Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-07-09

HA VIC noman empire were AntlOcn
Rome, Alexandria, and Treves on the
Mesclle, Treves, which was the cen
tire whcuce were governed Britain
Gaui, Spain, the Alpine DISTRICTS and
the Rhine frontier; was the residence
Of the Prefect ef the Rhine prov:
inees: He was a very exalted per:
sohage and commanded the army
which was Forever repelling the at:
temps Of lde Germanic tribes to
cross the Rhine. At Treves also was
the administration Of these legions cen:
tired: There was not month of sum-
mef or of winter when they had not
some fighting to do, much Of which
was fierce and some desperate:
For ten years, the Rhine legionaries
had won all their battles under the
same prefccG, and never had any mill
tary order Of his miscarried: In bat
tle and id siege, in attack and in de-
fence; the confidence of his men in
him was absolute. Yet there was not
In all the empire more unpopular
man than his EXcellency the Prefect
of the Rhine Marches. He more than
counteracted the effect Of his military
prestige by an unsympathetic, unin
spring, and chilly demeanor. His sue
cesses reused no enthusiasm for HIM
self. In camp he was a relentless
martinez. Outside the army, in the
municipal administration of Treves, IN
the government Of the province, and
in all things small and great, through.
out even Britain and Spain, his uncon-
ciliatory manner and his stubborn for
mality won him fear and hatred.
1t was a hot and dusty summer, with
bad crops. The parade ground of
Treves was, If possible, hotter and
dustier than the country about. II
was a white floor of dazzling, impal-
pable clay powder. On one side of it
ran one rampant of the camp, over
which showed the roofs of the low, |
dull.brown brick barracks. The other
three sides were lined with crazy huts |
or Shanties, dens of the camp folleN,-
ers and houses of the suffers. About |
half an hour after sunrise the two le- |
gions then quaftered at Treves were |
under review. Roman garrison review
began at the first glow of dawn, The
inspection of the formation was over.
The Prefect, with has staff, was at one
end of the ground, the Fourteenth LIE.
gion on his left, and the Thirty-third |
on his right.
The quaester read out the guard %
re fnh
that a centurion of the Fo;. cent. fys.
gion was 10 oe deprived 81 ii ai-,
and forwarded to the capital - 81
swer the charge of cor p:~-"s
saFssll TaA sRnnoHfa q eaa ta Haahds sisA Of + So
The accused was by far aue ,''"S. y
ular man in the legion, anu g.h q
third among it's sixty centurions. Tne
trefecL had long disllked him' ana
yonld have preferred evon more sum
mary measures
Almost before the order had been
read the Fourteenth changed from
serried machine to a seething swarm
Of human figures, weltering IN the
dense envelope of dust which rose
from under them. The centurlohs
whom the rank and file dlstrasted
were pinioned, Gvery sword was out,
and with weapons and shields aloft
the men yelled themselves hoarse.
The Prefect ordered the first mani
p!e of the Thirty.third to arrest the
ringieaders. The Thirty-third stood
ike images. peering as well as tney
could against the sunlight IN their
ewes towards the mob across the
parade-ground> The orderly did not
take the trouble to ride back to report
how the command was received.
The Prefect called out:
us there no man here who respects
his oath? AS well salute your centu-
rion Emperor"
The elamor was so loud that the
staff could hardly hear each other.
The centurion who was the cause of
the outbreak seemed to be trying 10
quiet his fellows.
The Prefect ragged mutely. Even ais
staff were against him and aenged TO
see him Inundated.
When comparative Silence was re-
stored, not losing an Instant, he chose
the most dangerous and most promls-
ing course possible. For he was reallya
great commander and bold one. He
rode three horse-lengths, alone, TO-
wards the mutineers, and asked them
if they reblled against the Emperor,
against himself, or against that par
ticular order alone.
Diverse shoutings answered.
young centurion, who had taken no
part in fomenting or quieting the tu-
multi, stepped out. The men held
their peace, and he said, very slowly
and conciliatingly, that they did not
rebel against the Emperor, that they
did not mutiny against their command
er. but that they did ask him to recon
slider an order which had not yet re-
ceiyed his official approval. Groans
and cheers greeted all three state
ments.
His Excellency was reass lred. The
men had no fixed plans, they were
divided, and they had no determined
leaders. The mutiny was very real
and terribly near a revolt that would
ruin him utterly. But, while the IN
fringement of discipline was irrepara-
BILE. and his mold on the men and his
officers appallingly weakened, yet
there was chance of regaining the
reality of subordination and power by
holding to the semblance Of both. Mu.
linies, revolts and revolutions were
none so rare in those days, and while
the smallest beginning might lead 10
the worlds end, on the other hand the
frequency of insubordination made re
accepted obedience less mockery
and more valuable possession than
Il. al. c,fn "a ac