
20. Suoordination and power by holding
'' The semblauce OF both. Mutinies.
i"''ilS and revolutions were none so
'aFr .n those days, and while the small
's, beginning might lead to the worlds
END. ON the other hand. the frequency
%. .Hsu buriinatiOn made reaCCepted
valuable possession than IL could be
under other circumstances. The effort
I'D. tlg speaker TO save his official dig
..Il Poe saw and while ne perceived
...a. Do gave him the very opportunity
.' wanted. he none the less hated the
S.eaNer for the condesceusion Of it.
Torn by pride and anger. but in his
'""H'5f voice. he ordered the legion to
reform. They obeyed. Taking his
.'... at the head of the staff. he spoke
lew ringing words TO the men. re-
..'HaIHg them Of their oath and duty
sd. H..rE obedience. and cOnciliating
'1'm with formal disclaimer Of any
.sS.'.' injustice 10 the defenders Of
inu empire.
Then he spoke inaudibly to the
N'a.Sior. and that official rode for
."Il and proclaimed that the aforesaid
'."IH'IpU was under arrest. that the
'.e1arions of the Fourteenth were to
.L''r HHc. and that the leaders of
.a' disorder during the review were
.' Do punished with rstious Of barley
instead of wheat for a month. There
MS mo further breaking OF ranks. for
,.' lesion knew that their favorite
vas as wholly i'm their power to de-
-."4 and protect while under arrest
among them as when free
ne project, fumiug and vindiCtivC.
's0.n7d bis palace 10 don his toga Of
-.at'- jim his an--TOom he found an
.'"">hed. greasy fellow, with a fash
.'n 0l lingering his battered felt hat