The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-01
ALLAYep JOYS OF ROMANS.

Even il there were no corporations 10
protect or trusts 10 promote LAWYERS
must have done good business in the
! days of the Roman empire and charged
big fees, for the records show that Cicero.
! a leading member Of the bar as the
newspapers no doubt mentioned him IN
! those days. was able to pay Ss5a14 for
/ his residence on the Palatine Eill the
West End of Rome, alongside OF the
/ Palace of the Caesars, writes W E Cur
It's. Yet he was not happy. His trou-
I bic was the same as that of Socrates.
Cicero had wife. only one 10 be sure,
but that was one too many-of the kind
! Her name was 'Terentia. and she brought
/ him large dOwry. but she was a nagger
I ard kicker. and never gave him mo-
ment's peace. She was naughty. selfish
suspicious and jealous. and had a tongue
that was quite as fluent and forclBle as
1 his
We know good deal about her from
! contemporary records. and the enervat-
ing magnifcence with which she was
surrounded, the exquisitely sculptured
marbles, the purple haugings. sthe ala
| baster 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 10 leave
his stately mansion 10 enjoy "A quiet
| dinner with friend. There was no
scandal under Cicero's roof. however.
| Terentia 5 temper was too wei known
for her 10 have lovers. Cicero had at
least that advantage over his friend
Julius Caesar, whose wife. Peinpesa. be-
haved very badly while he was of at
his wars and carried on sc0ndalously
with Publius Clodius. Y no was an enemy
OF CicerO's. by the way. When he was
elected tribune he drove Cicero from
Rome in disgrace, piilaged his house up
on the Paiatine and obliged Terentia te
take refuge with the vestal virgins
whose superior was Fortunately her sis
ter. Tne following year there was a po-
litical revolution and the good govern
-nent people cane into power -lcdius
WAS defeat<S for consvI, Cicero was re-
called 70 Rome and obtained an indemnity
Of $S9,(s1 10 repair the damages done IL
his residence Bat Clodius still continued
his persecution of Cicero, and used to
hire boys 10 follow him III the street.
Nhen Cicero began to repair his house he
1rovo away he masons and cast torches
into the walls and behaved himself otEer-
wise in a very c-sagrceabIe manner.
C:cerO's house was situated at the cor
ner Of the Palatine. which overlooked the
Forum. and in front OF il he built a
large vestibule where ne could meet his
clients. His garden was provided with
fish ponds and contained grove OF lotus
trees. but, as / say, he was not allowed
to enjoy it.
Cicero was a typical lawyer. ard one
does not have so high an opinion Of him
after reading about the way he shunled
back and forth and tried TO be on all
sides Of political affairs. He was court
ed because of his ability and his eIo-
quence and because he was useful To
the political bosses of those days lust
as Croesus was courted for his wealth
and Pompey FOR his power But Cicero
was great coward and finally met the
fate that usually awaits that sort Of
people.
Catullus poet. historian. warrior, who
was consul 102 8. c.. was the next
neighbor TO Cicero and lived ia even
greater magnifcence. Pliny. the histo-
rian, says that his was one Of the most
splendid abodes in Rome, and we are
told that il cost $3.50, 600. Catiline, the
conspirator, lived on the other side. and
he. too. was rich. powerful and made a
great display of his money. He was the
chap who organized a conspiracy against
Cicero and was the text OF several OF the
orators finest orations. Mark Antony
lived near by also. but after he ran away
with that Egyptian woman. Augustus
gave his house to Agrlppa and Caligula
pulled it down.